Events
Upcoming Seminars
Rose Seminar
When: Janaury 11, 10am - 11am
Cost: Free
Fruit Tree Seminar
When: Janaury 18, 10am - 11am
Cost: Free
Garden for the Environment
Garden for the Environment (GFE) will offer the following workshops and events in January and February 2026. All will be at Garden for the Environment, San Francisco’s teaching garden, 1590 7th Avenue (at Lawton). Founded in 1990, GFE offers informative, hands-on workshops on most Saturdays that teach Bay Area residents how to grow climate-appropriate gardens and food, make compost, and conserve water. We hope you’ll join us for some of these terrific learning opportunities—we’re excited to have you in the garden!
NOTE: Our greenhouse and lower tool shed are currently being demolished and rebuilt. Construction should be completed by the end of November or early December. We will continue GFE programming during this time.
The garden’s center area is closed to the public most days. When possible, we will open the center on Saturdays. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find your workshop on Saturdays.
For volunteer hours, we will congregate in the Victory Garden area for check-in. Please access this space from our northwest and northeast entrances.
For more information, visit our website at www.gardenfortheenvironment.org.
UPCOMING VOLUNTEER DAYS AND WORKSHOPS:
Educational Volunteer Hours
When: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am - 3pm
Cost: Free
Registration required! Register at bit.ly/gfevolunteershifts
Join us in the garden on Wednesdays and Saturdays to help with garden maintenance tasks. You’ll work alongside staff and fellow volunteers on a range of activities like composting, vegetable planting and harvesting, pruning, and weeding. The best way to learn is by doing, and we promise you’ll learn a lot working in the garden with us. Bring lunch and picnic with us at noon!
* Bring your own gardening gloves. See additional requirements on the registration page.
Urban Composting
When: Saturday, January 10th, 10 - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2026!)
Cost: Free!
Register: bit.ly/gfecompost26
Learn how to make your very own compost! The backbone of every healthy garden, compost improves all soil types and can be the difference between success and failure with many plants. In this class, we will teach you how to make compost in your backyard, and introduce you to our worms that make their own special fertilizer. We will also give you tips on using your city compost bin. Come learn what you can do to improve your garden and prevent organic waste from ending up in the landfill.
Grow Your Own Food
When: Saturday, January 10th, 10 - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfegrowfood26
Learn to take full advantage of the unique gardening climate in San Francisco, where you can grow your own fruits and vegetables year-round! Join us throughout the seasons for our Grow Your Own Food workshop. In September, you'll learn how to prepare your garden for the cool and rainy season and harvest the fruits of your summer garden.
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning
When: Saturday, January 24th, 10 - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfewinterpruning26
Learn how to maximize tree health and fruit production by identifying and properly removing dead, damaged, and dying wood. Our expert instructors will go over general pruning techniques, discuss the differences between summer and winter pruning, and lead a hands-on demonstration so that you can learn which cuts to make in the winter to keep your trees healthy and productive.
Following the workshop, you can put your newfound skills to use! Feel free to bring a lunch and eat with GFE staff and volunteers, and then at 1pm, join a group of fellow workshop participants and others from the GFE community to prune our orchard trees.
Urban Composting
When: Saturday, February 7th, 10 - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2026!)
Cost: Free!
Register: bit.ly/gfecompost26
Learn how to make your very own compost! The backbone of every healthy garden, compost improves all soil types and can be the difference between success and failure with many plants. In this class, we will teach you how to make compost in your backyard, and introduce you to our worms that make their own special fertilizer. We will also give you tips on using your city compost bin. Come learn what you can do to improve your garden and prevent organic waste from ending up in the landfill.
Growing A Garden: Where to Start
When: Saturday, February 14th, 10 - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2026!)
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfegrowingagarden26
Do you have a space that you would like to turn into a garden but don’t know where to start? This class is perfect for beginner gardeners or anyone looking for a refresher. We will guide you through the steps to transform your yard into a beautiful garden, including maintenance tips and where to find support and resources. We will also include information and advice on container gardening. This workshop will focus on working with nature, observing your space, and demystifying San Francisco's unique microclimate. With your newfound knowledge, you'll be able to create a manageable garden that aligns with the space you have. Bring your questions!
Please note that this workshop focuses on perennial plant gardening, NOT edible food growing. If you are interested in learning about edible plant growing, please register for one of our Grow Your Own Food workshops.
Saving Water in Your Home
When: Saturday, February 28th, 10 - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2026!)
Cost: $10 - but you'll get a $10 gift card for attending the workshop. Sponsored by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Register: bit.ly/gfesavingwater26
Conserving water in the drought-prone Bay Area is so important, and this workshop will teach you several ways to do so. These can be as simple as having your plumbing checked for leaks to installing drip irrigation and greywater systems. Our expert instructor will explain these methods and answer your questions so you can choose the water-saving techniques that are appropriate for your home.
The workshop fee is $10, but you will get a $10 gift card to the Urban Farmer Store / Heritage Landscape Supply for attending!
Plant Pruning Basics
When: Saturday, February 28th, 10 - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfepruning26
Pruning is vital for plant health and can enhance the beauty and vigor of your entire garden. In this engaging workshop, you will learn how to make basic pruning cuts and about principles and techniques that inform wise pruning decisions for perennials, shrubs, and small garden trees. We will discuss the best times to prune for our San Francisco climate, as well as the proper tools for each type of pruning cut. This workshop will be hands-on, so you will gain the confidence to prune your own garden by practicing on some of GFE's plants!
MARCH SNEAK PREVIEW!
Introduction to Sustainable Gardening Series: Spring
When: March 7th, 14th, and 21st - Saturdays, 10 - 12pm
Cost: $30 for the full three-part series, and receive a $10 gift card at each workshop
Register: bit.ly/gfesustainablespring26
Sponsored by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The Introduction to Sustainable Gardening series is a three-part workshop series designed to help you transform your yard into a thriving, sustainable garden. This course will teach you everything you need to know to nurture perennial gardens that conserve water, provide beauty, and attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
San Francisco is a beautiful and unique city, with year-round mild temperatures and dry, foggy summers. Learn what plants are adapted to our coastal climate and grow without the need for toxic pesticides or lots of water. This course will focus on native and drought-tolerant ornamental gardens but will cover broad topics that can also apply to vegetable gardening.
Registering will sign you up for the full series of three workshops. Please only register if you plan to attend all three sessions.
Fruit Tree Pruning and Care Seminar
A few images from our last class.
Bee Keeping Class
A few images from our recent Bee Keeping class
Growing Young Gardeners at Wegman’s
A local Daisy Troop visited Wegman’s Nursery this last Sunday. 15 girls took a tour of the shop, listened to a talk on plants, and potted a painted pot on site. They then went over to the rest home across the street and gifted the pots to the elderly. We loved hosting these young gardeners!
