The beginning of the school year at Oleg Valenchuk’s Gardening School: new horizons and opportunities

      Oleg Valenchuk’s School of Gardening, founded in 2011, continues to delight its listeners with new topics and training formats. The free lectures have become a real find for gardening enthusiasts in Kirov.

      In 2021 the School took a step into the modern era by launching an online format that opened the doors to listeners from the most remote corners of the Vyatka region. Now anyone who wishes can listen to the lectures from home or watch broadcasts at rural libraries.

      "One of the main advantages of online classes is the ability to ask questions in real time. This creates an atmosphere of live communication between lecturers and listeners. Participants can not only listen to the lectures but also actively take part in discussions, share their experience and receive answers to pressing questions," said Olga Olenyova, head of the Voiskaya Rural Library. "Everyone is looking forward to new sessions this year because they are very interesting and informative. We often rewatch them several times to better absorb the material and get the most benefit."

      All lectures are also available as recordings in the official VKontakte group of the Gardeners’ Union, which allows everyone to find a convenient time to study. Librarians note that the new format has been well received by listeners, and many of them have already found their favorite lecturers.

      "Our pensioners get great pleasure from such sessions; they especially like topics devoted to vegetable crops," said Lyudmila Demakova, head of the Akhmanovskaya Rural Library. "Since we have problems with an unstable internet connection, we really appreciate that there is now the opportunity to rewatch lectures at any convenient time. We eagerly await the new academic year!"

      The lectures cover a wide range of topics, from the basics of gardening to more specific issues.

      "We do everything possible to make modern knowledge accessible to all residents of the region," said Oleg Valenchuk. "Gardening is not only a hobby but a way of life that unites people of different ages and professions. It includes farmers who cultivate large plots of land, owners of small garden plots, and those who grow flowers in a yard flowerbed or on a balcony. Everyone will find something useful for themselves in the lectures held at our School."

      Gardeners are already eagerly awaiting the first remote meeting, scheduled for November 11, which will open the new academic year. Agronomist Nikolai Baryshev will talk about fighting pests and diseases. The online lecture begins at 11:00.