The Garden of the Coastal Plain, formerly known as the Georgia Southern Botanical Garden, will host a Lunch and Learn Series from September 2012 through April 2013. The series features lunch and a one-hour learning session on various gardening and nature topics for $20 per person. Topics include a writer discussing her book on mindfulness and living close to nature, the benefits of botanically-based beauty products, the importance of soil composition for gardening success, and how different types of salt can enhance flavors in cooking. The garden offers 11 acres of woodland trails, gardens, and native plant collections centered around an early 20th century farmstead to connect people with the natural and cultural heritage of the Southeast coastal plain.

1. August 27, 2012
Contact: Carolyn Altman
(912) 871- 1149
caltman@georgiasouthern.edu
For Immediate Release
GARDEN OF THE COASTAL PLAIN TO HOST LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES
The Garden of the Coastal Plain, formerly Georgia Southern Botanical Garden will host their
Lunch and Learn Series now through April 2012. The Lunch and Learn Series takes place from 12 noon
until 1 p.m. at the Garden, 1505 Bland Avenue in Statesboro. The $20.00 fee per person/per course
includes lunch and a one-hour learning session. The program will take place, rain or shine, at the
Heritage Pavilion at the Botanical Garden. Pre-registration is required one week in advance of the
program date. Registration is available at 871-1149. For more information, please visit the Garden’s
website at www.georgiasouthern.edu/garden.
The 2012 -13 Lunch and Learn Series features the following programs:
Sept. 20: Writer Kathy Bradley, Meditations on a Life
Writer Kathy A. Bradley draws her inspiration from the land. Through her thoughtful, delicate,
and evocative essays in her award-winning book Breathing and Walking Around: Meditations on
a Life", Kathy shares her connection to her farm, and how that connection nourishes her spirit.
Kathy will discuss her writing, her process, and her thoughts about living mindfully. Bring or
purchase a book for Kathy to sign.
October 18: Pure Beauty, Shoshanna Walker and Jessica Leavitt, Owner and Manager, Nourish
Your skin is one of the largest organs of your body, working to keep out dangerous threats and
keep in precious moisture. Yet day after day, we slather ourselves with chemicals and even
toxins. Shoshanna Walker and Jessica, of Nourish in Savannah, will share the benefits of
botanically based beauty products, including soaps, lotions, and scrubs. Nourish provides
environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable products that are good for our bodies and
the earth. Be prepared to leave healthier, good smelling, and more beautiful.
March 14: From the Ground Up, Mike Smith, owner, Longwood Plantations

2. Plants grow from the ground up, and one of the most important requirements of gardening
success is good soil. Mike Smith, owner and chief wizard of Longwood Plantations, is the
region’s expert in soil composition – his alchemy makes gardens grow lush and beautiful all over
the state, and right here at the Garden. Learn what makes soil great, and how you can
incorporate good soil practices in your garden.
April 4: Salt, The Essence of Flavor, Carol Sellers, Owner, The Salt Table
Garden Director Carolyn Altman was a salt skeptic; after all, salt is salt is NaCl, is it not? One
trip, and many tastings, at The Salt Table quickly convinced her of the wild and crazy impact
different kinds of salt can have on the eating experience, from savory to sweet. Carol Sellers of
The Salt Table in Savannah will share the miracles and mysteries of salt in this flavorful and
incredibly useful program. Your cooking – and taste buds – will never be the same.
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About the Garden of the Coastal Plain
Centered on an early 20th century farmstead, the Garden offers visitors a unique view of the
cultural and natural heritage of the Southeastern Coastal Plain, an area rich in unique and
endangered plants. The Garden's nearly 11 acre site, located in the middle of the growing city of
Statesboro, includes walking woodland trails, Bland Cottage, Heritage Garden, Rose Arbor,
Children's Learning Garden, Camellia Garden, Native Plant Landscape Garden, Native Azalea
Collection and Bog Garden.
Mission Statement
The Garden promotes knowledge and appreciation of the native plants and animals of the
southeastern coastal plain, connects people to the natural and cultural heritage of the region
and inspires environmentally responsible behavior
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