GARDEN PLANNING, and especially seed shopping, is best done in collaboration with friends. Join me in Hillsdale, New York, on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM for an impromptu, interactive, social “garden club” focused on seeds.

This will be a small group, with lots of time for discussion of what you most want to focus on and learn; lots of question time.

Plan a garden yielding year-round results—whether for freezing, canning or drying—with clever harvest-stashing tips, plus track down unusual herbs and beneficial flowers that increase wanted insect activity and garden health, too.

I’ll bring along a pile of favorite unusual, little-known seed catalogs to browse together, plus my seed-starting light setups and other gear. Topics include how to find the best quality, which varieties match your intended end use (not all cucumbers make good pickles, nor do all tomatoes dry well!), when to sow what and how (go home with a calendar customized to our area), and the mathematics of “succession sowing” for longest harvest. Learn whether to plant heirlooms, hybrids, or both—and if organic seed really makes a difference.

Our get-together starts with a short slide presentation, and includes sowing demos.

Most of all: Come prepared with any and all Urgent Garden Questions, whether related to seeds or not. Snack and beverage will be served while we shop the catalogs, learn, and chat.