Avon Lake's Own Organic Gardener Hosting Class May 7

Tucked away on 4 acres of land off Jaycox Road is Albert Hobar’s own slice of organic heaven.

Hobar’s property is hidden with organic treasures from a row of logs that upon closer inspection, is busy growing shitake mushrooms. A healthy step away are boxes where more than 10,000 bees are busy making honey. As the season wears on, those boxes could host up to 100,000 bees.

Hobar’s property also boasts a massive garden where some of the organically raised produce, including a host of summer herbs vegetables, will be sold to restaurants and businesses looking for untainted items. Just outside the fenced-in garden are fruit trees and the property boasts a nice sized greenhouse with fig trees.

The property, not visible from the main road, has been in the Hobar family for more than 70 years when Hobar’s grandmother, Veronica Hobar, raised strawberries.

"Everyone knew her as ‘the strawberry lady,'” he said.

For the past 15 years, Hobar has been gardening organically. He practices what he preaches: He’s a longtime vegan, as are his wife and children. He closely follows the practices of the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association.

“They are very healthy,” Hobar said.

His expertise in the field is being tapped by the Avon Lake Community Garden organizers and this Saturday, May 7, Hobar will be teaching a primer on certified organic gardening at the The class is free.

The garden, expected to break ground June 1, will only allow organic gardening.

“It’s the right way to go,” he said of organic gardening practices. “It’s safe, effective and the food has greater nutritional value.

The class starts at 10 a.m.  and will be held in the library’s Gallery Room. (This is a correction from an earlier article that said the class starts at 7 p.m.)