Grow Organic Vegetables Class Series

Offered January-May

 

pepper plantsFrom January through May of each year, Urban Harvest offers a course series providing all the basics of growing a wide varieties of vegetables in our climate using organic methods. Dr. Bob Randall, author of Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro Houston, is the lead instructor, and instruction includes special guests with expertise in growing a variety of vegetables. Class topics include organic and ecological approaches, vegetable garden design, organic pest control, and a detailed discussion of selecting, growing and using a large number of vegetables, annual herbs, and fruits. With 25 hours of classroom instruction, and six hours of hands-on instruction, this is by far the most comprehensive organic vegetable course in Texas. Graduates who complete the course and 30 hours of volunteer service become certified Organic Vegetable Specialists.

 

 

 

Calendar of Classes and Events

calendarThe Grow Organic Vegetables class runs from January through May and is held on a weekday evening in the Urban Harvest classroom. For pricing, class dates and times, check our Classes and Events calendar in December.

 

Course Topics Include:

  • The Organic Approach; Ecology; Permaculture Concepts;
  • Vegetable Garden Design; Area Climate; Drainage & Raised Beds;
  • Ponds, Bogs, Rain Gardens, Swales & Water; Irrigation, Mulches;
  • Compost; Soil Food Webs; Organic Fertilizers & Plant Nutrition
  • Ecological Pest Control; Other Organic Pest Controls; Bed Rotation;
  • The Gourmet Vegetable Planting Calendar; Vegetable Seeds: Types, Varieties, & Best Sources; Planting Seeds;
  • Growing Organic Transplants; Planting Transplants;
  • Cabbage-Mustard Family;
  • Organic Tomatoes; Other Tomato Family vegetables.
  • Bean & Pea Family; Squash Family; Grain Family; Okra Family; Sweet Potato Family; Mint Family
  • Larger Scale Organic Vegetable Gardening: Allotment Community Gardening; Outdoor Classrooms; Donation Community Gardens; Market Gardens & Farms; Assignments
  • Beet Family; Carrot Dill Family; Onion Family; Lettuce-Sunflower Family; Miscellaneous Other Vegetables.

 

Volunteer Service Hours
You may begin your 30 hours of volunteer service at any time - you need not wait until your classes are complete. You may serve your hours with any opportunity that Urban Harvest has available - visit the volunteering section of our site for more information. Also, we have a network of community and school gardens and can refer you to one that is closest to your home or workplace. Here's the procedure:

 

1. Set up a volunteer opportunity using the listings in the volunteering section of our site.

 

2. After completing your 30 hours, e-mail our office to let us know where you completed the hours and a contact name & number of someone you volunteered with to call for a verbal confirmation.

 

3. Once that's completed, you're ready to be certified. Provide us with your mailing address and we'll send you an official certificate. You can also receive your $50 deposit refund at this time.

 

Attendance Policy
You must attend all 10 classes to be eligible for an Organic Vegetable Specialist Certificate. Please check in each time. If you miss a class, you can make it up the following year when (and if) the class is offered.

 

Class Location
Class is held in the classroom and in the garden at Urban Harvest.