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. at Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location. Beginning in May, workshops take place at local farms on Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Staff from our program can help you find hands-on experiences at local farms. This may take the form of a regular volunteer shift, an internship or an apprenticeship. If you have your own farm already up and running, the Gardens or CSU Extension staff can work with you during the growing season on any issues or questions that arise. 

2025 Lectures and Workshops

Core Curriculum Lectures

Select Tuesday evenings, 4-7 p.m. 
Freyer – Newman Center at Denver Botanic Gardens

Introduction to the Realities of Farming        
Plant Families, Basic Botany and Plant Physiology         
Soils, Fertility & Plant Nutrition         
Crop Planning, Food Safety on the Farm         
Vegetable Crop Pests and Plant Pathogens         
Labor, Sales, Nuts & Bolts         
Farm Panel Discussion on the Experience of Small Farming        

Hands-on Workshops

Select Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
Locations Vary

Bee Keeping         
Tools & Irrigation        
Livestock Farming Workshop        
Soil Management & Composting        
Greenhouse Propagation        
Insects and Pathogens        
Design, Crop Planting and Harvesting
Certificate Celebration
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street

Registration for 2025 Core Curriculum & Hands-on Workshops is closed.

Registration for 2026 opens in November of 2025.

Core Instructors

Julia Zoltowsky, Manager of Urban Food Programs Denver Botanic Gardens 
Karim Gharbi, CSU Horticulture Agent 

Contact us at adult.programs@botanicgardens.org or 720-865-3500 with any questions about the Beginning Farmers Core Curriculum & Hands-On Workshops.

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