Spring Training
Spring Training for Gardeners has wrapped up its 2026 spring season.
Check out our Workshops & Classes page for summer and fall workshops to keep learning and growing all season long!
Are you looking for ways to better nourish your mind, body, and even your community? Have you ever wondered if maybe your food supply was the place to start? With food insecurity on the rise, EarthDance Organic Farm School, in partnership with Seed St. Louis, invites you to learn to grow food at whatever price you can afford. Spring Training for Gardeners was designed for total beginners to gardening, as well as those who want to plan and maintain their most successful garden yet, using regenerative methods for growing in community with the land.
2026 Class Archive
I Want to Grow Food. Where do I Start?
_Taught by Coaches Jena Hood & Adia Hunt
Create a garden plan! After coming up with achievable goals for growing your own food, we’ll walk you through understanding your resources and limitations for producing food. You’ll also learn what factors to consider when selecting your location and deciding what to plant to set yourself up for success!
Starting from Seed
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood, Will Delacey, and Dean Gunderson
Successfully start your own plants from seed! In this hands-on class, learn what seeds to choose for your location, timing for seeding, and soil selection, temperature & watering for success. BONUS: Plant your own tray of seedlings to take home!
Top 10 Plants for Home Gardening Success
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood and Jo Phillips
This class will help you choose which annuals and perennials to grow for home gardening success this season and beyond. Learn about plant selection, planting locations, and growing techniques for each, with suggestions for rookies and experienced gardeners alike!
The Down and Dirty: Secrets to Great Soil
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood & Ro Kicker
How do you grow an abundance of nutrient-dense food for yourself, your family, and your community? The secret is in the soil! Learn how to recognize healthy soil, feed & nourish the soil food web, and build soil fertility using simple strategies and techniques available to every gardener.
From Grass to Garden: Bed Building Basics
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood and Dean Gunderson
Hands-On: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 9-11am or 1-3pm at a TBD Seed St. Louis Community Garden. In this hands-on class, learn to turn your lawn into a bountiful garden. Learn to remove grass without using chemicals or tilling, build & fill beds, and the basics of raised bed/container gardening. We’ll also discuss season extension and pest management.
Pests, Weeds, and Plant Disease – Oh My!
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood & Dean Gunderson
Learn how to organically manage pests and weeds! Gain the knowledge needed to identify pest and disease problems early and take the appropriate actions to keep them at bay. We’ll explore different tools and tricks for managing the weeds that never seem to stop.
Maximizing Your Yield for Year-Round Deliciousness
Taught by Coaches Jena Hood & Dani Fuhrman
Learn how to implement creative growing strategies to maximize your harvest. We’ll discuss planning for abundant garden production, efficient space usage, smarter garden harvesting techniques, making the best use of your resources, and how to stock up for winter.
Plant It Forward – Coffee with the Farmers & Community Work Day
Join us for coffee with the farmers at EarthDance and a day of “Planting It Forward” at Seed St. Louis Community Gardens. Tasks will vary but may include: Raised bed building, spreading compost/mulch, planting trees, weeding, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I don’t have much gardening experience; is this program right for me? Spring Training was designed for you if you have never grown a vegetable garden before and are eager to start! Or, if you have had a garden, but didn’t have as much success as you wanted to. Or if you’ve gotten started, but want to learn more so you can increase the frequency or volume of your harvests! This program is NOT FOR: seasoned, veteran gardeners or folks who can’t spare 2-3 hours each week for 5 weeks.
What is the difference between Live Online classes and Hands-on workshops? Live online classes will be held over zoom each week. During classes you will interact with EarthDance farmers, the presenter of the week and fellow online class attendees. Hands-on workshops will be held at the EarthDance Organic Farm School campus, located in Ferguson Missouri, on Saturdays. See dates above!
Can I register for Live Online Classes a la carte? Yes! If you do not want to participate in all 5 weeks of the online course, you can choose which class to sign up for, and pay a la carte.
Can I register for Hands-on workshops a la carte? Yes. We have a limited number of a la carte spots for the first two hands-on classes.
For the 4 add-on, hands-on classes, a la carte registration IS available. Have another question or would like to contact us directly? Email us: farm@earthdancefarms.org