Course Content
Module 1: Welcome, Orientation & Garden Planning
Vegetable Gardening for Resilience Curriculum 📚 Course Description This 8-week hybrid course empowers learners to build food resilience through organic gardening, low-cost techniques, and community connection. Lessons are spaced out biweekly, allowing time to reflect, apply lessons, and build gardens between sessions. Key Notes: Audience: Atlanta Proper Residents, 18-55 Pacing: Biweekly lessons, Live sessions Week 1 and Week 16 Online Class Times: Tuesdays, 6-8PM EST Climate/Season: Planning for June – October Atlanta growing season Starter Kits: Distributed at Kickoff Event (May 30, 2025) Costs: Minimal; encourage resourcefulness Focus: Container gardening, vertical gardening, herbs/vegetables suited for Atlanta 📈 Course Structure Week 1: Live Kickoff Event Weeks 2–16: LMS distance learning (video lessons, activities, reflections) Week 16: Live Closing Event & Certificate Ceremony ✅ Weekly Components Video Lesson Downloadable PDF Tools Hands-On Activity Prompt Guest Speaker Recording or Notes Weekly Reflection Journal Uploads (photo or short response)
0/9
Module 2: Soil, Compost & Regenerative Practices
Topics: Container gardening, vertical gardening, square-foot gardening Companion planting and natural pest control Facilitator Notes: Demonstrate container and trellis setups Share DIY pest control methods Guide participants through first plantings Activity: Hands-on: Plant in containers or seed trays Reflection Prompt: What space(s) do you have to grow something new?
0/10
Module 3: Seed Starting & Transplanting
Topics: Container gardening, vertical gardening, square-foot gardening Companion planting and natural pest control Facilitator Notes: Demonstrate container and trellis setups Share DIY pest control methods Guide participants through first plantings Activity: Hands-on: Plant in containers or seed trays Reflection Prompt: What space(s) do you have to grow something new?
0/7
Module 4:Garden Care, Harvest & Preservation
Updated Module Description: In this module, you’ll learn the essentials of keeping your vegetable garden thriving—from smart watering and mulching to eco-friendly pest management. You’ll also discover how to recognize when your crops are ready to harvest and get hands-on practice with simple preservation methods to enjoy your harvest year-round.
0/8
Module 7: From Seed to Community – Involvement & Advocacy Topics: Garden-Based Business Ideas
Community outreach, seed swaps, garden clubs Hosting neighborhood garden events Facilitator Notes: Guide participants to create flyers or posts for local engagement Encourage sharing surplus or knowledge with neighbors Activity: Hands-on: Plan or promote a community garden event Reflection Prompt: What role can your garden play in your community?
0/8
Module 8: Live Celebration & Future Steps:
Topics: Showcase gardens and share stories Set long-term gardening goals and action plans Facilitator Notes: Host virtual or in-person share-out session Celebrate accomplishments and distribute certificates Activity: Hands-on: Create a seasonal plan for next planting Reflection Prompt: What did this garden grow in you?
🌱 FREE PUBLIC COURSE – Grow Where You Are: Vegetable Gardening for Resilience ATL R.O.O.T.S. application portal

1. There Are More Living Organisms in One Teaspoon of Soil Than There Are Humans on Earth!

Healthy soil is teeming with bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes—it’s a microscopic world that feeds our plants.


2. Worms Can Eat Their Weight in Soil Every Day!

A single earthworm can process and enrich soil constantly, making castings that are 5x richer in nutrients than the surrounding dirt.


3. Compost Heats Up Like a Tiny Fire Pit 🔥

When compost is working well, it can reach 130–160°F (54–71°C) — hot enough to kill weed seeds and break down waste fast.


4. Plants “Talk” to Fungi in the Soil!

Through a network called the “Wood Wide Web,” fungi help plants share water, nutrients, and even warn each other about pests.


5. You Don’t Need a Yard to Compost!

Worm bins, bokashi systems, and even composting in a tote or bucket on your balcony are great options for small-space composters.


6. Regenerative Practices Can Pull Carbon from the Atmosphere

Adding compost, using cover crops, and reducing tilling helps soil become a carbon sink — fighting climate change while feeding plants.


7. Banana Peels, Coffee Grounds, and Cardboard Can All Become Fertilizer

Household scraps = free plant food. You don’t need fancy products — just a bit of time and balance between “greens” and “browns.”


8. Marigolds Not Only Look Pretty — They Repel Bugs!

Planting marigolds, basil, or mint near veggies can reduce pests and increase harvest.