Master High-Altitude Food Production
Unlock the secrets to thriving edible gardens in Colorado's unique climate. Our expert-led workshops combine essential theory with practical, hands-on experience, equipping you to grow fresh, delicious food despite the challenges of short seasons and temperature swings.
Our instructors, with over 20 years of high-altitude growing experience, have developed techniques proven successful at 5,000+ feet elevation, leading to an 80% higher success rate for our students compared to traditional gardening approaches. Learn how to add 6-8 weeks of productive growing time to your season!
View Workshop Schedule & RegisterComprehensive High-Altitude Growing Curriculum
Our hands-on curriculum is designed to empower you with the specific knowledge and skills needed to transform your high-altitude garden into a thriving food source. Each module builds upon the last, ensuring a complete understanding of mountain edible gardening.
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Plant Selection for Short Seasons
Discover cold-hardy and quick-maturing varieties that excel in mountain climates. Learn to identify the best vegetables, fruits, and herbs for sustained success.
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Mastering Mountain Soils
Techniques for amending and enriching Colorado's challenging clay and rocky soils, optimizing nutrient availability and water retention for robust plant growth.
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Season Extension Strategies
Build and utilize cold frames, row covers, and mini-hoop houses to protect plants from late frosts and early snow, significantly extending your harvest window.
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Creating Microclimates
Design and implement strategies to shield delicate plants from harsh winds and intense sun, fostering optimal growing conditions within your own backyard.
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Harvesting & Preservation
Techniques for maximizing your yield and preserving your bounty through canning, drying, and freezing, ensuring year-round access to your homegrown food.
Choosing the Right Plants for Altitude
Selecting the right varieties is paramount for success in high-altitude environments. Our workshops delve into a comprehensive database of plants proven to thrive, focusing on cold tolerance, disease resistance, and quick maturation cycles. You’ll learn about:
- Cold-Hardy Vegetables: Discover specific varieties of lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, carrots, and peas that flourish.
- High-Altitude Fruit Trees: Guidance on selecting resilient apple, cherry, and plum varieties, along with proper planting and care for successful orchard establishment.
- Mountain Herbs: Learn which herbs like thyme, chives, mint, and oregano will reliably produce throughout the shorter season.
Beyond selection, we teach advanced planning techniques to maximize your yield:
- Succession Planting: Strategies to ensure continuous harvests throughout the growing season by staggering plantings of fast-growing crops.
- Heirloom & Seed Saving: Embrace biodiversity by learning to cultivate and save seeds from heirloom varieties adapted to local conditions, fostering self-sufficiency.
Our interactive plant database allows you to filter by hardiness zone, season length, and specific characteristics, making plant selection simpler than ever. Compare varieties side-by-side to make informed decisions for your unique microclimate.
Practical Skills for Mountain Growing Success
Hands-On Soil Science & Irrigation
Begin your gardening journey with a deep understanding of your most vital resource: soil. Our workshops include:
- Soil Testing & Amendment: Bring your own soil samples for analysis and receive personalized recommendations for optimal amendments, tackling alkalinity and rocky conditions common in Boulder.
- Water-Efficient Irrigation: Design and implement drip irrigation and soaker hose systems tailored for efficient water use at altitude, crucial for sustainability.
Organic Pest Control & Composting Mastery
Protect your harvest and enrich your garden naturally:
- Integrated Pest Management: Learn organic, environmentally friendly approaches to identify, prevent, and treat common garden pests and diseases without harsh chemicals.
- High-Altitude Composting: Techniques to optimize decomposition rates for nutrient-rich compost, adapted for cooler, drier mountain conditions.
- Tool Selection & Maintenance: Essential guidance on choosing the right tools for mountain gardening and how to keep them in top condition.
Access exclusive video tutorials and downloadable guides for every technique covered, ensuring ongoing support for your gardening success.
Enroll in a Workshop TodayExtending Your Growing Season
The short growing season in Boulder doesn't have to limit your harvest. Our workshops equip you with innovative strategies and practical construction techniques to significantly extend your productive growing time, even through the colder months.
- Cold Frame Construction: Learn to build and manage simple, effective cold frames to protect seedlings and extend cold-hardy crop harvests.
- Greenhouse & Hoop House Design: Explore options for larger season extension structures, from simple hoop houses for temporary protection to permanent greenhouses for year-round production.
- Row Cover Strategies: Master the art of using row covers for frost protection, insect deterrence, and creating microclimates.
- Thermal Mass & Microclimate Modification: Utilize natural principles to retain heat and create warmth for your plants, even on chilly nights.
- Indoor Growing Systems: Discover hydroponics, grow lights, and other techniques for producing fresh food indoors during winter.
Calculate Your Extension Potential
Use our interactive tools to estimate how much extra growing time you can gain with various season extension methods. Input your specific garden conditions and see the possibilities!
Explore Season Extension CalculatorMaterial Sourcing & Effectiveness
We provide comprehensive guides on sourcing cost-effective materials for your projects and compare the effectiveness of different techniques against Boulder's unique weather patterns.
Download Material GuideWorkshop Schedule and Registration
Ready to cultivate your high-altitude edible garden? Below is our current workshop schedule. Choose the level that's right for you or inquire about private group sessions.
Spring Planting & Soil Prep Intensive
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Dates: April 13-14, 2024 (Weekend Intensive)
Focus: Soil testing, raised bed construction, early season cool-weather crop planting.
Register NowSummer Season Extension & Pest Management
Level: Intermediate
Dates: June 8-9, 2024 (Weekend Intensive)
Focus: Cold frames, hoop houses, organic pest solutions, watering efficiency.
Register NowFall Harvest & Winter Prep for Altitude
Level: All Levels
Dates: September 21-22, 2024 (Weekend Intensive)
Focus: Harvesting techniques, food preservation, composting, preparing beds for winter.
Register NowVirtual Workshop Components & Private Sessions
Many of our workshops include virtual components for pre-learning and post-workshop follow-up. We also offer private group workshops for community organizations, schools, and gardening clubs. Contact us to tailor a program to your specific needs.