Sustainable Foods, Farm & Gardens   

Note: This class will meet 3 times on different days, and dates

Class 1 - Thursday, March 19th - KVCC Food Innovation Center - Room 114 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Class 2 - Wednesday, April 1st -  KVCC Food Innovation Center - Room 114 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Class 3 - Monday, May 18th -  KVCC Food Innovation Center - Room 113 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

In this course participants will learn about the necessary role native plants play in creating local ecosystems and how to garden for wildlife in a space of any size. Participants will be introduced to common native trees, grasses, and flowers, and discuss how to incorporate these plants into their gardening practices. Participants will learn different germination methods for seed starting and make their own kit to take home.

A class designed by women, for anyone that's looking to gain confidence in how to use and maintain basic landscape, garden and yard tools. This class will start with basic safety and personal protection equipment and go over a variety of hand tools and types of shovels, including how and when to use each one. How to use a string trimmer and how to change the strings will also be covered. 

This is a two part class

Class 1 - Saturday, March 28th - 10 am - 1 pm - KVCC Food Innovation Center room 113

Class 2 - Saturday, April 25th - 10 am - 1 pm - KVCC Food Innovation Center room 113

This class will cover topics such as building your garden team, garden planning, mapping your garden path forward, resources to support your garden, and an optional hands-on activity on the afternoon of April 25, building a native bee hotel. 

This course introduces participants to incorporating perennial fruits, vegetables and herbs into their landscapes. This is a great option for urban landscapes with limited space providing additional functionality and beauty. Pest management strategies and proper plant placement will be discussed. A walk through the Food Innovation Center’s polyculture gardens will be included to see these methods in action. 

This course will help participants design, install and maintain landscaping and gardens for various needs and spaces. By selecting plants that match local climate, soil, and light exposure, participants will gain insight on how to plan and implement low maintenance gardens.

In Yogic philosophy, Annamaya Kosha is our physical body. Anna means 'food' and maya means 'consists of.'  Our body consists of bones, organs and fleshly tissues which require nourishment, rest, movement and cultivation of awareness.

In this 6-week course, Sokhna Heathyre, a full spectrum doula & lactation consultant, herbalist, & Yogini, invites you to cultivate sensory presence, revitalize connection to self and community, and create nourishment as we integrate Yoga, cooking and gardening.  Each week we will explore how soil & skin, minerals & hormones,  pranayama & aroma, yogasana, anatomy & Mother Earth's delectables all provide nourishment to our lives. This class is designed for all genders, birthworkers, new parents, and anyone discovering they are Nature.

Dig in to learn how to locate and evaluate land for your farm or garden goals! We'll talk about ways to access land and considerations for determining if the land is a good fit based on site amenities and soil considerations.

Meet the first edible, wild greens of the season with wildcrafting guide, Lea Sevigny. In this outdoor experience, participants will learn to identify plants that can be harvested in early spring while so much of the landscape has yet to wake up. There are many “weeds” that make delicious food, if you know what to do with them. Join us for some simple recipe ideas to transform your spring menu.

Join Lavender Moon Garden + Studio for a morning of nature and art! We’ll go for a walk and collect leaves, flowers and found objects and then use light sensitive paper and the sun to make beautiful cyanotypes with our collections. 

This three-week hands-on workshop series introduces participants to natural building finishes. Designed for homeowners, builders, designers, and sustainability enthusiasts, the course blends practical demonstrations with foundational building science principles. Participants will learn how to identify and prepare clay soils, mix earthen plaster, and apply a traditional three-coat plaster system (scratch, brown, and finish coats).

Class Location: Solfed Farm

4420 W F Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA

Clink on Solfed Farms for more information

This course is the second in the three-part Beekeeping series. Weather permitting, hands-on learning in the Food Innovation Center’s apiary is planned for each week, where students will evaluate hive strength, health, and how to support growing colonies. Classroom review will cover swarming, splits, integrated pest management, and a further focus on biology through the season and keeping bees in Southwest Michigan.

In this class participants will explore components of vegetative (green) roof systems, and observe a live demonstration of roof edge detailing, including parapet construction for soil retention.

Topics include:

Vegetative roof assembly layers (protection layer, root barrier, drainage layer, filter fabric, and substrate)

Lightweight growing media options (including vermiculite blends and straw applications)

Plant selection for extensive roof systems (sedum species and drought-tolerant varieties)

Basic structural and moisture considerations

 Solfed Farm

4420 W F Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA

Click on Solfed Farm for more information

In this first course of the three-part Beekeeping series participants learn about introductory bee biology, needed equipment, apiary preparation, options for obtaining bees, and how to get them into their new home. 

This three-week course is the ideal class for anyone looking to get started on their growing journey. Topics covered include: site analysis, soil health, planning for weed and pest control, water needs, fencing and trellising options, plant variety selection, seed stewardship, and starting plants from seeds. Includes additional summer garden drop-in sessions.