Events Calendar

Green your thumb, improve your wellness and beautify your garden during these fun, hands-on classes on Saturday mornings in downtown Iowa City. You will take home all the knowledge, publications, seeds and inspiring ideas needed to successfully and enjoyably grow vegetables and herbs in your own garden.

Learn to help plants thrive, produce high yields and reduce maintenance chores through proper seed starting, bed layout, soil preparation, mulching, composting and companion planting. Only organic methods of weed and pest management will be learned; no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers will be used.

March 9: Bed Placement and Layout
Minimize maintenance and maximize yields through proper bed design, companion planting and integrated pest management.

April 6: Seed Starting
Select from top vegetable and herb varieties. Properly seed plants for indoor growth and take home seeded pots.

May 11: Bed Preparation and Planting
Prepare new and existing beds for low-maintenance through no-till methods and proper weeding and mulching. Propagate seedlings and directly seed plants. Take home desired seeds.

May 18: Gardening for Health and Fun
Learn to design and establish a nutrient-dense Wahls Protocol® garden that will provide you and your family with nourishing food. Learn about the many health benefits of getting your hands dirty.

June 8: Container Gardening
Successfully grow mixes of vegetables and herbs in conventional and whimsical pots.

July 13: Eat Your Greens (and Weeds)
Harvest the bounty of late spring greens. Sample nutritious, yummy green drinks made from the cultivated and wild greens and go home with smoothie recipes.

August 10: Composting and Fertilizing
Understand plant nutrient needs. Create a compost pile and brew nutrient-rich compost tea. Start an indoor vermicomposting (worm) bin.

Registration for all 7 classes: $115 or individual classes: $22. Meeting location is the Edible Classroom on the south side of the Robert A Lee Community Center.

Taught by Fred Meyer, master gardener and permaculture designer at Backyard Abundance, and Jennifer Kardos, horticultural therapist and health coach. Hosted by Backyard Abundance in collaboration with the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department.