BRING THE KIDS + FAMILY FOR GARDEN TIME!
JOIN US THIS SPRING FOR OUR 2023 CLASS!
LEARN AT OUR GARDEN… AND TAKE HOME PLANT STARTS, LADYBUGS, HARVESTED FLOWERS AND VEGGIES TO YOURS
You’ll Get The Good Dirt On:
Learn To Garden with Veggies and Flowers: Basics and Intermediate
Outdoor hands-on instructional + practice sessions in small group
Cultivate your own designated section in our small community garden
You can then practice what you learn in your own backyard this season
Open garden hours will conveniently be posted in between sessions
We provide some selection of seeds and starts for veggies or flowers
Bring your own (approved) plants to nurture and share if you so choose
Get better results with natural practices and quick permaculture basics
Make connections, Have Fun, be active outside + grow alongside others
Grow Like A Pro: We'll answer your questions + help you get started
Saturday Mornings 9am - 12pm
1st Week of the Month: MAY - SEPT
5 Sessions + DIY Extras
Come get your hands and hearts in the garden alongside north Boulder local youth and family members for a personalized learning and practice experience!
$600 for spring-summer session
LOCATED AT
Rebecca’s Gardens: Community Plot
Foothills Community Gardens, Off of Violet and Broadway Ave (click for directions)
North Boulder
Contact Us for current availability
JUNE 3rd: Session 2
PERMACULTURE BASICS
An introduction to the native philosophy and practical tools of this "whole systems approach" to working with the land. Highlights the benefit of your backyard local garden practices vs what can be lacking in mainstream agricultural practices. How to ask the right questions and align with nature to solve problems in your yard or microclimate more efficiently, rather than approaching issues from an isolated or chemical approach. Actualize a new understanding and unshakable respect for the power and healing inherent in natural processes. Understanding nature leads to gratitude, heath, and the holistic well being of people, plants, and planet.
AUG 5th: Session 4
HARVESTING + COMPOSTING
How different plants are best harvested for continued growth, and how their seeds or roots are best kept. Best composting materials and practices for Colorado. Tips like layering carbon and nitrogen for proper heat and aeration. Veggie harvesting principles for continued yield and healthy immunity, composting/recycling, amendments and mulching, and how to troubleshoot your unique location requirements. Potential Field Trip: If available, we might make a specialty jam at a neighboring farm (we’ll have to see)!
CLASS TOPICS • BY DATE
MAY 6th: Session 1
*starts on the 3rd Sat of the month due to Mother’s Day*
STARTER TIPS + SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS
We’ll showcase which veggies and flowers to start when, and what each needs to get started. Learn best tips for choice color and food all season. We'll kick things off by planting "starter plants" or seeds - choose among both flowers and veggies provided - and you are welcome to bring your own! Brief introduction to medicinal plants and herbs. Make a monthly list of your favorites so you can time your garden to suit your needs. Find out where to buy additional local organic insecticide-free plants and nutrients!
JULY 1st: Session 3
ELEMENTS OF A BALANCED GARDEN
Greater detail about how Earth, Water, Fire (Sun), and Air work together. Learn Tips To Keep Your Gardens Healthy, Happy, and Balanced. Learn watering and soil principles (including drip lines and xeriscaping), composting/recycling, amendments and mulching, and helpful/harmful things in a garden (from bees, bugs and mushrooms), to how to troubleshoot and treat for pests or disease (from slugs to black rot tomatoes). If available, we'll release lady bugs into the garden (and you can take some home if you like!)
SEPT 2nd: Session 5
D-I-Y HOME GARDENING OVERVIEW
Ever wanted to plan your own affordable home garden from scratch? Building the right soil, choosing the right location and materials. Benefits of raised beds, hot houses, and hydroponics. DIY drip systems on a timer are easy to connect from your exterior hose faucet. Choose landscape design elements (flagstone, decorative rocks or gravel, mulches, and list of local companies and sources for materials). Additional Q&A based on interest. You might be asking yourself what is needed to bring your existing spaces to life or solve 'nothing grows there' areas.
Take home flowers and/or veggies for your yard!
SUGGESTED BRINGS!
Come Prepared! As part of learning responsible gardening practices, all participants are encouraged to prepare themselves for moderate physical outdoor activity in the sun. Best preparations include the following BRINGS:
Organic Sunscreen Play it safe in the sun.
Sun Hat / Visor Keeps hair out of face and minimizes exposure.
Water Bottle(s) For everyone. *Essential when working outdoors!*
Food and drink Please eat breakfast beforehand! The educational talk and time to enjoy your snacks is around 10:00-11:00am ish mid-morning so you can plan to bring your own edibles as befits your tribe's custom.
Hand Tools We definitely encourage you to bring hand tools if you have em! Any will do, but if you're looking for a recommendation, our fave is the orange handled Hori, a "japanese style gardening hand tool" for under $20 at McGuckins or Sturtz & Copeland Florist.
Gardening Gloves If you want, of appropriate size for everyone - Light weight with rubber coated palms $5-8 at McGuckins or Sturtz & Copeland Florist.
Basket for Personal Items Keep your personal items clean and at hand.
Bucket for Gardening Tools and Materials Keep your gardening tools together in one place as well as use this for collecting weeds, transporting compost or soil, and bringing or taking plants with you. - e.g. $8-10 for a 5 gallon, colorful rubber bucket with handles at McGuckins.
Layers of clothing Light weight long sleeves can actually help keep you cooler on hot mornings, and prevent sunburn.
Kneeling Pad or Knee Pads Only if you need em- because you'll be kneeling in the soil and on the ground.
Appropriate Shoes While flip flops or sandals are cool and easy, shoes help protect feet from stepping on stickers, stubbing toes, or tripping on uneven ground- your choice, just know you're at your own risk in nature.
Organic Hand Lotion or Oil Afterward, use a natural hand salve, balm, lotion, or oil of preference, Your skin will thank you after working with the soil!
Band-Aids or Small Emergency Kit Nice to have on hand for accidental scrapes, sunburn, etc.
Notebook For notes on our educational talks. Jot down ideas or answers to your questions.
Your Curiosity, Smile, & Sense of Humor Google a good new gardening joke to tell-- or be playful with your learning because we connect and learn better when we laugh, and humor always makes life more fun for everyone!
RECOMMENDED ONLINE RESOURCES
DIY Garden Documentaries
For more DIY videos on cultivating your yard, plus inspiring documentaries, check out this compilation by Epic Gardens!
