HUNTSVILLE – Home gardeners always need pots and vessels for their plants, and an upcoming workshop with Master Gardeners of North Alabama Inc. will explain the steps to make their own unique containers.

At this make-and-take workshop, participants will create two hypertufa pots, which are attractive garden containers that will last for years.

“The term ‘hypertufa’ refers to a type of artificial stone and is a conglomerate of the words ‘tufa,’ a natural volcanic rock, and ‘hyper,’ a prefix meaning excessively or extremely,” Master Gardener spokesperson Sue Khoury said. “Hypertufa are extremely sturdy, rock-like containers.”

The workshop on Aug. 10 will start at 10 a.m. at Madison County Farmer’s Market, 1022 Cook Ave. in Huntsville. The $25 fee includes all materials and printed instructions.

Jim Braun, artist and instructor from Broken Star Workshop in Decatur, will teach this class. “Jim has been a working artist and instructor for over 20 years in the St. Louis area,” Khoury said. “For the last four years, he has been living and working in Decatur.”

Braun sells his handmade vessels and teaches small groups of students all over North Alabama about the use of papercrete and hypertufa.

“In this workshop, we will discuss the what, where, when, why and how of hypertufa, as well as different recipes and which works the best for what application,” Khoury said. Master Gardeners will attend and assist Braun and the participants.

All class participants will make two different vessels with hypertufa and take these home with finishing instructions and a printed recipe. Master Gardeners will supply all materials. “This is a hands-on workshop, so please dress appropriately,” Khoury said.

The class is limited strictly to 25 registered, prepaid participants, who can pay by PayPal, credit card or check by Aug. 6. To register, visit form.jotform.com/92036665415963 (or visit mginfo.org/make-and-take-hypertufa-pots and click “Register Here.”). Refunds are available only before Aug. 3.

Proceeds will support services of Master Gardeners of North Alabama Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.

For questions, email Ann Tippie at tippieam@gmail.com.

On the fourth Saturday of each month, Master Gardeners will test soil pH from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Madison County Farmers’ Market. For more information, visit mginfo.org.