These events are not hosted by Wegman’s Nursery.
Garden for the Environment
Garden for the Environment (GFE) will offer the following workshops and events from August through September 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 new greenhouse and storage facilities look great! Stop by the garden to check them out.
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.
Growing a Garden: Where to Start
When: Saturday, October 10, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $40; Full: $55
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.
Introduction to Sustainable Gardening Series: Fall 2026
When: Saturday, October 17, 24, and 31, 10am - 12pm
Cost: $30 for the full three-part series, and receive a $10 gift card at each workshop.
Register here
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 large amounts 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.
The full series is $30, but you will get $10 gift cards to Heritage Landscape Supply (formerly the Urban Farmer Store) at each workshop (for a total of $30 in gift cards if you attend the two workshops). Sponsored by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Registering will sign you up for the full series of three workshops. Please only register if you plan to attend all three sessions.
Introduction to San Francisco Native Plants
When: Saturday, October 24, 1 - 3pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $40; Full: $55
Register here
Learn about the vast array of San Francisco native plants and how to include them in your home garden to nurture the ecosystem!
Are you curious about San Francisco’s native plants? Our expert instructor from the California Native Plant Society, Yerba Buena Chapter, will introduce you to an array of native plants that are appropriate to local conditions. You can incorporate them into your home garden, whether you have a yard or raise plants in containers. Tour GFE's native plant areas, learn about propagation, and ask plenty of questions.
San Francisco native plants have co-evolved with our local soils, climate, and native wildlife, including butterflies and bees. They are the best plants we can add to nurture our ecosystem. When we add native San Francisco plants to our gardens and public spaces, we strengthen our local ecosystem and enhance its connectivity with nearby ecosystems, creating a robust web of life that helps our local flora and fauna thrive. Learn how you can be part of this!
Urban Composting
When: Saturday, November 7, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Free
Registration required! 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.
Making a Rainwater Harvesting System
When: Saturday, November 7, 10am - 12pm
Cost:$10, but you'll get a $10 gift card for attending the workshop.
Register here
The winter and spring months are San Francisco's rainy season and every drop counts, especially in our area, which routinely experiences drought. Learn how to easily and safely capture rainwater to use in your garden or home. In this workshop, you’ll learn what to consider and where to start for systems as simple as a single barrel under a downspout, or as complicated as an indoor plumbing system for toilet flushing. Keep precious rainwater out of the sewer and keep money in your pocket by harvesting the water that lands on your roof.
The workshop fee is $10, but you will get a $10 gift card to the Heritage Landscape Supply for attending! Please consider making a donation to GFE for this workshop, which is free when you attend and receive a $10 gift card.
Grow Your Own Food
When: Saturday, November 14, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $40; Full: $55
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 November, you'll learn about taking advantage of the rainy season by planting cold hardy crops such as garlic, peas, and edible perennials.
Holiday Wreathmaking
When: Saturday, November 21, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $45; Regular: $65; Full: $80
Register here
‘Tis the season for GFE’s annual holiday wreathmaking workshop! Join educators Carey Craddock and Jordan Kushins for a fun, creative time.
‘Tis the season for GFE’s annual holiday wreathmaking session! Join garden educators Carey Craddock and Jordan Kushins for this perennial favorite, which includes a festive walk through Garden for the Environment to gather beautiful seasonal flowers and greens, then time to create a vibrant holiday wreath to take home — or gift to your favorite host!
Urban Composting
When: Saturday, December 5, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Free
Registration required! 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.