Carlos Valdez of the Los Alamos Office of the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service talks with clients. Courtesy/NMSU Kevin Robinson

PEEC News:

With spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about vegetable gardening. Carlos Valdez comes to PEEC at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7 to talk about “Vegetable ABCs.”

This talk is free and open to the public.

The last and first frost used to be the beginning and end of the vegetable gardening season — but not anymore. This program will provide the knowledge necessary for growing food during every month of the year.

Learn season-defying techniques to garden where summers are short and low levels of winter sunlight create the ultimate challenge. Year-round gardens are doable, affordable and rewarding for gardeners in any location where frost has traditionally defined the growing season.

Valdez, an Española native, came to Los Alamos in 1997 from Pojoaque where he taught vocational horticulture and science for 10 years.

As an associate professor with New Mexico State Universities Cooperative Extension Service, he holds degrees in horticulture and education. Last year, Valdez registered more than 3,000 one-on-one consultations with citizens who live or work in Los Alamos County.

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center is at 3540 Orange St., behind the high school. For more information on this program, visit www.pajaritoeec.org, call 662-0460, or e-mail Programs@PajaritoEEC.org.