Keynote Speakers Announced for the 1st Annual Seed and Garden Cruise!

April 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Garden enthusiasts from accross the nation will be embarking from Ft. Lauderdale, FL aboard the Carnival Freedom on Feb. 11, 2012. The 8 day cruise stops at Cozumel, Mexico; Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama. To kick off the cruise there will be a meet and greet cocktail party to give guests a chance to get aquainted with each other before their first group dinner sitting. Workshops will be offered during the mornings when the ship is at sea, leaving time in the afternoons to relax and enjoy the ship's ammenities. On days when the ship is docked at one of the exotic ports of call guests will have the option to book a shore excursion with the Purser's Desk or to participate in a group tour.

The Seed and Garden Cruise has booked some top notch horticultural experts from accross the countryside. Each of them will share their unique perspective and be available to answer questions. The itinerary includes:

No Guff Vegetable Gardening with Donna Blazer

This talk highlights ideas from Balzer's latest book No Guff Vegetable Gardening, with tips on soils, planning, growing, garden environment, pests and harvest. New and experienced gardeners alike will smile as Donna lays it on the table: there isn't only one right way to grow vegetables.

With a Horticulture degree from the University of Alberta Donna has created a busy career as a freelance garden consultant . Advising on historic landscapes and water wise gardens for the City of Calgary Donna also answers caller inquiries on CBC radio and writes books and articles. Her most recent book "No Guff Vegetable Gardening" was released in March 2011 and is already topping the best sellers list. She is the co-host and co-creator of the award winning internationally broadcast gardening show "Bugs & Blooms" which is often in re-runs on HGTV.

http://www.GardenCoachesChat.com

Top 10 Horticultural MALpractices with Jim Orband

Jim enjoyed being a Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent for 34 years and retired as Senior Agent in July 2010. He has a B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech. During his years as an Extension Agent Jim had a hand in training over 1400 Master Gardeners and developed numerous award winning programs to educate and benefit thousands of Virginia citizens (adult and youth) about sound, environmentally friendly horticultural practices. Hearsay is a live monthly NPR gardening call-in program that Jim has participated in for over 14 years.  His humor, down to earth manner, and vast knowledge and enthusiasm for horticulture makes this a very popular radio program.  

Jim’s ability to connect with his audience will make his presentation of the Top 10 Horticultural MALpractices fun and very informative for the beginner as well as the experienced gardener.

Urban Farming - Maximizing Yields in Small Spaces with Christopher Wong

Christopher is the co founder of Young Urban Farmers and the nonprofit organization Young Urban Farmers CSA. He makes vegetable gardening fun, enjoyable and rewarding by helping people setup edible gardens in their front yard, backyard, balcony or rooftop. He has a passion for healthy eating, local produce, and all things related to food.

Young Urban Farmers is a Toronto-based business that helps people grow the freshest, locally-grown vegetables in backyards, front yards, balconies, and rooftops across the GTA. Using a combination of raised beds, self-watering containers, in-ground gardens, and edible landscapes, they show people that vegetable gardens can be both beautiful and delicious.

Young Urban Farmers CSA is an independent, non-profit organization that started as an offshoot of Young Urban Farmers. YUF CSA runs a community shared agriculture (CSA) program converting people's backyards into an intensive vegetable garden, growing a variety of unique, heirloom vegetables. The produce is shared with the homeowners as well as with other participants in the community. By bringing people together around food and educating them about where and how fresh vegetables are grown, they hope to spark a new revolution in sustainable urban living and the rediscovery of local food.

http://www.youngurbanfarmers.com

Seed Saving Techniques with Carol Maleska

Carol has been collecting, saving, and growing heirloom tomato seeds for the past ten years. She cultivates over one hundred varieties each year and is always eager to discover more. Her bountiful crop features picturesque tomatoes of all shapes, sizes and colors. She attends many annual gardening events searching for unusual plants and seeds, and never misses an opportunity to consult with the growers about the hardiness and production of the species.

During the workshop Carol will share her methods and proven techniques of harvesting and saving seeds. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening has been passed down through generations in her family.

For more detailed information on the Seed and Garden Cruise go to www.seedandgardencruise.com

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The Seed and Garden Cruise sails Feb. 11, 2012 on the Carnival Freedom.Participants will enjoy onboard gardening workshops with engaging keynote speakers as well as cocktail parties, raffle prizes, group shore excursions, & lots of fun! Go to www.seedandgardencruise.com for full details or to reserve your cabin.