Community Education Calendar
Events
Composting
Composting offers numerous benefits for both the environment and your garden. DUG’s composting series focuses on how composting improves soil structure, enhances nutrient availability, and supports healthy plant growth. By recycling organic waste, you reduce landfill contributions, cut down on methane emissions, and create rich, fertile soil that retains moisture and supports diverse plant life. Come learn how to build sustainable, nutrient-dense soil right at home through methods like backyard composting, vermicomposting with worms, and using compost tea.
Thank you to our Composting Workshop Series sponsor, Waste Management!
Growing Mushrooms
DUG’s Growing Mushroom series introduces gardeners to the basics of cultivating edible mushrooms both indoors and outdoors. Learn about the materials needed, successful strategies, and common troubleshooting tips for growing mushrooms in your own home. Focused on growing nutrient-rich and protein-packed mushrooms year-round, this class is perfect for gardeners looking to add an additional sustainable food source to their gardens and homes.
Family
DUG’s family series is designed to bring people of all ages together through hands-on, nature-based learning experiences. Focused on intergenerational activities, the program encourages families to connect with each other and with the natural world. With a focus on making nature accessible and engaging for children and adults alike, these workshops foster collaboration, curiosity, creativity and environmental stewardship for families.
Organic Growing
DUG’s organic growing classes offer a well-rounded introduction to growing in Denver’s high-desert climate. Designed to be accessible for beginners while offering insights that experienced gardeners will also find valuable, the series covers topics like soil health, seed starting, planting, harvesting, and preparing your garden for seasonal transitions. With a focus on practical skills and sustainable techniques, these classes support organic gardeners in an urban environment.
Thank you to our Organic Growing Workshop Series sponsor, Delta Dental!
Preservation
Preserve the bounty of your garden and savor its flavors all year long! DUG’s preservation classes guide you through the essential techniques of canning, fermenting, and pickling, helping you safely extend the life of your harvest as you the proper methods for preserving produce, ensuring you can enjoy your homegrown fruits and vegetables long after the growing season ends. Whether you’re new to preserving or looking to refine your skills, these workshops provide the knowledge and confidence to keep the taste of summer on your table year-round.
Thank you to our Preservation Workshop Series sponsor, Ace Hardware!
Sustainability
There are so many ways to take meaningful climate action while living in an urban environment. Learn ways to engage and interact with nature while both conserving and utilizing natural resources, growing food and preserving your harvest, and improving your practical DIY skills.
Thank you to our Sustainability Workshop Series sponsor, Denver Water!
Therapeutic Gardening
DUG’s Therapeutic Gardening series explores the powerful connection between nature, gardening, and mental wellness. Our sensory-focused classes will dive into the research on how spending time in the garden can reduce stress, improve mood, and foster a sense of purpose and belonging while providing practical tools, ideas, and design strategies for adding sensory and medicinal plants into your environment.
Urban Herbalism
Learn to identify the medicinal plants growing in your neighborhood and explore their therapeutic uses in everyday life. From crafting tinctures and teas to creating natural remedies for common ailments, you’ll gain practical knowledge on how to harvest and use plants safely, unlocking the potential of nature to support your health and well-being. Whether you’re new to herbal medicine or looking to deepen your knowledge, our urban herbalism series provides a hands-on way to explore plant-based healing in the urban environment.
Workshop Policies
Refunds or Transfers
If you cancel at least 48 hours before the event, you may request a refund or transfer your registration to another class.
Late Cancellations
Cancellations made within 48 hours of the event are eligible only for a transfer to a future class.
No-Show Policy
If you do not provide advance notice of cancellation, no refunds or transfers will be offered.
Cost
DUG’s Pay What You Can policy ensures our workshops are accessible to all. A $5 minimum fee secures your spot, while the suggested price covers the true cost of the workshop. Participants are welcome to pay more or less based on their means to support DUG programs. For no-cost registration, email [email protected]—no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Subject to Change
All events and workshops are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Registered participants will be contacted with as much advance notice as possible.
Private Group Workshops
Looking to inspire your team, engage your community, or deepen your group’s knowledge around food, community, and climate? Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) offers tailored 60-minute workshops designed for corporate and community groups, non-profit organizations, and grassroots gardening groups.
Family Workshops
DUG’s’ Family Workshops bring generations together through hands-on gardening and sustainability activities. These workshops engage all ages in topics like growing food, composting, and pollinators, fostering collaboration and shared skills. Families leave with lasting memories and a deeper connection to each other, their community, and the natural world.