Thriving Gardens Course

The 2024 Thriving Gardens Course has come to a close. Stay tuned for updates regarding the 2025 season.

OVERVIEW

The Thriving Gardens Course is a unique garden education program offered by the Vermont Garden Network to teach adults how to grow their own food in a fun, supportive, and cooperative learning environment. The 6-month long course follows the rhythm of the growing season through weekly lessons and hands-on garden work.

In a nutshell:

24 weeks of class instruction (24 Wednesday evenings + 5 Saturday mornings)
Students individually maintain their own 80 square foot garden bed
Shared garden space is available for select vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers
Monthly make-and-take lessons in food preservation and herbalism

WHEN

24 weeks from May 1 to October 12.
Weekly classes are scheduled on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Monthly make-and-take workshops are scheduled on one Saturday per month, from 9:30am – 12:00pm. (May 4, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14)

In addition to weekly classes and monthly workshops, participants are expected to visit the garden on their own flexible schedule to keep up with garden tasks such as watering, weeding, and harvesting.

During Saturday workshops students learn about dyeing fabrics with plants, how-to make medicinal salves, and food preservation techniques through kimchi and sauerkraut making.

WHERE

Ethan Allen Homestead BTV, on the unceded Lands of the Abenaki people.

Students tending to their plots and enjoying the harvest.

COURSE FEE, SCHOLARSHIPS & PAYMENT PLANS

Registration fee: $600

Includes:

62 hours of class time (lessons & hands-on learning)
all necessary gardening materials (seeds, plants, fertilizers, tools, etc.)
make-and-take items (herbalism & food preservation products)
and as many fresh vegetables as you can grow!

Monthly payment plans can be arranged. If you are interested in this option, please first fill out the course registration form so that we can follow up with you.