2022 Urban Roots Garden Education
Urban Roots Garden Education (URGE) workshops are open to all and designed to introduce the various elements of organic gardening for beginners in Colorado. These workshops are primarily taught by DUG staff, although we do invite local guest instructors from time to time. URGE workshops are all priced as ‘pay-what-you-can’,
with a suggested program fee of $30.
All workshops are held at DUG HQ (located within The Posner Center) unless otherwise specified.
How To Start Seeds Indoors
Saturday, February 26th, 10:00 – 11:30 am MST
@DUG Headquarters, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205
Want to start your own seedlings this year? Not only is it cheaper than buying transplants, you can also start unusual varieties that you may not find elsewhere. In this 90-minute workshop, we will guide you through the process and set you up for success. Learn when to start different seeds as well as how to plant, water, thin, maintain and provide correct lighting to ensure your gardening season takes root!
Garden Planning Intensive
Saturday, March 19th, 10:00 – 11:30 am MST
@DUG Headquarters, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205
Learn the ins and outs of planning your growing space from a design perspective. We’ll center your own unique garden goals and share best practices and pain points. You’ll walk away from this workshop with a garden plan for the upcoming growing season.
Fruit Tree Pruning
Saturday, March 26th 10:00 – 12:30 pm MST
@Barnum Community Orchard, 140 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80129
Prune fruit trees for productivity, beauty, and health in this hands-on workshop. Participants will learn the basics of tree health and get hands-on practice with a variety of species in the Barnum Community Orchard. In addition to seasonality, tree shape, tool care, and best practices, there will be a special focus on how to reinvigorate neglected trees in an urban setting.
Basics of Organic Gardening
Saturday, April 16th, 10:00 – 11:30 am MST
@DUG Headquarters, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205
This workshop will explore the most important aspects of organic gardening in Colorado, and you’ll learn how to plan your garden to make the most of your growing space throughout the season. Other topics covered include soil preparation, water conservation, planting from seed, transplanting seedlings, harvesting, and an overview of cool and warm-season crops.
Garden Troubleshooting: Pests + Disease
Saturday, July 9th, 10:00 – 11:30 am MST
@DUG Headquarters, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to set up your garden for success. We’ll cover best management practices for crop health, including spacing, healthy soil, watering, identifying pests and diseases, crop rotation, companion planting, as well as distinguishing beneficial from pest insects and how to attract them. We’ll also share practical tips for gardening in the heat of summer.
Putting the Garden to Bed
Saturday, October 8th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm MST
@DUG Garden (TBD)
Shortening days of fall signal to gardeners that it is time to concentrate on preparing the garden for its time of rest and rejuvenation. In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies such as cover crops, various methods of renewing soil using compost, cleaning up leftover annual plant materials, specific varieties of crops that can be grown in the overwintering fall garden, weed management techniques, and planning for crop rotation and soil health. We’ll stress ways to grow ‘smarter,’ using the earth as teacher.
Food Waste + Compost 101
Saturday, November 12th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm MST
@DUG Headquarters, 1031 33rd St, Denver, CO 80205
Did you know in the US that 40% of food is wasted? Become more aware of the food waste issue and how you can play a role in reversing this trend. We’ll also discuss composting as a diversion from the waste stream and the multiple options available to compost at home or in your garden.
