“There’s nothing like knowing exactly how the vegetables you eat were grown. You can take complete control by establishing your own vegetable garden. And maybe even share with your children the magic of growing their own dinner. What I have learned over the years is that careful planning and preparation can take vegetable gardening from drudgery to fun. So I emphasize the planning of everything from size, location and style of vegetable garden to the need to prepare that garden for success while acknowledging that Mother Nature will always have the final say.”

After a career begun as a chemist, Betty Sanders found her interests taking her in a new direction—gardening. She studied at the New York Botanical Garden, New England Wild Flower Society, and others on the way to becoming a Master Gardener. Her gardens have been featured on tours by the Garden Conservancy. Betty finds herself increasingly focused on techniques to reduce the use of man-made chemicals in gardening and landscaping. Her current home garden is a grass-free two acres filled with native trees, shrubs and perennials. She is passionate the many opportunities offered by container gardening and as an avid vegetable gardener, is currently in her eighth year of managing her hometown’s community garden. Betty will speak at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society on Thursday, March 29 at 7 pm.

$12 Mass Hort members, $20 general admission. To register, visit http://www.masshort.org/