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 mid-March through April 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 are done and they look great! Stop by the garden to check them out.
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.
Beginning Birding
When: Saturday, March 21st, 10am - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfebirding26
Birds are all around us, even in our dense urban city. In this workshop we'll discuss the importance of birds and their ecology and how we can make our cities safer for birds and other wildlife. We'll learn how to start identifying birds and become familiar with the most common San Francisco species found here in spring. We'll tour the garden and observe the birds living there, focusing on the plants and garden features that create healthy habitats. Come and celebrate the spring equinox by learning about our winged friends!
NOTE: We encourage you to bring binoculars if possible. They will be provided if you don't have your own.
Spring Wreathmaking and Flower Crafting
When: Saturday, March 28th, 10am – 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $45; Regular: $65; Full: $80
Register: bit.ly/gfespringwreath26
Make a cheery springtime wreath and flowery garden swag from GFE's plants and blooms that you gather yourself!
Join us for a springtime walk through Garden for the Environment to gather beautiful seasonal flowers and green that you will use to create a spring wreath or vibrant garden swag to take home with you! Part exploration and part creativity, you'll gain skills to create your own natural pieces for your home in every season.
Urban Composting
When: Saturday, April 4th, 10am - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2025!)
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.
Dig In! 2026: Six-Part Edible Gardening Series
When: Saturdays from 10am - 12pm on April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, and May 2nd and 9th
One registration enrolls you in all six sessions!
Cost: Reduced: $170; Regular: $295; Full: $360
Register: bit.ly/gfedigin26
Do you want to get your hands dirty? Learn how to garden this spring! This six-part workshop series is designed to teach you everything you need to start growing food in your backyard in a supportive, hands-on environment.
San Francisco provides a perfect climate for growing food year-round! Even a small backyard space can be enough to grow healthy vegetables. In this workshop series you will learn about the types of beds and containers in which to grow your plants and how to build healthy soil, build a simple irrigation system, plant and care for veggies, and harvest your crops.
All materials and tools will be provided. Please bring your own gardening gloves.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Part I: Site Assessment—April 4th
Part II: Growing Healthy Soil—April 11th
Part III: DIY Drip Irrigation—April 18th
Part IV: Planting Calendars & Crop Rotation—April 25th
Part V: Planting Your Edible Garden—May 2nd
Part VI: Care & Harvest of Your Backyard Garden—May 9th
Growing A Garden: Where to Start
When: Saturday, April 11th, 10 - 12pm (You can also register for additional dates in 2025!)
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 fi nd 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.
Urban Chickens
When: Saturday, April 18th, 10 - 12pm
Cost: Reduced: $25; Regular: $45; Full: $60
Register: bit.ly/gfeurbanchickens26
Did you know you can raise chickens in cities? You can! When you raise urban chickens, you have the potential to increase your garden’s health and produce even more of your own food. In this workshop, we'll walk you through the steps to setting up your flock, review various coop designs, and provide an overview of chicken husbandry so you can keep your birds healthy. You also get to meet our expert instructors' very own backyard chickens!