Jon Traunfeld, Director Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) and State Master Gardener Coordinator, spoke to the 2009 Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners intern class about growing vegetables and fruits in Maryland. One of the highlights of his talk was about Maryland’s grow it, eat it campaign to teach homeowners how to grow something edible…be it in a small plot or a container on the patio or deck. The initiative is the result of the growing, no pun intended, economic problems we all are facing as well as the public’s desire to eat healthier, locally grown foods. Jon will be appearing on the Martha Stewart Show on Friday, March 27 (11:00 on WBAL) to promote the campaign and the spiraling interest nationwide in food gardens. Martha will build a salad box on the show…this is a nice way to get started, especially if available space is small. For more information about the campaign, how to build a salad box or find answers to your gardening questions, visit the grow it, eat it website at www: growit.umd.edu or call the HGIC at 1-800-342-2507.

QAC Master Gardeners will be featuring the grow it, eat it campaign at the second annual “A Garden Affair” on Saturday, May 12 from 10 until 2 in Centreville on the library and Wright’s Chance grounds. The event is free and will feature horticulture exhibits and speakers, demonstration rain garden tours and composting, interactive children’s exhibits, plant sale and refreshments. For more information contact QAC Master Gardener coordinator Rachel Melvin at the Extension Office in Centreville 410 758-0166 or e-mail rmelvin1@umd.edu.