Permaculture 101: Landscape and Garden Design Working with Nature
This course will cover the principles of permaculture, a sustainable design science
and art that works with nature instead of against her. These principles open the door
to being able to design one's own life so as to experience the abundance that nature
can provide, even in the midst of the city. The course will be taught by Chris Combs,
a certified permaculturist, with his very own permaculture garden in the heart of
midtown Omaha. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-047N
Container Vegetable Gardening
You don't have to have a huge lawn or acreage to grow great vegetables. If you have a
rooftop, balcony, or patio, you can create a garden. This class explores the materials
and plant selections most suited for container vegetable gardening. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-053N
Building Healthy Soil I: How to Compost
Are you filling bag after bag of leaves from your lawn and wondering if there might be
another option? Or perhaps you have a pizza lover in the family and have an over abundance
of pizza boxes going into the weekly trash. This class shows different models of indoor
and outdoor composters, with a focus on yard, garden, and household waste. Included in
the presentation are the benefits of composting for homeowners and apartment dwellers.
(one session)
Course Number: HOMI-045N
Home Garden Herbs
In this class, Tudy Fosmer, herbalist and president of the Herb Society, will share tips
on herb growth and usage. Join us as Tudy shares her home-grown herbs and teaches students
to recognize and enjoy the smells and tastes of these plants. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-071N
Fall Vegetable Gardening
August is the time to put in your second garden of the season. This class will focus on the
use of short-season as well as cold-hardy plants for fall, including a variety of lettuces,
greens and root crops. Additionally, we will discuss extending the growing season with
quick-hoop mini greenhouses. The instructor is Patrick Duffy, MCC's Bistro Garden Manager.
(one session)
Course Number: HOMI-073N
Food Preservation & Storage (2-day Workshop)
This two-day hands-on seminar covers canning, freezing, and drying of fresh vegetables and
fruits of the season. Learn about stocking your shelves and freezer for the winter with the
produce you have raised this summer. If you have a garden full of fresh produce and are
wondering what to do with it, this class is for you. (two sessions)
Course Number: HOMI-069N
Season Extension Part II
This is a continuation of the workshop taught in August.
Students will observe fall crops in the production garden and prepare winter hardy
plants for life under cover. We will discuss season extenders including quick hoops
and high tunnels. This is a hands on class so wear your gardening clothes. Rain or
shine. Taught by MCC Garden Manager Patrick Duffy. (one session)
Intro to Urban Farming
A current study of urban agriculture providing perspective on the progress and development
of this growing field. This course will highlight types of urban agriculture from around
the world and in our country. We will explore the role plants play in urban sustainability
and future urban environments. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-035N
Organic Pest, Disease, and Weed Management
Learn the benefits of keeping our multi-legged friends around. Discussion includes product
use, applications and plant selection. Also learn types of control, barriers for insects and
diseases, mulching and watering techniques. If you are planning on a vegetable garden for
summer, this class is essential for success. Category: Food (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-058N
Backyard Aquaponics
Explore this gardening frontier. Learn how plants and fish work together in a beneficial
relationship to provide a wonderful kitchen garden. This will challenge the way you think
gardening should be. Learn system set-up, fish and plant selection, and maintenance. The
instructor is Kip Edmonds.
Course Number: HOMI-068N
Growing Organic Vegetables and Herbs
Learn about growing vegetables and herbs without the use of pesticides. Topics include
seed selection, soil management, companion planting and prevention of diseases and insects.
Bring your garden measurements to class and let us help plan your healthy summer vegetable
garden. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-057N
Tomatoes 101
Learn about tomatoes, from eating to pruning, fertilizer to mulch, and heirloom to hybrids.
In this class, Christine Kasel, MCC Horticulture Instructor, shares her knowledge with you
and other tomato lovers. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-074N
Backyard Chickens
Chickens enhance the suburban garden by creating a layer of fertile topsoil on chemical
laden clay soil. Chickens restore balance and harmony, need very little work, and offer
payback in tillage, fertilizer, insect and weed control, and fresh eggs. In this two hour
session, learn the A to Z process referred to nationally as chicken tractoring and leave
with a personalized plan for the suburban backyard. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-043N
Local Food Security
This class will explore issues surrounding food self sufficiency. Discussion will address
questions regarding land resources, the importance of eating local, and the importance of
supplying 20-60% of your personal food source. The importance of understanding the
principles and knowledge behind food storage/preservation options will be covered.
You will be able to identify and then examine the food shed areas for Omaha. Discover
the opportunities around urban farming, CSA, community gardens, edible estates, and seed
saving. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-075N
Home Mushroom Cultivation
This workshop introduces you to outdoor mushroom cultivation that can be done at home.
The focus will be on production of Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms grown on hardwood logs.
The instructor is Patrick Duffy, MCC Garden Manager. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-055N
Growing Food in the City: From Field to Market
Grow your own food business! Learn step by step the process of starting a market garden
and the various types of plants that can be grown in this area. This course will explore
the diverse potential for business models in this area and the current methods available
for selling food to markets. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-025N
Growing Heirloom Winter Squash
Winter squash ushers in fall with its array of warm colors and rich, satisfying flavor.
Highly versatile, it can be baked, stuffed, steamed, mashed or pureed. Not only is winter
squash delicious, it is loaded with Vitamin A and is an excellent source of potassium,
fiber, and complex carbohydrates. This course will cover the different types of squash
and how to plant, nurture and manage, harvest, and cook this fall favorite. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-585N
Beginning Food Preservation and Storage
Fall harvest is the time to preserve the summer goodness of the garden in nutritious food
supplies for winter. This class includes a brief overview of five different methods of
food preservation: pressure-cooking, water bath canning, dehydration, freezing, and
fermentation. There will be a short demonstration in the kitchen, along with a discussion
over the benefits, concerns, and supplies needed for each method. Join several local
specialists as they help you to expand your knowledge of food preservation and storage.
(one session)
Course Number: HOMI-041N
How to Compost
Are you filling bag after bag of leaves from your lawn and wondering if there might be
another option? Or perhaps you have a pizza lover in the family and have an over abundance
of pizza boxes going into the weekly trash. This class shows different models of indoor and
outdoor composters, with a focus on yard, garden, and household waste. Included in the
presentation are the benefits of composting for homeowners and apartment dwellers. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-045N
Fall Preparation for Your Spring Vegetable Garden
Now is the time to put your garden to "bed" for the winter, and so, there are some last
minute chores to do. To guarantee a good vegetable crop next spring, you must test your
soil and add the appropriate amendments to it now. Join us as we discuss cleaning,
composting, and cover crops. The planting and care of perennial vegetables will also be
covered. Each student should bring a sample of soil from their vegetable garden for soil
testing. Students will leave with their soil test results and knowing which amendments
they need to apply. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-022N
Introduction to Bee Keeping
Want to know about acquiring honey bees and producing honey? Find out why bees have a
valuable impact on our society and the overall ecology. Local expert Tony Sandoval
will discuss how to start with bees, obtain a solid foundation for starting hives, and
expand your knowledge in the art of beekeeping. (one session)
Aronia Berry Cultivation
Aronia is a sustainable, easy to grow, handsome shrub with fruit that rates higher in
antioxidants than broccoli, blueberries or cranberries. Aronia is perfect for the urban
landscape and provides a value-added crop for row farmers and acreage owners. Whether you
plant three in your lawn or three acres for an alternative cash crop, this native North
American shrub is for you. The instructor is Harlan Hamernik, Wild Plums Nursery in Clarkson,
Neb. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-048N
Fruit Tree Pruning
Now is the time to learn about proper dormant pruning techniques for fruit trees. This
hands-on seminar is just in time for pruning most fruit trees in the home garden. The
instructors are Harlan Hamernik, Wild Plums Nursery in Clarkson, Neb., and Ed Rasmussen,
The Fragrant Path in Fort Calhoun, Neb. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-049N
Tons of Tomatoes!
Should you grow heirloom or hybrid? What is the difference between determinate or
indeterminate? This fun and informative class tackles some of the most common questions
about the tomato, America’s favorite garden treat. The instructor is Christine Kasel, MCC
Horticulture Instructor. (one session)
Course Number: HOMI-054N
History of Urban Agricultural Practice I
A historical study looking at the then and now of agriculture and its developing role within
the urban environment. This course will look at urban agricultural practice and its changes
over time from the late 1800's to the present. From Pingree's Potato Patches of Detroit and
the Victory Gardens of World War II to the community gardens of the 1970's, we will explore
the deep roots of urban agriculture in this country. (one session)
How Plants Work: Getting the Most out of Your Garden
Every gardener knows that the better you understand your plants, the more you can help them
grow. This class covers how plants grow from seed to fruit, including basic plant biology
and what you can do to increase food production. This class is a perfect foundation to take
your gardening to the next level. (one session)
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