Residents of Middleton and the rest of Hardeman County have until Monday, Sept. 28, to sign up for the Hardeman County Smart Yards series, a three-part fall class from the UT/TSU Extension Office on building yards that are easier on the environment and friendlier to wildlife and pollinators.
The first session is Wednesday, Sept. 30. The series is aimed at homeowners, gardeners and landowners of any experience level, whether they tend a single flower bed or several acres.
Cost: $25, which covers materials for the hands-on activities
Registration deadline: Monday, Sept. 28
The Extension office says space is limited.
What participants will learn
The Hardeman County series focuses on three practical topics:
Right plant, right place: choosing plants that suit a yard’s sun, soil and moisture so they need less water, fertilizer and upkeep
Kitchen composting: turning food scraps into material that improves garden soil
Providing for wildlife and pollinators: adding plants and habitat that support birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial species
“Whether you have a small flower bed, a vegetable garden or several acres, there’s simple things you can do,” TSU Horticulture Extension Agent Rachel Howell said in announcing the series.
About the Tennessee Smart Yards program
Tennessee Smart Yards is a statewide program led by UT-TSU Extension. It is built around nine stewardship principles covering areas such as soil management, efficient watering, proper fertilization and pest management. The program is designed so no expert gardening knowledge is needed, and homeowners who follow the practices can work toward having their yard certified as a Tennessee Smart Yard.
The program started as a partnership between the Tennessee Water Resource Research Center and UT-TSU Extension. It received the 2025 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Environmental Education and Outreach.
How to register
To sign up or get more information, call the Hardeman County UT/TSU Extension Office at 731-658-2421 or email rparker1@utk.edu before the Sept. 28 deadline.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
