Curriculum
The course includes 50 instructional hours; both online lectures and hands-on demonstrations. The textbook for the course is the Gardener Handbook by Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2023 edition. In addition to reading the chapter assigned for each topic, trainees complete four homework assignments.
Topics Covered Include:
Online Lectures
In-person Workshops
2027 Tentative Schedule (We are still finalizing this year’s class schedule. Please check back.)
Classes begin in mid-January and run through mid-April. On-line classes are held via Zoom on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Workshops are held on Saturday mornings, usually at Pleasant Grove Park.
| Date | Type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | In-Person | Orientation |
| TBD | Virtual | Botany |
| TBD | Virtual | Soils & Nutrient Management |
| TBD | Virtual | Entomology |
| TBD | Virtual | Pathology, Diagnosis |
| TBD | Virtual | Vegetables |
| TBD | In-Person | Pruning |
| TBD | Virtual | Water Quality, Conservation |
| TBD | In-Person | Woody Plants |
| TBD | Virtual | Herbaceous Plants |
| TBD | Virtual | Turf |
| TBD | Virtual | Native Plants |
| TBD | In-Person | Propagation |
| TBD | Virtual | Indoor Plants |
| TBD | Virtual | Landscape Design |
| TBD | In-Person | BI, Help Desk |
| TBD | In-Person | Treatment IPM (Integrated Pest Management) |
| TBD | In-Person | Fruits |
| TBD | In-Person | Graduation |