Beginning Farmers Core Curriculum & Hands-on Workshops

Are you interested in small-scale farming, growing your own food or bringing food to market? Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University Extension partner to deliver a certificate program that introduces the ins and outs of becoming a successful small-scale market farmer.

This intensive course covers small farm production strategies from budgeting and planning to hands-on how-to in the field. Topics include soils management, harvest and food safety, seed starting, greenhouse practices, tools and irrigation techniques.

Lectures take place on Tuesday evenings from 4-7 p.m. Workshops take place at local farms on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Register for Core Curriculum & Hands-on Workshops

2024 Program Overview

Core Curriculum Lectures

Introduction to the Realities of Farming: Design, Site Selection & Record Keeping
Plant Families, Basic Botany & Plant Physiology
Soils, Fertility & Plant Nutrition
Crop Planning & Food Safety on the Farm
Vegetable Crop Pests & Plant Pathogens
Labor, Sales, Nuts & Bolts
Farm Panel