Community CROPS Workshops

Community CROPS Workshops -- 2012

Come learn with us! Classes and workshops are offered throughout the year on gardening and farming topics, cooking, and sustainable living. Do you have an idea for a class you'd like to teach? Call us at 402.474.9802 to discuss!

Upcoming Classes

To register for CROPS classes, use the Paypal link below each class, or make out a check to Community CROPS and send it to us at 1551 S. 2nd, Lincoln, NE 68502, with the name of the class written in the memo line.

View past classes here. Many will be offered again next year!

Growing Farmer Workshop Series

Do you have a Small Farm Dream? The Growing Farmers workshops will help you learn the planning and production skills you need to start a market farm business. Learn from experienced growers, extension educators and business experts.

The next class in the series will cover business planning, risk management, CSA planning, and a panel of local produce buyers. It will be held at the Lincoln Community Foundation (15th and N) on Saturday, January 28 from 9 am to 4 pm.

To see a full list of classes, view the full 2012 syllabus. The workshops are $40 each. For more information on the workshop series, go to our Farm Page.

To register for any the 2012 workshops, click here to fill out the on-line form or link to print the application.

For more information on the Workshop Series, contact Warren at 402-474-9802 or warren@communitycrops.org.

CROPS Classes at SCC - Winter Quarter

Seed Starting with Ingrid Kirst, Wednesday, February 8, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee $10.

This class is listed on pages 24 and 25 of the SCC Winter Course Guide. For additional information and to register, go to http://www.southeast.edu/continuing.

Urban Chicken Farming

Thursday, March 15, 6-8pm, Lancaster County Extension, 444 Cherrycreek Road

This workshop will cover how to raise chickens in your own yard. Participants will learn about the basics of brooding chicks and raising hens, as well as some suggestions for pen design.

CROPS Class Fees

Community CROPS classes are open to anyone who wants to come. Prices below are standard unless otherwise notified. Classes through Southeast Community College prices vary.

$15 - at the door

$12 - pre-paid general registration

$10 - pre-paid, program participant (Gardener, Farmer, CSA Member, Volunteer)

free - program participants receiving financial assistance

Use the Paypal link below each class to register, or make out a check to Community CROPS and send it to us at 1551 S. 2nd, Lincoln, NE 68502 with the name of the class written in the memo line.

If you qualify for free registration, call 402-474-9802 or e-mail info@communitycrops.org to pre-register.

Past Garden/Farm Classes

Composting with Worms

Have a small space? Want to compost inside over the winter? Let worms do the work for you! Make your own worm composting bin to use all year long in an indoor space to turn your kitchen scraps into natural fertilizer for your plants. Classroom participants had a great time learning about Vermicomposting and creating their own bin to take home.

Double Digging Workshop

More information on: Double Digging and Biointensive gardening, (www.growbiointensive.org).

Irrigation and Other Tools on the Market Farm

Presenter: Leslie Pillen, CROPS Farm Program Manager

A class about how, when and why to use a variety of irrigation methods. We focused on drip irrigation and set up a system together. We also tried out several tools used by market farmers.

Small Engine Use, Selection and Maintenance

Presenter: Justin Jones, CROPS Farm Site Coordinator

Basic maintenance and troubleshooting tips for small engines used on market farms were covered. We learned about how small engines work, and serviced a mower as a class.

Pruning, Trellising, Pinching and Mounding for Vegetable Crops

Presenters: Evrett Lunquist and Ruth Chantry, Common Good Farm

Ruth and Evrett discussed pros and cons of various plant management techniques, and demonstrated a variety of techniques commonly used on market farms. They also covered planning for succession plantings into the fall. And Ruth served her amazing lemon bars!

Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling

Presenters: Kevin and Charuth Loth, ShadowBrook Farm

Class participants joined Kevin's crew for the day to harvest, wash and pack an order for Whole Foods. This hands-on experience illustrated the importance of sanitation, efficiency and communication with work crews.

Kevin and Charuth have owned and operated ShadowBrook Farm for 15 seasons. ShadowBrook is a certified organic vegetable farm which sells through multiple area farmers' markets, runs a CSA and sells to many grocery stores and restaurants. They always bring high quality produce to market!

Organic Insect Pest Management

Presenter: Leslie Pillen, CROPS Farm Manager

In this class we viewed many vegetable pests in action and covered principles of organic insect pest management. The class walked through the fields learning to scout for and identify pests. Leslie has many years of experience both managing insects and teaching others to safely and effectively deal with them.

Season Extension: High Tunnels, Cold Frames and Row Cover

This class outlined a variety of techniques to extend your growing season without using fossil fuels for heat.

Past Cooking Classes

Put it on a Pizza! Cooking Class

Wednesday July 20th 6:30pm-8:00pm, “F” Street Recreation Center (13th & F Streets)

Hang up on the pizza delivery place- you're making your own tonight! This class covers the basics of dough making, sauce creation, and offers suggestions on how to use even the most obscure of veggies on a delicious pizza. We demonstrate different cooking methods, and make a side dish of fresh pesto. We use a wide variety of seasonal produce from Community CROPS; Sunset Community Farm.

Seed Saving Workshop

Led by former CROPS Staff - Brad Kindler

Saving seed is an ancient human activity. For thousands of years humans have diversified our diets with vegetable varieties that we have changed to reflect our environments, tastes, and cultures. This one hour seed saving workshop will cover the techniques and technologies of effective seed saving. Additionally, we will cover basic information concerning cross pollination, open pollinated heirloom varieties, genetic engineering, and garden biodiversity.