The Southside Master Gardeners’ Spring Plant Sale will be held at the Halifax Extension Office and Public Library parking area on Saturday, May 1 from 7:30 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.  Among the educational exhibits will be an exhibit on vermiculture.

Whether you are a plant lover or an avid fisherman, you won’t want to miss this Vermiculture exhibit.  Vermiculture is the art of raising earthworms. Find out how these little wonders of nature can turn your organic kitchen wastes, such as coffee grounds, egg shells and fruit peels, into some of the most sought-after organic fertilizer around. Your plants will thrive when they get fertilized with “worm castings”.

For you fishermen, if you are tired of paying exorbitant prices for a few pieces of bait, vermiculture is for you. The red wigglers you will be using to compost your organic waste and make your fertilizer, are some of the best pan fish bait in the world. Don’t worry about running out of worms. Red wigglers reproduce at a rate that makes rabbits look like monastery monks.

Be sure to bring the children. They will enjoy learning about the life and habits of these fantastic little wonders.  Vermiculture would make a great classroom “show and tell,” and our Master Gardeners will be happy to provide them with all of the knowledge they will need to make a hit at school.

The vermiculture exhibit at the Master Gardener’s plant sale will have something for everyone in your family.  The May 1st Plant Sale will include a wide range of plants--vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs and houseplants.  New to the sale this year are garden accessories, such as bluebird houses, tobacco sticks, bamboo poles, painted flowerpots, composted manure, soil test kits, decorative rocks and driftwood. Southside Master Gardeners, in conjunction with the Halifax Improvement Council, are also offering Earth Savvy multi-use green bags as a not-for-profit project for only $1 each.

Other interesting and helpful demonstrations are rain barrels, hypertufa, tool sharpening, herbs and shiitake mushroom logs.  Each will include informative handouts and the opportunity to sign up for related classes.  Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions throughout the morning.