Education Classes

Here are the 2013 FREE education events in Santa Fe. More to be added to the list. Please contact Home Grown New Mexico for questions at homegrownnewmexico@gmail.com and 473-1403 for questions.  More are posted on the community calendar for future planning. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter and at homegrownnewmexico.org. We hope that you will join us.

Grow a Giant Pumpkin- Free Class
Saturday, May 25 from 10am – 12pm
Earth Care Community Garden
6600 Valentine Way (Next to Southside Library)
Presented with Earth Care
Please RSVP for this class

Jannine Cabossel, a Master Gardener and ‘The Tomato Lady’ at the Santa Fe Farmers Market will teach a class on how to grow a giant pumpkin. She has extensive experience in growing vegetables on her 2000 square foot garden using all organic methods. In 2011, she had a 448lb pumpkin named Mad Max that won the largest pumpkin in the state. She will discuss squash bugs, row cover and maintenance for large squash plants. Follow her blog at giantveggiegardener.com.

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Learn to Make Jerky- Free Class
Sunday, Feb 10 from 1pm – 3pm
Whole Foods St. Francis and Cordova

Please RSVP for this class

Monte Vista Organic Farm will teach how to make jerky this winter. David and his daughter Jennifer will show us some techniques. Jennifer is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the University of New Mexico. After graduating from the CIA she worked as a vegetarian chef at Goucher College and then moved on to creating healthy menus at Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Home Garden Seed Saving- Free Class
Saturday, February 23 from 10am-12pm
Whole Foods on Cerrillos

Please RSVP for class

Save seeds from your home garden and share them with the community. Save seeds from your home garden and share them with the community. Amy Hetager has gardened since she was six years old and understands how to save seeds for a home garden.  She has information from Native Seeds, Organic Seed Alliance and Seed Matters. She will prepare you for the seed exchanges. Please bring your seeds and he can review them in the class. We also want to hear your stories and feedback. She will prepare you for the February 26 Cool Season Crop Seed Exchange at the potluck at Whole Foods on St. Francis. Please bring your seeds and he can review them in the class.  There is also a Santa Fe Seed Exchange on March 20 from 4pm-7pm where you can exchange more seeds.
Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Seed Saving Techniques- Free Class
Saturday, March 9 from 10am – 12pm
Railyard Community Room (Behind SITE Santa Fe)

Presented with the Railyard Stewards

Please RSVP for Class
This class is an introduction to seed saving, including considerations for planning your garden with seed saving in mind. We will look at how pollination happens in various species, and how this affects things like population sizes and isolation techniques. You will learn practical ways to ensure high-quality seed. Time allowing we will also look at plant selection and rogueing, as well as seed labeling protocol and seed storage requirements. Later classes will include hands-on techniques for harvest in fall 2013.

Kirsten Szykitka has worked at Arch Noah seed farm and show garden in Austria. She was the Education Coordinator at Abundant Life Seed Foundation (which later became the Organic Seed Alliance). She continues to be enchanted by the power and spirit held within the seed. Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Zero Waste- Free Class
Sunday, March 10 from 1pm-3pm
Railyard Community Room (Behind SITE Santa Fe)
Presented with the Railyard Stewards

Please RSVP for Class

This class will discuss Zero Waste and why it must be accomplished. Jessie will discuss how plastic bags/bottles contribute to global warming. The class will learn the health hazards of plastics. She will answer the question,” Are corn plastics ecologically sound and moral.”

Jessie Emerson is a RN and certified clinical herbalist.  She has a degree is sustainable community development from Prescott College and has studied ecovillage design at Findhorn Community in Finhorn, Scotland.  She is the Zero Waste coordinator for the Northern New Mexico Sierra Club. Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Soil Ecology Class- Free Class
Saturday, March 23 from 10am to 12pm
Earth Care Community Garden
Corner of Country Club Road and Jaguar Drive (across from library)

Please RSVP for Event

This workshop will highlight how to establish and maintain healthy soil ecology. Jermaine will discuss ways of achieving a well-rounded soil structure and desired medium, soil building techniques, application of amendments and microbiology. He will also address soil care in houseplants.

Jermaine Theragood works with the Santa Fe Community Farm, Dandelion Ranch and La Familia Community Garden in Alto Street Park. He received one of the first plots in the Earth Care Community Garden in 2012 and built great soil. He has helped individuals and families grow their own food sustainably year-round through Peace Gardens.

Water Catchment Class- Free Class
Sunday, March 24 from 1pm to 3pm
Railyard Community Room (Behind SITE Santa Fe)
Presented with the Railyard Stewards

Please RSVP for Class

Learn to harvest our precious rainwater and design systems that make best use of it for your different needs. This class will cover the basic elements of rain collection systems including sizing and sitting your tank as well as keeping the water clean. We will also discuss accessories like tank gauges, first flush systems, and filters for DIY systems.

Amanda Bramble is the director of Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center in Cerrillos, NM (www.ampersandproject.org).  She has a video called the Cutting Edge online. Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Seed Starting- Free Class
Saturday, March 30 from 10am-12pm
Railyard Community Room
Behind SITE Santa Fe
Presented with the Railyard Stewards

Please RSVP for Class

Jannine Cabossel, a Master Gardener and ‘The Tomato Lady’ at the Santa Fe Farmers Market will teach a class on how to start seeds for your garden. Jannine has extensive experience in growing vegetables on her 4000 square foot garden using all organic methods. Follow her blog at giantveggiegardener.com.
Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Backyard Chicken Basics Class- Free Class
Saturday, April 6 from 10am-12pm
Mike & Molly’s House
747 Old Las Vegas Highway

Please RSVP for Class

Chickens are inquisitive, entertaining and food producing.  Owning a small flock of chickens is becoming as popular as having a cat or dog.  They are easy if you have an understanding of what they need for shelter, food and health.  Come learn how you can start your own flock today.  Find out what is the best breed for you, how to provide a healthy diet and what type of chicken coop is right for your backyard. Learn how to build a proper brooder and how to deal with predator issues.  Walk through Mike and Molly’s chicken yard and find out what they have learned about what works and what does not from raising chickens for over 10 years.  Molly and her husband write mikeandmollyshouse.com a blog dedicated to money-saving ideas, gardening, chickens, building projects and much more.  Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Seed Starting- Free Class
Saturday, April 13 from 10am – 12pm
Earth Care Community Garden
6600 Valentine Way (Next to Southside Library)
Presented with Earth Care

Please RSVP for Class

By starting seeds indoors in early spring you not only get a head-start on your years food production by protecting your crops from Santa Fe’s finicky spring climate, but you also get more time with your hands in the dirt.

In this class we will discuss the basics of making your own soil mix for indoor seed starting, requirements for bountiful seed germination, basic indoor and outdoors seedling care, and season extension tricks for outdoor growing.  This class will prepare you so by the last frost date your garden is ready to bloom and grow.

Erin O’Neill sprouted up on the east coast and made her way to Nambe where she and her family nuture their tiny plot into bloom. Erin has lived in the high desert for 12 years and has focused her growing career on educational gardens at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, Monte Del Sol Charter School, Earth Care and Santa Fe Community College. Her love of gardening is her most cherished gift from the Earth and she always delights in sharing it.

Season Extension- Free Class
Saturday, April 13 from 10am – 12pm
Railyard Community Room (Behind SITE Santa Fe)
Across Paseo de Peralta from Farmers Market on street by railroad tracks

Presented with Railyard Stewards

Please RSVP for event

Jannine Cabossel, a Master Gardener and ‘The Tomato Lady’ at the Santa Fe Farmers Market will teach a class on how to use row cover, hoop houses and items to garden earlier and later in the season.

Jannine has extensive experience in growing vegetables on her 4000 square foot garden using all organic methods. Follow her blog at giantveggiegardener.com.

Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

Seed Saving Class- Free Class
Sunday, April 28 from 1pm-3pm
Santa Fe Community Farm
1829 San Ysidro Crossing (off Agua Fria)
Presented with the Community Farm

Please RSVP for Class

Come see the Santa Fe Community Farm. This class is an update from the first one at the Railyard. This class is an introduction to seed saving, including considerations for planning your garden with seed saving in mind. We will look at how pollination happens in various species, and how this affects things like population sizes and isolation techniques. You will learn practical ways to ensure high-quality seed. Time allowing we will also look at plant selection and rogueing, as well as seed labeling protocol and seed storage requirements. Later classes will include hands-on techniques for harvest in fall 2013.

Kirsten Szykitka has worked at Arch Noah seed farm and show garden in Austria. She was the Education Coordinator at Abundant Life Seed Foundation (which later became the Organic Seed Alliance). She continues to be enchanted by the power and spirit held within the seed. Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.

How to Grow the Best Tomato- $5 donation for non-Milagro Gardeners
Saturday, May 4 10am-12pm
Milagro Community Garden
Rodeo Road and Legacy
Please RSVP for this class.

Presented with Milagro Community Garden at milagrogarden@yahoo.com

Jannine Cabossel, a Master Gardener and ‘The Tomato Lady’ at the Santa Fe Farmers Market will teach a class with Master Gardener Duskin Jasper on how to grow the best tomatoes. They have tips on what to put in the ground when planting, how to protect them, disease control, how to care for the plant and harvesting.

Jannine has extensive experience in growing vegetables on her 4000 square foot garden using all organic methods. Follow her blog at giantveggiegardener.com.

Solar Cooking Class
Saturday, May 11th
10am-12pm
Frenchy’s Community Garden
Park in the Frenchy’s Field Parking lot on Agua Fria and Osage and walk down to garden.
Please RSVP for this class

Presented with City of Santa Fe Parks Division

Making your meals in a solar oven can be easily integrated into your current life style.  Solar cooking won’t heat up your home in the summer, and the fuel is free.   Learn about the range of solar cookers available, how they work, how to cook in them, what kind of pots to use, and safe temperature ranges. Amanda Bramble is the director of Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center in Cerrillos, NM (www.ampersandproject.org).  She has been solar cooking for 15 years and uses it as her primary cooking source.

Suggested $10 donation or become a 2013 Member for $35 with $250 value and all free classes, potlucks and tour.