Fairhaven Farm / Workshops

Micro Gardening Workshop: A Bite-Sized, Creative Approach to Growing Food in Small Spaces

$75.00

Micro Gardening Workshop:
A Bite-Sized, Creative Approach to Growing Food in Small Spaces

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll introduce you to the concept of micro gardening: The creative art of growing food intensively in small spaces.

Saturday, April 27 |  1 – 4 PM

Location: Fairhaven Farm  |  5818 Munger Shaw Rd, Saginaw, MN 55779

Instructors:

Emily Beaton, Fairhaven Farm Co-Visionary & Creative Director

John Beaton, Fairhaven Farm Founder & Co-Visionary

 

Individual Cost: $75, Household Cost $100+
(Cost includes all materials, and your own microgreen growing kit, seed sprouting kit, or garden grow bag to take home!)

 

Ages: 12 and up.

Skill level: Beginner – Intermediate


Workshop Description:

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll introduce you to the concept of micro gardening: The creative art of growing food intensively in small spaces.

Micro gardening embraces spatial limitations, and turns those small, non-typical gardening spaces (like your kitchen counter, apartment balcony, front porch, or tiny urban backyard) into areas of opportunity for abundant food production.

We'll walk you through the process of growing food in the humblest of spaces that may at first seem out of the ordinary. From seed to harvest, we’ll cover everything from growing microgreens and sprouts in your kitchen windowsills, to growing salad greens and herbs in porch planters, to growing tomatoes and basil in raised garden beds in your tiny backyard.

We’ll talk about selecting the appropriate crops and growing methods for your specific situation; Show you how to choose the right containers and growing mediums; Discuss seed sourcing, and demonstrate how to transplant or pot up your starter plants.

Additionally, we’ll talk about the nutritional and psychological benefits of eating home-grown food, and the many delicious ways you can incorporate these nutrient-dense foods into your meals. And, yes, we’ll have some ready-to-eat microgreens and sprouts for you to try!

Lastly, we’ll share our tried-and-true tips to set you up for success, so you’ll be able to troubleshoot the specific challenges you may encounter along the way.

You’ll leave this workshop with the confidence, knowledge, and tools you need to  start growing in a way that works for you and your lifestyle. 

Unlike other gardening classes, the beauty of this workshop is that you won’t have to wait until the ground thaws to get started. In fact, micro farming can be practiced year-round regardless of what’s going on with the weather outside. No need to wait! We’ll send you on your way with a microgreen growing kit, a seed sprouting kit, or a grow bag with a starter plant from our greenhouse so you can use your newly-acquired micro gardening skills right away! 

AND… because the methods and skills learned in this workshop are transferable to whatever scale of gardening you are at, you will be able to take this knowledge with you if you choose to one day branch out and grow at a larger scale.

So, if you love the idea of growing your own food but you’ve got a list of reasons why you’re just not ready… Perhaps you don’t think you have enough time, money, growing space, or the wherewithal to get started? And maybe you’re generally feeling a little overwhelmed by the process?

If this describes where you’re at, this workshop is for you! We know from experience (and years of trial and error) that there are many options for growing food successfully in small spaces. Micro gardening is a great way to supplement your nutrition with your home-grown food without breaking the bank. It is an easy, low risk entry point to growing food due to the low cost and minimal infrastructure required to get started. 

Join us at the farm to learn our “bite-sized”, creative approach to digging in, and growing your own food — starting with where you’re at! 

In this workshop you'll...

  • Get your hands dirty and experience the magic of planting seeds and watching them grow.
  • Learn about the crops that are well-suited for micro gardening, and the reasons you may gravitate toward one option over the other, depending on your available space, time commitment, and general inclinations.
  • Absorb knowledge from experienced growers about what works, what doesn’t work, and soak up some of the  tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way.
  • Compare seed companies and seed varieties and learn about the different seed types (open pollinated, hybrid, non-GMO, etc.).
  • Learn about growing mediums and gain hands-on experience with various micro gardening methods.
  • See and try out some examples of growing containers and sprouting vessels
  • Gain an understanding of proper seeding/planting density and discuss germination methods.
  • Go over micro gardening plant care (watering, lighting considerations, airflow, proper drainage, etc.) 

  • Discuss problems to look out for and troubleshoot challenges that are specific to micro gardening (mold, pests, disease), etc.
  • Learn about harvesting techniques, and post-harvest handling and storage.

  • Hear about the nutritional benefits of the micronutrients and phytochemicals contained in micro gardening crops like microgreens and sprouts, and get to experience the potent flavors of these nutrient-dense greens with the yummy samples provided!
  • Take in some suggestions for the many delicious ways you can incorporate your micro gardening bounty into your meals.

  • Go home with the knowledge, confidence, and the materials you’ll need to start micro gardening on your own!
  • And much, much more!