Free 2025 Gardening Courses in Pierce County: Edible Gardens Workshop Series

Free 2025 Gardening Courses in Pierce County: Edible Gardens Workshop Series

Are you ready to grow your own food and take your gardening skills to the next level? Good news—WSU’s Edible Gardens Workshop Series is back in 2025, offering free gardening classes in Pierce County! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, these hands-on workshops cover everything from garden planning to preserving your harvest.

Thanks to a collaboration between Harvest Pierce County, Pierce County Planning and Public Works, and the WSU Research and Extension Center, this series is designed to help you grow successfully in the Pacific Northwest. Best of all, the classes are free!

Class Details
All classes are offered in person, either indoors (with a Zoom option) or outdoors with demonstrations. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of this amazing opportunity:

Indoor Classes: Held at WSU Puyallup Extension (Allmendinger Center, 2606 W. Pioneer, Puyallup). Zoom links will be sent 2-3 business days before class for those attending virtually.
Outdoor Classes: These are hands-on demonstrations, either at the Victoria Room (Master Gardener Demo Garden) in Puyallup or at The Farm at Franklin Pierce in Tacoma. Please note, outdoor classes do not have a virtual option.

How to Register
Registration is required to reserve your spot, and each class must be registered for individually this year. With limited spots available, be sure to register early to guarantee your participation. Click on the registration links below for each class.

2025 Class Schedule:

February 8th – Garden Planning for Summer
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Create a plan for a successful vegetable garden this summer.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

February 22nd – Seed Starting
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn how to start your vegetables from seed and save money while growing plants you can’t find at the nursery.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

March 8th – Garden Soil
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Get to know how the soil ecosystem works and how to prepare your soil for planting.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

March 15th – Growing in Outdoor Containers
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Discover the best sizes, soil, and plant types for outdoor container gardening in small or large spaces.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

April 5th – Garden Care
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn about planting, weeding, and watering your summer vegetable garden for optimal growth.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

April 12th – Garden Bugs
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn how to prevent and tackle garden pests with safe remedies specific to vegetable gardening in Western Washington.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

May 3rd – Growing in Indoor Containers
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Get creative with ways to grow herbs, vegetables, and mushrooms indoors when you don’t have outdoor space.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

May 17th – Garden Planning for Fall & Winter
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn best practices for planting in summer and how to care for your plants during fall and winter.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

June 21st – Preserving the Harvest
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn how to preserve your summer abundance through freezing, dehydrating, and canning techniques.
Location: Indoor (WSU Puyallup) with Zoom option

September 20th – Seed Saving
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Learn the basics of saving seeds to ensure you have a thriving garden year after year.
Location: Outdoor (Farm at Franklin Pierce)

September 27th – Putting the Garden to Bed
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Learn tips and techniques for winterizing your garden to enrich your soil and make spring planting easier.
Location: Outdoor (WSU Victoria Room)

October 4th – Fruit Trees
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Get expert tips on planting and maintaining fruit trees and shrubs for perennial food production.
Location: Outdoor (Farm at Franklin Pierce)

October 18th – Composting Basics
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Master the foundations of successful at-home composting and enrich your garden soil.
Location: Outdoor (WSU Victoria Room)