Community Crops Education & Classes 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 or e-mail mmcguffey@familyservicelincoln.org to discuss!

Current Class Series

The Urban Ag Classes are a new class series starting in 2023 and running through 2025! This series is funded by a UAIP grant and will teach sustainable growing skills for farmers and gardeners. For more information about the series, the class schedule, and to register check out the Urban Ag Classes page!

Past Class Series

The Urban Homestead Series, in partnership with the Asian Community & Cultural Center, and Open Harvest Co-Op Grocery, covers topics for home gardeners, as well as a wide range of cooking cuisines, and DIY topics.  Spring, Summer and Fall sessions are all offered.  See the Events Calendar for all the upcoming classes.

The Growing Farmers Workshop Series covers a wide range of topics for aspiring small farmers to get their business off the ground.  Learn from local experts and farmers throughout the winter. Read more on the Growing Farmers page.

For farmers who have completed a year or two or seven, you often have more questions than answers.  The Whole Farm Series will help answer these questions and give guidance on additional crops you can plant for higher profits.  Read more on the Growing Farmers page.

Growing Farmers Workshop Series – 2022 Update

There will be no Growing Farmers Workshop Series in winter 2022-2023. We are accepting a small number of new farmers for 2023. Contact amy@familyservicelincoln.org for more information.

All participants in the Core Skills program will leave with the ability to manage plants in a greenhouse environment, succession crop plan for continuous harvest, assess soil health with a microscope and other methods, manage business expenses, develop effective record keeping systems, and much more!

The Savilles, 2014 Growing Farmers participants, shared that “Community Crops has allowed us to slowly become immersed in the farming world without the large initial expense required when beginning a new business. Crops has also been a great resource for organic growing information and networking opportunities. They have given us a multitude of educational opportunities and without them we would not be in our first year of business.”

How can this workshop series help you?

Here is what some of our recent participants have said:

“It has given me a realistic picture of how small-scale organic farming works and given me the tools to start my own market farming business. I am now confident I can at least get started”

“I am so glad I took this class. I can’t imagine trying to start and not have the information that was provided.”

“Really opened my eyes to what it takes to be a market farmer.”

Do you dream of beginning your own small farm? 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 about sustainable vegetable production.

More Information

Registration for the Core Skills workshops is $20 per workshop. If you enroll in all 10 of the Core Skills workshops the cost is $150. A couple can enroll in all 10 classes for $200. Scholarships are available for those requiring financial assistance.

Included with your enrollment are printed resources and light refreshments and snacks during the workshops.

For more information: contact us at 402-474-9802 or mmcguffey@familyservicelincoln.org.

Learn more about starting your own small farm in our FAQ.