The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District welcomes the WSU Extension's Master Gardening Program for a four-week intro into all things gardening, starting with the dirty work- literally! The program begins on March 7 and the first Monday of each month, through June.

Director of Library Services Todd Vandenbark said the first class would be about seeds and soil. An introduction to soil, additives, composting, and the benefit of worms will be the second session's topic, and the third session will discuss functional aesthetics.

"It's going to be kind of a natural progression," explained Charlie Oribio, the CCRLD employee who has been helping coordinate with WSU. "We are starting with soil and seeds, all of that stuff. Our last one will close with maintenance, pruning, harvest, all of that."

Oribio said that the class is limited to 25 participants, open to all ages, and people are being asked to register ahead of time at the library's front desk. If more than 25 people are interested, the presenter has expressed interest in adding a second class to the program. The classes are free!

"There will be tons of guest speakers," Oribio shared. "The speaker at the first session is actually a soil specialist, and they will help kick off the program."

The classes go hand in hand with the library's Seed Library, with packets of seeds being provided by the Friends of the Library organization.

"We put it up every year in the main lobby," Oribio said. "Not only does our lovely Friends of the Library group provide seeds, the Master Gardner from the (WSU) extension will also be providing seeds. People can come in, pick up seeds, and take them home. If they are able to preserve and store seeds, they are encouraged to bring some back for next year."

Oribio said that the Seed Library welcomes donations of seeds that are packaged and labeled. Home-preserved seeds are preferred over store-purchased seeds, as they are tried and true in Dayton's soils. Store-bought packets are accepted, however.

The gardening program will start on March 7, at 12 p.m. The hour-long classes will be on the first Monday of each month, with the last class on June 6.

Other library happenings include the Family Story Time, starting at 6:30 p.m. on March 3. This month's featured books, read by Vandenbark, will be The Rainbow Bridge, by Adrian Raeside, and "Rechenka's Eggs," by Patricia Polacco.

Discovery Kids is still going on every Wednesday morning, at 10 a.m, and the Friends of the Library's book sale is still happening inside the Delany Room. Books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs are available for purchase.