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Our classes are taught by local experts who are part of
our community. We are a local, family-owned business, not connected with a
national chain, and we are involved in many volunteer activities to make our
community better. (For instance, James is one of the leaders of the
campaign to change Denver's restrictive chicken and goat laws.) We
practice the sustainability that we preach, and we hire teachers who live, work
and shop in and around Denver, Boulder and Ft. Collins, Colorado. It is
very important to learn from local experts who are familiar with the unique
climactic conditions in Colorado. You can
read the teachers' profiles right here. Please support our local business,
our local teachers, our local economy and our community. Class
descriptions are below the calendar.
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Basic
Chicken Keeping
 So, you think you want to
have your very own chickens? Why? Why not?! But what kind of stuff should
you sort of know before you dive in? What kind of chickens? Where do you
get them? How many? How much work are they? Are they really as cool as
people say? Are their eggs truly better than store-bought?
The answer to the last question is an emphatic yes! We'll explore the
answers to the other questions and dozens of other tidbits in this class.
You should feel pretty ready to make
the plunge after this introductory session.
Instructor:
John Beauparlant
Cost:
$35
See a recent class on YouTube
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Butchering chickens
A real
hands-on course. You will watch a demonstration on butchering chickens for
your own consumption. Then each participant will have the chance to kill and
dress his or her own bird to take home.
Instructor: Lori
Tigner
Cost $55, includes rooster
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Basic Goat Keeping
 So you
think you want a goat? Better get two! What you need to know about buying
goats and where to get them.
What about
housing, fencing, and other essentials?
Why you shouldn’t
start with a goat that is milking and other important information to make
this a good experience for both you and the animals.
Instructor:
Jeanne Anderson
Instructor: Lori
Tigner
Cost:
$45
See a recent class on
YouTube
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Intermediate goatkeeping and farm tour
Tour a
working goat farm. Learn about fencing, feed
requirements, milking goat and kid care and of course play with the goats.
April is the month that kids are born, so their will be lots of little ones
running around. You might even luck out and see some newborns. Basic
goatkeeping course is required first before you can attend this class.
Instructor: Lori
Tigner
Cost:
$45
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Backyard Fish Farming
Learn how to feed yourself and your
family by designing and building your own fish farm. This one-day
class by a local fisheries expert will teach you the basics for understanding fish
biology, water chemistry, feeding, lighting and finally backyard production.
There will be plenty of time for questions. Bring your lunch.
(Note: We have had inquiries about the class by people who want to start
both profit and non-profit fish farming ventures, so taking this class may
provide some useful networking opportunities.)
Instructor: Bill Manci
Cost:
$125
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Worm
Composting
Worm composting,
a.k.a. Vermicomposting, uses worms to break down shredded paper and food
scraps to turn it into what is commonly called “black gold”: a very valuable
soil amendment that provides the healthiest plants around.
Students will
learn how to set up and maintain a home worm bin. Bedding, bin type,
feeding, moisture levels, maintenance, harvesting and how to use the compost
are all covered in this informative and FUN class!
Students will get
to impress their neighbors with their gorgeous gardens and produce and also
get to be a part of the solution by
keeping organic waste out of the landfill.
Instructor:
Sandi Weise
Cost: $35 |
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Ecohouse tour and seminar
Nestled in the
foothills NW of Boulder, an on-going project in home
sustainability is taking place. The owner has set out
to minimize his negative impact on the planet while at the same time
conforming to building codes, societal constraints, neighbors' expectations,
and construction/mortgage finance stipulations. Make no mistake, it's a
work in progress, but
Mr. Hanzel is keen to share his experience with others.
Come spend a
morning dialoging with Karl about his home's hybrid strawbale construction,
passive solar design, graywater recycling system, composting toilet, active
solar thermal system, rooftop water harvesting system, solar PV system,
terraced gardens, budding orchard, neighborhood composting program,
alternative transportation, and chickens.
Please bring food
if you would like to participate in the optional potluck lunch for those
wanting to continue a discussion about some of the interesting measures that
Karl has taken.
At Karl’s Home
near Boulder
Instructor:
Karl Hanzel
Cost:
$30 |
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Urban Foraging Class, or How
to Identify Edible Weeds Come
and learn to identify nutritious and delicious flora in our alleyways and
backyards. You will look at our weeds with new eyes and with a new
appreciation for the reason they are here. We will forage outside
during the class and end with a feast of wild foods that we have harvested
for free!
Urban Foraging
Instructor:
Tonja Reichley
Cost:
$25 |
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Growing Mushrooms at Home
Instructor:
Marc Donsky
Cost: $35 |
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Growing and Using Culinary Herbs
Herbs are
described as a useful plant for eating, crafting, and medicinal purposes.
This class is about eating and crafting herbs. Come learn the best
herbs that grow in Colorado
and how to grow herbs in your kitchen!
We help you find
the best location for your herb crops and when to harvest. Herbs are
generally easy to care for and thus especially wonderful for folks who think
they don’t have a green thumb. You will learn how to smell for the optimal
concentration of oils in order to get the best flavors and scents.
How to use herbs
fresh and
to preserve them for extended use. How to make a blend for culinary
purposes or crafting. Ideas for recipes and crafting projects included.
Instructor:
Judy Vanderbosch
Cost: $25
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Extending the
Growing Season
with Cold Frames
Want to grow food
year round? Wish you could grow in the winter outside without a greenhouse?
You can!! Come learn
how to build and place a cold frame in your yard. They are cheap to build
and easy
to care for. Cold
frames provide fresh greens thoughout the winter months.
Instructor:
Barbara Masoner
Cost: $20 |
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Intro to Raw Cooking Class
This is
an entry level raw cooking class offering introduction on how to prepare a
delicious three-course raw Italian meal with very basic raw food ingredients
and minimal equipment. This instructional class will teach you to prepare
delicious Caesar Salad, Lasagna and Tirimisu using 100% RAW vegetables,
fruits and nuts. The food that we will prepare will be naturally
gluten-free and free of all animal products and by-products. This class
welcomes all home cooks of all levels and includes a delicious lunch that we
make!
Instructor: MacKenzie Kampling
Cost: $35
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Grow
Using Hydroponics
This is a how-to class in growing vegetables
hydroponically. The class will review basic systems, and the teacher will
bring a hydroponic setup and the class will plant tomatoes and other
vegetables. Fertilizers and supplements will be explained, along with
recommended vegetables to grow using hydroponics.
Instructor: Ross Karr
Cost: $75
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Vegetable Gardening 101
Learn the keys
to successful vegetable growing on the Front Range including tips and tricks
to make your gardening life easier. Colorado’s climate realities include a
short growing season, cool summer nights, dry air, erratic late spring and
early fall frosts. Soil conditions add another gardening challenge. The
guiding hand of you, the grower, makes all the difference in altering
growing conditions to achieve results. Come learn when and how to intervene
to produce the vegetables you want for fresh eating and preserving.
Instructor: Carl Wilson
Cost: $25
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Restore Wood Furniture
(and save a
tree)
This class will learn how to identify good-quality wood furniture, doors,
etc. suitable for refinishing damaged by water, sun, scratches and the
students will learn simple techniques for refinishing these tables, chairs,
etc. Which materials are better to use among varnishes, wood fillers,
etc? These will be part of the class. All students will get
hands-on experience with sanding tools and the finishing materials.
This practical course will empower you to improve the appearance of the wood
in your home and to help save the planet by keeping good wood furniture out
of the dumpster. It can also be a rewarding hobby, financially and
psychologically.
Instructor: Irina Bertini
Cost: $20 |
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Knitting: make hats, scarves and sweaters In
this class students will learn simple ways to make unique articles of
clothing out of locally-produced materials, such as wool yarn. Tired
of your old sweater? Take it apart and make something new! Real
recycling.
Instructor: Irina Bertini
Cost: $25 |
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WE NEED TEACHERS IN:
Beekeeping
Grafting fruit trees
Designing greenhouses
Drying and preserving food
Other ag/sustainable/homesteading skills
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DENVER
URBAN HOMESTEADING
OUR
YEAR-ROUND INDOOR FARMERS' MARKET IS OPEN EVERY SATURDAY FROM 9-2 
