Growing Gardeners
Check Out Our Popular "Vegetable Gardening for Beginners" Class!
2025 classes are over!
Stay turned for our 2026 lineup of classes.
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 gardening with UC resources by your side.
This course is ideal for beginners. Lessons cover the basic principles of gardening and include guidelines for Contra Costa County's unique growing conditions. A certificate of achievement will be awarded to participants upon successfully completing the Growing Gardeners Series "Vegetable Gardening for Beginners."
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
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.
Questions?
Contact us at mgcc.growinggardeners@gmail.com.