Sustainable Foods, Farm & Gardens   

Do you want to lower your carbon footprint and make your own organic fertilizer in one simple process? Learn to compost! Composting is the process for recycling wastes like kitchen scraps and grass clippings into an organic soil amendment that will help your garden retain moisture and support beneficial microorganisms. It’s a great alternative to putting food and yard wastes in landfills, where they generate methane. This workshop will include a demonstration of assembling a quick compost pile, and discussion of various composting setups based on space available.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

September is a bountiful time to work with wild plants. Join wildcrafting guide, Lea Sevigny, for this indoor and outdoor experience. Through a presentation with food samples and a walk along the Portage Creek, participants will learn to identify plants that can be harvested in the fall and the many ways they can enrich autumn menus. 

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

This course introduces practical, small-scale renewable energy systems for everyday use, drawing on over a decade of off-grid experience in Kalamazoo County. Participants will learn how to design and apply solar, wind, and hybrid systems for both off-grid and grid-connected settings, starting with simple applications such as water pumping and efficient appliance use.
Topics include solar performance in Michigan’s variable climate, panel selection and mounting, basic electrical concepts (V=IR, power calculations), and system components such as inverters, charge controllers, and battery storage (lead-acid vs. lithium-ion). The course also covers load types (resistive vs. inductive), AC vs. DC applications, system sizing, and safe wiring practices.
Additional content includes integrating backup generators, evaluating small-scale wind potential, basic zoning/code considerations, and emerging solutions such as biodigesters for energy production. By the end of the course, participants will be able to evaluate and plan practical renewable energy systems tailored to their homes, farms, or small-scale applications.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

This workshop will cover location and planting strategies for new trees, as well as winter seed
preparation for spring planting. Learning the fundamentals of where and how to plant specific
tree species can lead to much better plant health outcomes. Being prepared to scarify, stratify
and propagate tree and shrub seeds can be a fun and affordable way to diversify your
landscape. Fall is a great time to plant once trees have gone dormant, and it is the only time to
prepare for seed overwintering.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Learn about the benefits of developing a personal recordkeeping practice for your farm or garden. Explore a variety of options available for monitoring the health and progress of your plants, from journaling prompts to tracking apps. Participants will be guided through a scientific & sensory observations activity in the garden to practice these recordkeeping skills. 

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Do you have a favorite shirt or pair of jeans with a hole in them, stains, or weak spot? Do you hate the idea of sending them to the landfill? Here’s your solution: transform your holey clothing into a work of slow fashion art! If you can thread a needle and sew on a button, you’ve got the skills you need. The fiber industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world- behind only the oil and gas industry. Repairing and refurbishing your clothing keeps your clothing out of the waste stream, saves you money, gives you a creative outlet, and will make you the envy of your friends. Join us in this 8 week exploration into the world of mending. We will be learning mending of socks, jeans and other pants, shirts and more types of clothing using techniques of weaving, embroidery, knitting, and more. Minimal sewing skills are required- we’ll teach you what you need to know although some familiarity is useful.

 Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

House plants have many benefits, including improving air quality, reducing stress, and adding beauty to your living environment. Learn how to select and care for house plants that are suitable for your space and time. Learn how to share your favorite plants with friends and family with various propagation techniques. Take home several cuttings to grow and enjoy.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

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).

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Class Location: Solfed Farm

4420 W F Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA

Clink on Solfed Farms for more information

Herbs are a traditional source of nutrition and healing. Students will explore the impact of ancestral plants, sources of materia medica, ethical and sustainable foraging techniques, as well as recipes for building a home apothecary. Engage in on-campus plant walks to discuss bioregional, cultivated and seasonal plants. 

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

This class is an overview of the important steps to take before the cold Michigan weather comes in season, to ensure an easier start of the garden the following spring. Participants will take home some fall flower bulbs to plant in their own gardens.  

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Herbal tea is one of the most beloved beverages around the world. In this class, you will learn about the benefits of drinking herbal teas, the art of making your own tea blends, and have an opportunity to taste a variety of herbal teas grown at the Food Innovation Center.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Microgreens are young edible plants that take about 7-14 days after seeding to be able to harvest. They are easy to grow at home using inexpensive equipment. They are flavorful, nutritious and have vibrant colors. In this class varieties of microgreens will be available for tasting. Participants will pick 3 different microgreens to grow and take home. In addition participants will learn how to incorporate them in daily meals.

. Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

In this introductory class to keeping backyard poultry, the participants will learn the basics of raising chickens on a small scale, including breed selection, raising chicks, housing, handling, sanitation, and flock wellness.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Learn how to protect your body from injury and illness during your growing season! Participants will explore safe movement practices and learn how to assess their own personal physical limitations. Common injury prevention practices will also be covered in detail, including appropriate hydration, safe stretching, and safe lifting.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

This course on mobile chicken management will provide chicken keepers with design tips and tricks to maximize poultry flock mobility, utility and contribution to the landscape. Chickens can be wielded like a paintbrush to apply disturbance and nutrients precisely to properties of any size. Course topics include the pros and cons of common mobile chicken infrastructure including chicken tractors and mobile coops and electric fencing and security. This course will benefit participants interested in starting a chicken flock for the first time or those considering switching from a stationary coop to a mobile design on small, medium, and large properties or groups.

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

Create a 2027 Garden vision board using seed catalogs, garden magazines, dried plant material, and other ephemera! Participants will be offered prompts for planning their gardens and setting intentions for their growing spaces. Chat with other local gardeners and hear about what your Kalamazoo neighbors have planned for the next growing season! 

Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships for our community classes. To apply, click HERE. 

This last section of the three-part series in beekeeping will look at the life of a honeybee colony as it prepares for winter. Overwintering practices will be discussed, along with fall and winter duties of the beekeeper. We will continue our examination of bee biology, and discuss other products of the hive.