Southwest Gardener
Located near Central Avenue on Camelback Road in The Newton complex, Southwest Gardener is a locally owned, Southwest-focused store with landscaping, microgreen, sprout, vegetable, herb-growing, and other how-to workshops. There are also gardening aesthetic classes, where you can learn how to design your backyard or create garden art with mosaics, and farm-to-table classes where you can learn how to transform garden goodies into jam, jellies, and other edibles. Located at 300 West Camelback Road, the shop sells a plethora of gardening wares like books, decor, seeds, and weed and pest control. More information can be found on the Southwest Gardener website or by calling 602-279-9510.
Desert Botanical Garden shares its 78 plus years of Sonoran gardening expertise through educational programs, workshops, and lectures.
Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden
Leverage the expertise of industry professionals and Desert Botanical Garden’s 78 years in cultivating desert plants at its Desert Landscape School. Now in its 20th year, the school for professionals and homeowners has a new state-of-the-art learning lab for hands-on practice and offers six certificates in sustainable landscape practices, design and maintenance, desert plants, and more.
For something less formal, try Desert Botanical Garden's Your Desert Home, a program of 15 low-desert gardening classes for the home hobbyist. There's also a catalog's worth of one-off classes and workshops. More information can be obtained through the Desert Botanical Garden website, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 480-481-8146.
Agave Farms
In 2015, landscaper Mike McMahon turned the vacant corner of Central and Turney avenues into Agave Farms, an urban community
The farm holds free workshops on such topics as rose gardening, composting, and desert pollinators, as well as farm-to-table events where participants can work with chefs to harvest, cook, and eat from the farm. Events are listed on the Agave Farms Facebook page.
Keep Phoenix Beautiful
A local arm of Keep America Beautiful, Keep Phoenix Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that preserves and protects the environment. In the Valley, its programming is heavily sponsored by the city of Phoenix. Programming includes recycling, litter reduction, beautification, and education initiatives, and for gardeners, free gardening workshops.
Held at Burton Barr Central Library, these classes focus on desert and local climate gardening techniques. The hands-on, classroom-based workshops are taught by experts throughout the year. Information on upcoming workshops can be found in the library's online calendar or by emailing [email protected].
Gardening workshops at The Farm at South Mountain are taught by in-house growers Melissa Hoffman and Ashley Stilwell.
Courtesy The Farm at South Mountain
Each month from September through May, The Farm at South Mountain holds gardening classes led by its in-house growers Melissa Hoffman and Ashley Stilwell. Located at 6106 South 32nd Street, classes like "Gardening for the Season," "Harvesting 101," "Chicken Coops 101," and "Create Your Herb Salt Blend" are offered for $10 to $100. There are also classes for children accompanied by an adult (who attends for free). For information and registration, see the farm's website or call 602-276-6360.
Urban Farm
Urban Farm is a 1950s tract home in north central Phoenix that urban farming and sustainability innovator Greg Peterson transformed into an innovative holistic home that features an entirely edible landscape, more than 70 fruit trees,
Read on for more of Phoenix's go-to gardening resources.
Check out the new location for Roosevelt Growhouse during the next Garden Volunteer Day.
Courtesy of Roosevelt Growhouse
Founded by Kenny Barrett and Kelly Placke in 2008, Roosevelt Growhouse is an urban farm committed to Roosevelt Row agriculture and growing local food. With the exception of June and July, the community garden runs classes throughout the year on topics like urban desert vegetable farming, sustainable living, healthy eating, and edible landscaping.
Here's your spot for professional-grade bug and weed repellent, including organic options.
Courtesy of Bug and Weed Mart
This family-run retailer specializes in DIY-friendly professional weed and pest products, including organic and natural options not found in big-box stores. And they're price-conscientious, too, costing around $5 per 1,000 square feet for six months, according to its spokesperson. The store's knowledgeable staff walks shoppers through proper application of the commercial-grade products and will send you home with reference materials.
Dig It Urban Gardens + Nursery
Located on 16th Street near Thomas Road, Dig It Urban Gardens + Nursery specializes in plants meant to thrive in Phoenix’s city-meets-desert climate. Run by former landscaper Ryan Jerrell and his business partner, Tim Bishop, its garden center staff is passionate about good advice and sending folks home with only the products they need. Dig It houses its plants in conditions similar to the typical home environment, and the nursery hosts fee-based educational classes and events.
Plots at The Farm at Agritopia come with access to its tool shed and gardening events and classes.
Kitchen Sink Studios
Located within the porch-friendly Gilbert community of Agritopia, The Farm at Agritopia rents more than 40 20-by-20-foot plots. Renters have access to pretty handy stuff, like its fully equipped communal tool shed and water. There are also garden gatherings like a Preserve the Harvest Party where renters learn how to preserve their produce.
Native Seeds/SEARCH
Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit seed conservation organization rooted in Tucson that, among many other things, sells open-pollinated seed varieties bred true from seeds. This means that, as long as there's no cross-pollination, you can grow landrace or heirloom garden and connect
