Come dig in the fresh spring soil in the historic SFAI meadow, a sloping green haven at the northeast corner of campus, frequented by hummingbirds, hawks, and swallowtails, and home to a venerable California Buckeye, and an encompassing redwood. Over six Saturdays, we’ll plant and care for vegetables, herbs, and flowers and explore such core garden practices as soil-building, plant care, seed starting, and pruning, and composting. As we take part in the rhythms of the garden, the garden will cultivate our own capacities for observation, empathy, and resilience.

Our class meetings will include collaborating on a garden project, as well as tending existing plantings throughout the meadow. Course readings will provide fundamental principles of gardening and permaculture, growing California native plants, gardening for wildlife, and extend connections to poetry, art, and science.

Each session will also include conversation springing from readings and observations, and a period of more solitary time as well, in which you can write, draw, make notes, meditate, or otherwise follow your own interests. In addition to the work we’ll do as a group, you will receive individual guidance in starting or further developing your own garden.