Sierra Harvest Homesteading Classes

Whether you're dreaming of a backyard homestead, being more self-sufficient, or just learning to garden, this hands-on series will teach the essential skills to grow your own food with confidence!

Learn practical skills from local experts on garden design, irrigation, seed starting, soil fertility, building a successful garden bed, orchard care, beekeeping, food preservation and more. This course is designed for adults who value sustainability and want to live closer to the land. These workshops will give you the knowledge and confidence to create a fun, successful, productive and resilient homestead with other like minded individuals.

Each three hour class will be fun, informative, and seasonal. With simple and practical tips and tricks, you’ll come away understanding the fundamentals of homesteading and plans related to each topic. You can choose to take one or the whole series!

October 3rd - Start a Fall Garden

Want a beautifully productive garden next spring but don’t know where to start? Fall is the perfect time to get your garden prepared so that when spring comes you can be ready to plant. Come learn the basic principles, skills, and materials to get the jump for a successfully delicious garden next year. 

October 24th - Canning 101

Learn how to preserve your fresh garden harvest at peak flavor and nutrition with hands-on canning techniques. From water-bath methods for jams and pickles to pressure canning for vegetables, this workshop equips you with the skills and confidence to safely stock your pantry year-round. Learn how to  transform your home garden's surplus into delicious, long-lasting preserved food for family and friends. This class is best paired with the “Beat the Winter Blues” course which discusses additional preservation techniques.

November 7- Beat the Winter Blues: Microgreens/ Sprouts/ Food Preservation

Beat the winter blues by learning how to grow vibrant microgreens, cultivate fresh sprouts indoors, and master home food dehydrating techniques during the coldest months of the year. This hands-on winter workshop shows you step-by-step how to have fresh greens throughout the winter and how to dehydrate and preserve your fruits and vegetables. 

November- 21 - Greenhouses for Beginners

Extend your growing season and start your spring seedlings weeks early by learning how to build an affordable, low-cost greenhouse right in your backyard. This practical workshop breaks down budget-friendly materials, simple structural designs, and essential temperature control strategies to help you maximize your garden's yield without breaking the bank. Learn the basics of DIY greenhouse construction and give your crops a head start this season. 

February-20- Fruit Trees- Planting, Care and Pruning

Learn how to grow abundant, healthy fruit trees with a hands-on workshop covering proper planting techniques, seasonal care, and essential pruning methods. Learn how to select the right varieties for your space, prevent common pests, and prune with confidence to maximize yield and tree longevity. This will allow you to have a  thriving orchard in your own backyard for years to come. 

March 20- Start a Spring Garden

Spring is here and it’s time to get planting. Want to have a beautifully productive garden this year but don’t know where to start? Come learn the basic principles, skills, plant selection and materials to get the jump on a successfully delicious garden this year. 

April 17- Water Management: Irrigation and Problem Solving in the Garden

Learn how to efficiently and reliably water your garden. This class will cover how to design and build a custom drip or sprinkler irrigation system tailored to your garden. This practical class also equips you with proven strategies to troubleshoot and prevent common garden challenges, including pest control, unwanted predators and plant diseases. 

May 8 -  Garden Infrastructure: Building a Raised Bed

Learn how to design and build durable, productive raised beds tailored to your garden space. We will be building a raised bed during the class. This hands-on workshop covers material selection, proper soil blending, gopher control and placement to boost drainage, minimize weeds, and improve crop yields. 

More classes will be scheduled soon including; flower gardening, making your own compost, how to start your own bee hive, how to raise and care for chickens and basket making from natural materials