🌱 Grow Your Own Food: A Beginner’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening

Workshop Overview

This beginner-friendly workshop equips participants with the fundamental knowledge and hands-on skills needed to start and maintain a successful home vegetable garden. Participants will learn how to plan, plant, and care for a variety of vegetables while practicing sustainable, organic gardening methods.

• Target Audience: Individuals and families new to gardening who wish to grow vegetables for personal use.
• Duration: 8 hours (including a short break)
• Workshop Goal: Equip participants with practical tools and confidence to begin growing their own food.

Workshop Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions (15 minutes)

• Instructor and participant introductions (name, experience, and goals).
• Overview of the workshop objectives and schedule.

2. Why Grow Your Own Vegetables? (30 minutes)

Key Benefits:

• Fresh, organic, and nutritious produce.
• Cost savings and food security.
• Mental and physical health benefits.

💬 Quick discussion: “What motivates you to start a garden?”

3. Basics of Vegetable Gardening (90 minutes)

Garden Types: Raised beds, container gardens, and in-ground gardens.

Site Selection:
• Sunlight (6–8 hours daily)
• Soil drainage and water access.

Soil Basics:
• Testing soil pH and nutrients.
• Improving soil with compost and organic matter.

Garden Layout Planning:
• Companion planting and crop rotation principles.

4. Choosing What to Grow (45 minutes)

Considerations:
• Local climate and frost dates.
• Family needs and favorite vegetables.
• Easy starter plants: tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, beans, carrots.
• How to read seed catalogs and choose local nursery plants.

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LUNCH BREAK (45 minutes)

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5. Planting Techniques (90 minutes)

Seeds vs. Transplants:
• When to start from seed versus transplanting.

Plant Spacing & Depth:
• Demonstrate spacing for common vegetables.

Watering Basics:
• How much and how often to water; drip irrigation and soaker hoses.

Hands-On Activity:
• Participants plant seeds or seedlings in take-home containers.

6. Garden Maintenance (30 minutes)

Watering & Fertilizing:
• Use of compost, organic fertilizers, and regular feeding schedules.

Pest Management:
• Identify common pests and natural control methods (companion planting, neem oil, diatomaceous earth).

Weeding & Mulching:
• Benefits of mulch for moisture retention and weed prevention.

Pruning & Staking:
• Simple techniques for supporting tomatoes, beans, and peppers.

7. Harvesting and Storage (20 minutes)

• When to harvest vegetables for best flavor and nutrition.
• Proper washing, short-term storage, and basic preservation tips.

8. Q&A and Closing (20 minutes)

• Open floor for participant questions.
• Distribution of resources:
  - Gardening tip sheets and planting calendars.
  - Book and website recommendations.
  - List of local gardening clubs and supply stores.
• Feedback forms and closing remarks.

Workshop Materials

Instructor Provides:
• Visual aids (posters, slides, or plant growth charts)
• Seeds, potting soil, and containers for the hands-on activity
• Handouts with planting guides and maintenance schedules

Participants Should Bring:
• Notebook and pen
• Gardening gloves (optional)

Additional Notes

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• Encourage participants to sign up for upcoming workshops:
  - Preserving Garden Produce
  - Composting and Soil Health
 
• Optional: Offer starter kits (seed packs, compost, soil amendments) for sale after the workshop.

Vine and Fig Tree Homestead Workshop Series
Promoting Sustainable Living, Self-Reliance, and Community Learning.