Beginning Farmers Core Curriculum & Hands-On Workshops
Are you interested in growing and selling vegetables but don´t know where to start? Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University Extension partner to deliver a certificate program that introduces the ins and outs of becoming a successful market farmer on five acres or less.
The first part of the course is lecture style and takes place on Tuesday evenings from 4-7 p.m. During the second half of the program, workshops take place at local working farms on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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, livestock farming, seed starting, greenhouse practices, tools and irrigation techniques.
Tuesday Evening Classroom Instruction 4-7 p.m.
1/21/2025 Introduction to the Realities of Farming
2/11/2025 Plant Families, Basic Botany and Plant Physiology
2/25/2025 Soils, Fertility & Plant Nutrition
3/11/2025 Crop Planning, Food Safety on the Farm
3/18/2025 Vegetable Crop Pests and Plant Pathogens
3/25/2025 Labor, Sales, Nuts & Bolts
4/8/2025 Farm Panel Discussion on the Experience of Small Farming
Saturday Hands-On Workshops 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
4/26/2025 Bee Keeping
5/24/2025 Tools & Irrigation
6/21/2025 Livestock Farming Workshop
7/26/2025 Soil Management & Composting
8/23/2025 Greenhouse Propagation
9/13/2025 Insects and Pathogens
9/20/2025 Design, Crop Planting and Harvesting
York Street
9/27/2025 Final Certificate Celebration
Price: $720, public
Core Instructors:
Julia Zoltowsky, Manager of Urban Food Programs Denver Botanic Gardens
Karim Gharbi, CSU Horticulture Agent
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.