Gardening is a time honored tradition for many West Virginia families. Not only does it provide a great opportunity for kids to learn about math and science in their own backyards, but it can also bring families closer together. The 2012 WVU Extension Service Garden Calendar is designed with this in mind.

Throughout the year, gardeners will explore “Kids’ Gardening Adventures,” in the 2012 calendar. It includes gardening articles written by WVU Extension experts with youth in mind. This year’s calendar also exhibits exclusive artwork designed by West Virginia 4-H’ers.

The free garden calendar, WVU Extension Service’s most-requested publication, is now available at all county offices of the WVU Extension Service. Viewers can also download and print a copy by visiting www.ext.wvu.edu.

The monthly calendar and gardening guide offers information helpful to both beginning and avid gardeners. The calendar provides day-to-day planting and harvesting reminders for the entire year. Daily tips range from when to design your garden layout to when to prune bushes and turn compost.

In January, readers are reminded to order seeds and fertilizer for their spring garden. In February, reminders include tips about seeding vegetables indoors and cleaning dust from houseplants. The important notes continue throughout the growing season into December.

Each month, the calendar features a short article on gardening written to encourage children’s interest in gardening and to increase family gardening knowledge. Learn to grow the ingredients for a pizza in your garden, including basil, oregano, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Also outlined is how to start and build a garden project at school and how to distinguish garden-friendly bugs from pests. Each monthly article is coupled with corresponding artwork created by 4-H’ers from all over the state.

For the first time, the calendar features QR codes that can send readers to more information from WVU Extension Service seamlessly from their smartphones. Once the QR code is scanned with a smartphone equipped with a QR code reader, readers will be sent to more information specific to that month’s article, right there on their phones.

To learn more about the calendar, or view a list of county offices, visit, www.ext.wvu.edu.

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CONTACT: Ann Berry
Voice: 304.293.5691; Cell: 304.376.7740; ann.berry@mail.wvu.edu