Grow Your Groceries
Classes and Courses for the Urban Farmer
Soil Born Farms’ Grow Your Groceries program is a beginning farmer and gardener training program designed to provide knowledge and hands-on experience to the aspiring urban grower. Our instructors are experienced masters of organic agriculture and horticulture and experts in farm entrepreneurship. We offer single day classes in diverse subjects such as: preparing spring, summer, fall and winter gardens; building soil fertility; garden design and seasonality; irrigation and water management; natural pest management; composting; fruit tree care; seed saving; beekeeping; foraging wild edibles and more.
Intensive long-form courses include Beginning and Intermediate Home Gardening. Designed for those interested in growing an ample amount of fruits and vegetables in a home, school, or community garden, this course provides in-depth training on concepts and best practices in sustainable annual and perennial fruit and vegetable production.
| Event | Venue | Date | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Companion Planting | American River Ranch |
| Creating a companion planting plan for raised beds and other growing spaces can benefit you and your plants. Companion planting can reduce pests, maximize growing spaces, create healthier plants and enhance flavor. |
Register |
| Drip Irrigation | American River Ranch |
| In this drip irrigation class, come learn the basics of building your own system. We will learn about all the necessary parts, look at various systems here at the farm and practice building a few in our raised beds. |
Register |
| Garden Like a Farmer: Preparing a Garden for a Successful Season | American River Ranch |
| Learn how to set up your garden like a farmer! A garden is a wonderfully complex place, but managing it doesn’t have to be complicated. |
Register |
| Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour | American River Ranch |
| Take a tour of the farm while learning the principles of regenerative agriculture. See how our farmers implement regenerative practices that revitalize the land and restore the historic American River Ranch. |
Register |
| Garden Like a Farmer: Growing Healthy Soils | American River Ranch |
| It all starts with the soil. Learn how to avoid the common mistakes beginning gardeners make. |
Register |
| Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden | American River Ranch |
| In this class, you’ll learn about the needs of various pollinators and how to create an optimal survival environment in your garden. |
Register |
| Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour | American River Ranch |
| Take a tour of the farm while learning the principles of regenerative agriculture. See how our farmers implement regenerative practices that revitalize the land and restore the historic American River Ranch. |
Register |
| Garden Like a Farmer: Beat the Heat! Preparing Your Garden for the Sacramento Summer | American River Ranch |
| Don’t let summer heat be the reason your garden fails—learn the skills to keep your garden success continuing through our tough summer weather. |
Register |
| Composting and Vermicomposting | American River Ranch |
| In this workshop you will learn the basics of each type of composting. We will look at our backyard size systems and practice feeding, turning and troubleshooting. |
Register |
Attending the Grow Your Groceries course helped jump-start my farm career. I have always dreamed of starting a flower farm and, after just 2 or 3 classes, I was selling my flowers wholesale to a local florist. ~ Amber Gardner, Amberchella Flowers
