The Victory Gardens that were prevalent in World War II are growing again. These plots reduce food transportation miles, counteract rising food costs and encourage sustainability by providing local, organically-grown food in season.

Kittery Adult Education is holding a series of 10 workshops at Traip Academy in Kittery, Maine, to help people start their own backyard or community “New Victory Garden.” Each course is $8 for Kittery residents or $10 for nonresidents.

The first course is on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. John Forti, curator of historic gardens and landscapes at Strawbery Banke Museum, will lead a historical look at the evolution of Victory Gardens from war gardens of the 20th century to backyard gardens for peace in the 21st century.

Since March is the perfect time to start ordering seeds and get them started in containers for planting later in the spring, this will be the topic of a course on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. Anne Masury, of Fletcher Hill Farms in Kittery Point, Maine, will discuss seed ordering options and participants will work with the instructor to start a variety of plants and learn the techniques of transplanting, fertilizing, light and temperature requirements for germination, growing and final planting. Masury is the former landscape director at Strawbery Banke.

On Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m., guests can learn how to get the most out of a garden through intensive gardening techniques, crop succession and rotation and the use of season extenders. Course leader Rae Avery is head gardener at Arrow’s Restaurant.

Backyard honey beekeeping will be the top on Thursday, March 19 from 7 to 9 p.m., with Ben Potter, an avid Kittery Point beekeeper.

Bees are natural and necessary pollinators for gardens. Guests will learn about hive functions and activities, how to get started, supplies and expenses, management of hives in all seasons, and collecting honey in late summer.

A good gardener is a steward of the soil. Before planting, students can learn the basics of how to do a soil test, what the label on the fertilizer bag means and what plants need for fertilizer and soil amendments with Rae Avery on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m.

A workshop on Wednesday, April 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. will focus on how to grow an organic garden. This course talks about the basics of soil science and how to enrich soil to produce healthy, high-yielding plants. The course will also cover making and using compost, the principles of crop rotation and how to incorporate green manures and manage nutrients in the garden.  

For those considering expanding their “backyard meal planning,” a course on Thursday, April 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. will discuss how to grow a variety of edible, disease-resistant fruit trees and shrubs. Brian Smith, a government inspector of produce for Hannaford Brothers Supermarkets, will lead the discussion.

Another course talks about gardening with young children on Thursday, April 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This class teaches children gardening benefits and gives ideas for simple children’s gardens. Course leader Pat Ritter started “Nature’s Wonders” classes that encourage children and their parents to learn together as they gain knowledge and respect for the natural world. She created a Children’s Garden at the Mill Pond Center in Durham.

During an introduction to backyard foraging class, Rebecca Gray, a trained herbalist, will root out 15 edible plants and local delicacies she has found. The presentation on Thursday, April 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. also includes safety, identification, health benefits and recipes.

The final workshop will explore the possibilities of a community garden with Jenny Isler, coordinator of the Community Garden at Strawbery Banke, on Thursday, May 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Traip Academy is at 12 Williams Ave., Kittery, Maine. For more information and registration, call Kittery Adult Education at 207-439-5896 or visit www.kitteryschools.org.