The snow drops are in bloom calling us to think about our gardens. So what could be more appropriate for a Sunday afternoon than a Westport Community Association program on composting and raised bed gardens, featuring our own organic farmer, Kyle DePietro.

DePietro and his wife, Angie, cultivate six acres on Westport, including land at the Squire Tarbox Inn. They also raise about 20 pigs on an acre of wooded land. Kyle is an expert on the subjects of composting, raised bed gardening and organic farming, and can provide all of us with useful knowledge for a large garden, a small one or a container garden.

DePietro can tell us how to compost and what to use and what to avoid in our compost project. How long does composting take and when is it ready? Where is the best location for a compost project? How do we construct a Raised Bed Garden. DePietro has a degree in forestry and has been an organic farmer for several years. His vegetables are superb — big and flavorful and also good for you. He has tried many different types of vegetables that you can’t get in the supermarket.

He and Angie are regulars at the farmer’s markets in Bath and Brunswick all year and also in Boothbay during the summer. They also grow all of the vegetables and greens in use at the Squire Tarbox Inn. DePietro certainly has great credentials, and also has a website at www.tarboxfarm.com.

So if you want to learn about the right way to compost or garden in raised beds, this is for you. Come to the Historic Town Hall on the Main Road about five miles south of the Westport Island/Wiscasset bridge on Sunday, April 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. Time to emerge from a very long winter, greet your neighbors and enjoy some good refreshments. Please remember that the Westport Community Association is a supporter of the island Food Pantry and we encourage everyone in attendance to bring a nonperishable food item for the food pantry. As always, Westport Community Association programs are free to the public. We hope to see you there!