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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparing Your Fall Garden Beds 8-20-22 | American River Ranch |
| Sacramento has a perfect climate for growing a wide variety of vegetables all year long. This hands-on class will focus on all of the best techniques and considerations needed to prepare your garden beds for planting. |
Register |
| The Magic of Growing Plants from Seeds 8-20-22 | American River Ranch |
| Want to get the whole family involved in gardening? In this hands-on class, you and your family members will work together and learn how to plant seeds. You will practice preparing a garden bed and amending the soil. |
Register |
| Fall Gardening Clinic & Organic Plant Sale | American River Ranch |
| Free classes, talks and tours. Learn how to grow vibrant, tasty, and healthy plants from Soil Born Farm’s knowledgeable staff and community educators. This is a rain or shine event. Registration will occur at the event ONLY and be on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit our Greenhouse and Garden Shop to fill your garden with vegetable starts, edible perennials, medicinal and culinary herbs, succulents and fruit trees which will provide food and beauty through the fall and winter. |
Register |
| Preparing Raised Garden Beds 9-7-22 | American River Ranch |
| Learn how to transition your raised garden beds from summer to fall in this hands-on class. In this class you will help prep garden beds here at Soil Born Farms and learn all about seeding, transplanting, irrigation, soil health and sustainable garden practices. |
Register |
| Native Plants Walk 9-10-22 | American River Ranch |
| Take a leisurely tour of Elderberry Farms Native Plant Nursery which grows about 120 different local native plant species. Learn about the benefits of growing native plants and their adaptability to limited water resources and climate change. |
Register |
| Propagation for the Home Gardener 9-10-22 | American River Ranch |
| Learn to propagate your beloved outdoor perennial plants to expand your garden and share with your friends and family. Observe and practice making cuttings, taking divisions of plants and more throughout the farm. |
Register |
| Seed Saving 9-24-22 | American River Ranch |
| Learn how to save seeds from your favorite crops. We will discuss the importance of seed saving, how to care for the plants to assure a good seed supply and how to create the right environment to save seeds. |
Register |
| Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour 9-24-22 | 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 |
| Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping 9-24-22 | American River Ranch |
| This class focuses on natural beekeeping practices in an urban setting and strategies to keep bees healthy. Learn the practical skills you will need to prepare your own backyard beehive and discuss bee biology, beekeeping equipment, maintenance and basic troubleshooting. |
Register |
| Ask a Farmer: A Grow Your Groceries Class Series on Zoom | American River Ranch |
| Join us for an inspiring presentation on a seasonal gardening topic each month on Zoom. The classes will provide basic information plus time for your questions. You’ll learn tricks of the trade that will help you create and maintain a thriving edible garden. Get expert advice and learn practical strategies to grow organic nutritious food for you and your family. Beginners and seasoned gardeners will benefit. |
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
