Spare-Time Gardening

Spare-Time Gardening

Fri, Apr 17, 2026 • 10:00 AM—12:00 PM

About this event

Outdoors Workshops

Spare-Time Gardening with Martha Rollefson Friday, April 17  |  10 – 12pm BRN – Elective | BREG – Elective REGISTER HERE Here’s a 2-hour crash course on making the most of the spare time you have for working in your garden.  I’ll share tricks learned & practices developed during more than 40 years of squeezing garden work into an otherwise busy life.  I sum it up with these principles: 1) Choose Wisely… 2) Pace Yourself for the Essential Chores… 3) Pluck it up! … 4) Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot! … and 5) Celebrate!  Even experienced gardeners will probably get some new ideas for making their garden chores less strenuous and more impactful. You will also receive a garden assessment tool that will help you articulate your vision for your own garden in a way that will guide your efforts. Martha Rollefson has been a spare-time gardener for decades who got the “wildlife habitat” bug over 20 years ago. After leaving the corporate world she started working at Wild Birds Unlimited “to support her gardening habit,” and she joined the Western Carolina Botany Club to learn more about native plants. While feeding the birds and observing how gardening and wildlife interact, she has developed numerous techniques for saving time and money while reducing her carbon footprint. She lives next to the Etowah Valley Golf Resort with her husband David and mini-doxie, Eva. Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email adulteducation@ncarboretum.org with questions. See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

About this calendar

The North Carolina Arboretum

Located in the inspirational Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum cultivates connections between people, plants and places. 🌱