2026 Nourishing Gardens Training

CEI's Nourishing Gardens Training will equip participants with skills needed to roll up their sleeves and start growing food. CEI offers a unique local perspective on urban agriculture based on experience stewarding Freetown Farm, a 6.4-acre farm in Columbia, MD; the Green Farmacy Garden, a 6-acre medicinal plant garden in Fulton, MD; and community gardens throughout Howard County.

Training participants will have the opportunity to make a difference in their community while gaining hands-on experience replacing turf with ecologically beneficial food gardens at our Saturday sessions.

Learn everything you need to know to begin planning, building, planting, and maintaining a food garden.

Go beyond the basics as your learn about permaculture design techniques, non-traditional garden styles (edible landscapes, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, urban farming, etc.), caring for your garden (including W**d, pest, and disease management), and preserving and using your harvest.

• 10-week training program (or 5-week session);
• 1-2 hours of independent learning each week;
• 2-hour in-person learning session each Thursday, 6pm - 8pm (online option available upon request);
• Experiential learning sessions to apply the knowledge from the week to real-life installations each Saturday at Freetown Farm and communities within Howard County; and
• Participants must be at least eighteen years of age and able to provide their own transportation to installation sites within Howard County.

Thursday, April 2, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Orientation & Introduction to lawn transition

Saturday, April 4, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, April 9, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Planning & Building a food garden

Saturday, April 11, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, April 16, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Planting a food garden

Saturday, April 18, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, April 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Maintaining a food garden

Saturday, April 25, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, April 30, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Harvesting and preserving your produce

Saturday, May 2, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person ceremony

* time may need to shift if scheduling conflicts arise

Thursday, May 7, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Permaculture design

Saturday, May 9, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, May 14, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Soil Health & Climate Connection

Saturday, May 16, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, May 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Weeds, Pests, & Disease Management

Saturday, May 23, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, May 28, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Edible Landscapes, Natives, Pollinators

Saturday, May 30, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person experience

Thursday, June 4, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Food Systems

Saturday, June 6, 9:00-11:00 a.m.* | In-person ending ceremony

* time may need to shift if scheduling conflicts arise

Registration costs support CEI in our mission to cultivate communities where people and nature thrive together. With your support, we're able to offer flexible paid work opportunities to community members, earn an income that supports the operations of our organization and mission-delivery, and invest in programs that build community, protect our environment, and support the health and wellbeing of our community members.

5-Week Beginner only - $125

5 - Week Intermediate only - $159

10-Week Beginner & Intermediate Together - $189

This course will be led by Loni Cohen, the Community Ecology Institute Nourishing Gardens Program Manager, in collaboration with other CEI experts. Loni is passionate about creating an environment that fosters a mutually beneficial relationship where people and nature thrive together. Loni enjoys sharing her passion for gardening with the community as the Nourishing Gardens Program Manager, Howard County Master Gardener, and CA W**d Warrior.

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Host or Publisher Community Ecology Institute