Request a Wylde Center representative to come to your location and give a presentation on selected topics. The standard fee is $75 for a presentation that is up to 1hr. If your group would like to come to the Oakhurst Garden the fee is $50 for a presentation.
We currently have 3 presenters who may be available to speak to your garden club or group on over 15 topics. We recommend requesting a speaker 3 weeks or more in advance. To check speaker availability contact Program Coordinator Andrea Zoppo at Andrea@Wyldecenter.org
Stephanie Van Parys
Geographical Preference: 15 mile radius around Decatur
Stephanie Van Parys has served as the Executive Director of the Wylde Center, formerly the Oakhurst CommunityGarden Project since March 2005. She lives in Decatur with her husband, three kids, chickens, dog, and a large garden. Stephanie shares what she knows about vegetable gardening with garden clubs, company lunch and learns, church groups, and civic groups. She has taught classes at the Atlanta Botanical Garden for over 14 years.
- What vegetables to plant for your spring garden.
- What vegetables to plant for your fall garden.
- What vegetables to plant for your summer garden.
- Sowing vegetables from seed all year long.
- Lasagna Bed Gardening – Never till again!
- Cover Crops
Anne-Marie Anderson, GCLP
Geographical Preference: 15 mile radius around Decatur
Anne-Marie Anderson is a firm believer in fresh air, urban farming and the power of Mother Nature. Her Decatur-based business, The Celtic Gardener, promotes responsible stewardship of the earth’s precious resources through sustainable landscaping practices such as rainwater harvesting, composting and the use of Southern natives and heirloom plants that actually like it here. She specializes in edible landscaping and urban animal husbandry, particularly chickens and bees. Anne-Marie is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, England. She has lived in Atlanta for 15 years, growing to know and love our climate and native vegetation as a Master Gardener and Georgia Certified Landscape Professional. She teaches Chickens are Easy and Kids in the Coop at the Wylde Center, and is Chair of the 2012 Urban Coop Tour. She is also a Certified Beekeeper.
Ann-Marie’s Current Topics:
- Urban farming (edible landscaping, food gardens, chickens, bees)
- Chickens
- Bees
- The sustainable garden (natives, Southern heirlooms, rainwater harvesting, composting, mulch)
- Children’s gardens
Michael McLane
Geographical Preference: Alpharetta & Roswell, GA and will travel as far as Decatur
Michael McLane has been an organic vegetable gardener for 14 years and is an avid proponent of sustainable farming and local foods. Michael is an active volunteer for the Riverside Farmers Market (Roswell), UGA Cooperative Extension Service, Chattahoochee Nature Center Unity Garden, Georgia Organics and the Wylde Center where he teaches a variety of urban farming topics. He is a retired technology industry executive and former Director of a non-profit. Michael has lived in Historic Roswell with his wife and son for 15 years.
Michael’s Current topics
- Wide range of composting, including Vermiculture & Teas
- Basic chickens
- Cover Crops & Rotations
- Healthy Soils
- Organics vs. Conventionally Grown Food
- State of farming in America
Past Speaking Engagements From the Wylde Center include:
- Oakhurst Neighborhood Association – History of the organization, name change from Oakhurst Community Garden Project to Wylde Center, and the future plans.
- USDA NRCS Field Planning Day – Garden based presentation about building better soil.
- CDC Community Garden Presentation – Serving as the MC.
- Rotary Club Decatur – Presenting about the Wylde Center
- Kiwanis Club of Decatur – Presenting about the Wylde Center with a focus on our youth programming.