Growing Gardeners

Our Popular "Vegetable Gardening for Beginners" Class will return February 2025

We hope to see you then! See schedule below.

2025 Schedule

February 2025: Feb. 8, 22, March 1, 8 (in-person day on Feb. 8)

May 2025: May 3, 10, 17, 31 (in-person day on May 10)

September 2025: Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27 (in-person day on Sept. 13)

*Note: This class is conducted in four Saturday sessions, with session one, three, and four being held from 9 am until noon on Zoom, and session two in person at a local garden. The in-person session runs from 8:45 am until 12:30 pm. Registration for February class will be open on January 25, 2025.

How Much Our Students Enjoyed the Course

"The scope, quality of materials and content, and the quality of the instructors were top shelf, in my view. I feel especially grateful that I was accepted to participate in this program. I would like to take my learning to the next level."

"On a scale of 1-10, the course was a 20!"

"It was amazing and inspiring, I want to continue learning and gardening and getting the textbook until I have time to do the full master gardener someday :) "

"Extremely satisfied. Worth my time and excited about applying what I learned."

"Loved the course and the effort put into the content and delivery. Most of all loved the time we spent in the demo garden, thank you all for making this possible."

We invite you to scroll to the bottom of this page to take a look at and download our Vegetable Gardening Handbook for Beginners.

For questions about the Growing Gardeners project, contact mgcc.growinggardeners@gmail.com.

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Course

Are you curious about how to start growing your own vegetables? Do you have gaps in your vegetable gardening knowledge that might be holding you back? Would you like to become familiar with world-class UCANR resources that will help you solve your gardening problems?

If so, please join us, as our Contra Costa Master Gardeners guide a series of presentations on topics that will help answer your questions and give you the skills and confidence to grow vegetables successfully. Discover the value of learning about UC science resources.

This Vegetable Gardening for Beginners course covers the basic principles of growing your own vegetables. After you complete the course by attending all 12 hours of instruction, you receive a UC certificate as a Growing Gardener in Vegetable Gardening.

TOPICS:

Evaluating your site
Selecting and planting your vegetables
Building healthy living soil
Harnessing the power of pollinators and beneficial insects
Efficiently irrigating your garden
Using UC best practices and resources

This course is ideal for beginners. Lessons cover the basic principles of gardening and include guidelines for Contra Costa County’s unique growing conditions. Participants who complete the course by attending all 12 hours of instruction will become UC certified Growing Gardeners In Vegetable Gardening.

Can't attend classes?

Even if you can't participate in our classes, it's easy to start a vegetable garden at home. Peruse and download a copy of the Vegetable Gardening Handbook for Beginners and take a look at our helpful gardening articles under Sustainable Gardening and Edible Gardening.