events
Plant Stroll with Marla Alexander (June/July)
Come walk, talk, and learn with herbalist, Marla Alexander of Roots Medicine Gardens
Marla Alexander, Herbalist and owner/founder of Roots Medicine Gardens will lead and educate us as we stroll a few blocks of the Wash Park neighborhood. I have learned a ton from Marla on her instagram as she has highlighted plants for her sale and I am thrilled she is willing to share her vast knowledge with us in person!
While we stroll, Marla will share the many ways plants can be utilized- for food, medicine, dye and seeds. This opportunity will increase your awareness of what plants thrive among us and just how much more they should be appreciated.
Two dates, sign up for one or both!
Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 (6:30-7:30 pm)
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 (6:30-7:30pm)
Where: 1064 S High St.
Please bring a notebook/pen or pencil for jotting down information.
Limited Registration: 8
Suggested donation: $20
Willow Weaving at Grant-Frontier Park with Gerald Abner
Come celebrate the Summer Solstice down by the river and learn some basic willow-weaving techniques.
Come celebrate the Summer Solstice down by the river and learn some basic willow-weaving techniques. Each participant will gather and weave their own catalan tray as a symbolism of the sun and the long days of summer ahead. Gerald is an artist, creative, gardener, and all-around positive force of nature.
*For those interested, we will convene after ‘weaving’ for beverages and refreshments at the Table Public House
Catalan Basket with Calendula blossoms
When: Thursday, June 19th, 2025 (4:00-6:00 p.m).
Where: We will meet at the Table Public House on 2190 S Platte River Drive in Denver and journey down to the South Platte riverside together.
*Please bring garden gloves to protect your hands, small pruning shears and a water bottle. Protective clothing for the afternoon sun.
Limited Registration: 12
Suggested donation: $15-$20
Bug Snugs and an Evening at SummerHome Garden
Join us in Wash Park with SummerHome Garden founder, Lisa Negri, and Bug Snug Creator, Gerald Abner
Lisa and Gerald with a “Bug Snug”
Lisa Negri bought the lot next to her Wash Park home in 2019 and in 2020 created SummerHome Garden, a habitat for birds, pollinators, insects, and native plants. SHG is a 'pocket park' open to the public during the growing season.
Earlier this year, Lisa partnered with artist, Gerald Abner, to create obelisk-like structures made out of natural materials. They not only provide visual interest but function as 'bug snugs' as well. Lisa shared a bit more about this process...
"The best way to reuse leftover leaves, twigs, compost, and other organic material is by creating bug snugs. These structures provide shelter for pollinators, invertebrates, birds, moths, queen bumblebees, beetles, and other wildlife to lay eggs and survive the winter.
We recently installed five bug snugs at SummerHome Garden, using primarily cutback material. Artist Gerald Abner constructed the frames from sturdy branches, rabbitbrush ropes, and grapevines. He used three to five strong branches to form the basic structure, binding them with rabbitbrush and other natural materials collected from the garden."
Volunteers then brought their creativity to the project by filling the bug snugs with compost and trimmings from the garden. In total, over 10 yards of compost were used—diverting valuable organic matter from the Denver Composts program and giving it a second life as habitat.
Hope you can join us for this special evening with Lisa and Gerald and learn more about SHG! Beverages and snacks, provided.
Date: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 (6:30-7:30pm)
Where: 651 S. Vine St. Denver
Limited Registration: 25
Suggested donation: $20+ made directly to SummerHome Garden.
Garden + Art Journaling with Mary Rosenberg (July/August)
Example of Garden Journaling by Mary Rosenberg
Join us for 1 or 2 mornings of art and journaling in the garden with, Artist, Facilitator and Art Educator, Mary Rosenberg
Mary has dedicated her career to art and art education. She hosts a monthly art journaling community at First Universalist Church and is thankfully willing to bring that same experience to Blue Shed this summer!!
Mary shares a passion for food justice and has offered her time and talents to SAME Café for over 10 years. She, along with her husband, Dave, are also avid gardeners and host a community plant share every year.
Here is a bit more on the value of journaling in the garden and its benefits:
Journaling in the Garden
Capturing nature’s ever-changing beauty through journaling lets you create a personal connection with the world around you while developing mindfulness and observation skills. Whether you’re watching spring flowers bloom or documenting winter’s first snowfall, nature journaling provides endless inspiration for creative expression and scientific discovery throughout the year.
You’ll find that keeping a nature journal helps sharpen your senses while creating a meaningful record of seasonal changes, wildlife encounters and natural phenomena
Benefits of Keeping a Nature Journal
· Enhances observation skills by training your eye to notice subtle details in plants wildlife and weather patterns
· Improves scientific thinking through regular documentation of natural phenomena and seasonal changes
· Reduces stress by encouraging mindful moments in nature away from digital distractions
· Develops artistic abilities as you practice sketching drawing and watercolor techniques
· Creates lasting memories of your outdoor adventures and nature discoveries
· Helps you respond to your garden’s needs by noticing what is happening with your plants.
Two dates, sign up for one or both!
Saturday, July 12th, 2025 (9:00-11:00 a.m)
Where: 1064 S High St
Theme: “As we observe a variety of plants, we will explore the simplicity and complexity of leaves through experimentation with fun art media.”
Sunday, August 24th, 2025 (9:00-11:00 a.m)
Where: 1064 S High St
Theme: “As we appreciate the beauty and abundance of flowers, we will investigate their structures and respond in our journals.
*Please bring colored pens or pencils and a blank journaling notebook to both classes.
Suggested donation: $15-25 per class
Pickling Party with Paula Thomas
Paula Thomas harvesting in the garden
Learn how to pickle and ferment your own garden produce with Food Preservation Specialist, Paula Thomas.
Paula is a food anthropologist, photographer, gardener, food preservation specialist, educator, director of sustainability at Restaurant Olivia, and co-founder of Grappolo Wine School, along with her husband Scott.
For this class, participants will bring items they'd like to pickle and preserve from their garden, farmer’s market or grocery store. Be creative, this is not just for cucumbers, people! Paula will guide us through both the pickling and fermenting processes and participants will take home their jars of goodies. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn from the best!
When: Sunday, August 3rd, 2025 (1:00-3:00pm)
Where: 1064 S High St.
Limited Registration: 8
*Please bring fresh produce to pickle and/or preserve, all other material provided.
Suggested donation: $20
Annual Plant Sale
Our sale is of the small, backyard varietal. Seeds were carefully started by weekly volunteers (while solving the world’s problems at my dining room or patio table) and lovingly cared for here at my home. All seedlings will be $5 or less and you can visit our website for a list of plant varieties. Due to the limited number of plants, I recommend coming early for the best selection. All proceeds go back into the work we do to feed and educate people and engage with our community.
Earth Day Seed Share Event
Mark your calendars now to join us for this Seed Sharing Extravaganza!!
FULL - Soil Blocking Workshop
This event is full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, plese send an email to steffgrogs@gmail.com
Want to learn a seed-starting technique that is waste-free and produces strong seedlings? Join us April 5th from 10-11:00 as we learn ‘soil-blocking’ from Homesteading in Denver’s Garden Goddess, Heather Grady. Heather and her hubby, Terrance, are devoted gardeners, educators and advocates for sustainable garden practices. They have gotten positive results using the seed-blocking system and Heather is graciously willing to share her knowledge-lucky us!
This class is FREE, all materials provided, registration is required. Limited to 8 participants
Vanilla Workshop
After a trip to Hawaii, daughter, Katie and I are excited to share what we learned from our tour of The Vanillerie. You will learn where vanilla comes from, how it is produced and the different types of vanilla. There is a reason vanilla is expensive! But extract and vanilla products are relatively easy to make so we will teach you how to make your own extract, simple syrup, sugar and salt.
All materials will be provided. Suggested donation: $30 , be paid the day of the event, via cash, check, Zelle or Venmo.
Wreath-Making Workshop with Gerald Abner
In conjunction with Blue Shed’s Annual Winter Market, we will be hosting a wreath-making workshop here with Gerald Abner on the patio from 1-3. Gerald created a number of wreath ‘rings’ on a recent visit to his farm in Kentucky. Lucky for us he is sharing them!
Space is limited so RSVP to gabner61@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Workshop is $25 (payable to Gerald Abner) and supplies will be provided.
Blue Shed's Annual Winter Market
It was a banner year for fruit in Denver and I’m proud to share that almost all of our jam has been made with damaged fruit gleaned from neighborhood trees that would’ve otherwise been wasted.
*To pre-order for pickup at this market (or anytime from the porch), please contact us to be sent the online order form.
The Table Winter Market
On the 23rd The Table will be hosting 10+ makers and their wares. This will be a great opportunity to check out their newly remodeled space, while also getting a jumpstart on your holiday shopping!
Citywide Gleaning Event
Help harvest local fruit trees in the Denver metro area to help feed the community!
Happy Hour/Garden Tour with Homesteading in Denver
Come join us as we sip, nibble and soak in the beauty and bounty of Homesteading in Denver's Heather and Terrance’s growing space. Part of our Growing Food in the City series.
Flower Pounding Workshop With Gerald Abner
When: Sunday, August 25, 2024, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Blue Shed Urban Gardens
Cost: Free, but suggested donation is $20.
RSVP: Required, sign up on SignUpGenius
We’ll be exploring how plants can be used for print-making by expressing their dye through ‘pounding.’ Supplies provided.
Gerald Abner is a gardening friend and fellow creative spirit. With an undergraduate degree in Art Education he has always explored a variety of media. Over they ears, watercolors and pencil drawings became his main focus. Gerald was selected as Teacher of the Year (his wife shared this tidbit with me:) in his home state of Kentucky but is now retired and finds gardening and nature to be his current art medium and inspiration. Married to his soul mate, Belva, for 29 years, they split their time here and on their farm in Kentucky. I can’t wait to host this workshop with Gerald! Please RSVP using this SignUpGenius to reserve your spot. Ages 18+
Growing Food in the City: Two School Garden Tours
When: Saturday, August 17, 2024, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: Blue Shed Urban Gardens
Cost: Suggested donation is $10 to Grow Local Colorado, but not required for attendance. All proceeds will go towards the maintenance of these two school gardens.
RSVP: Via SignUpGenius
Barbara Masoner, my good friend, mentor and founder/co-director of Grow Local Colorado and I are teaming up to host a morning at two DPS gardens: Cory Elementary and South HS. Barbara manages the garden at Cory (along with Skeeter Buck) and I manage South. Barbara will also share information about Grow Local Colorado and the amazing work they do to keep our communities fed.
This event is scheduled for August 17th from 9-11 a.m. and we are in hopes that several South students who’ve worked with me this summer will be in attendance to share information about their garden and how it provides fresh produce for the school’s Giving Grocery.
Plan to meet here at Blue Shed at 9:00 (1064 S High St) where we will enjoy a quick cup of coffee and a muffin before visiting the gardens. Barb will lead anyone wanting to ride their bike OR you may hop in your car and join us at Cory Elementary. We should be to South HS by 10:15.
Seedling Sale
The Seedling Sale & Open House will be Saturday, May 11th. This is earlier than in years past, but weather permitting, it will be held 9am-3:00pm. Though there may not be as many seedlings available, I am hoping to have gifts for mom’s, grandma’s, new graduates, edible/annual pots, and the usual jams and jellies. There may even be some radishes and spinach by then!
Earth Day Seed Share
Celebrate Earth Month and join us for a free community seed share event! Bring your extra seed packets and take some with you too.
In partnership with:
Free Seed Share at Convivio
Come join Blue Shed Urban Gardens and Grow Local Colorado for a free seed sharing event at Convivio Cafe! Delicious refreshments available for purchase. Let’s grow together!
Make it stand out
Seed Share Event
Come join Blue Shed Urban Gardens and Grow Local Colorado for this free seed sharing event, in partnership with Stoute Farm and Permatierra, a new Black woman-owned community boutique in Wheatridge, CO.
Holiday Market
I will be selling jam, jelly, canned pie filling, baked goods etc. at The Table Public House’s Holiday Market at 2190 S Platte River Dr, in Denver, CO.
That being said, and because this market is a week earlier than last year’s, I will also be taking pre-orders for pie filling (apple and apple-pear-cranberry). Fillings will be canned and sold in pint or quart jars and will be shelf stable for up to a year. I will send out another email/reminder for pre-orders, but for now, simply respond to this newsletter if you are interested.
Pints will sell for $20. I will have a limited quantity of these at the Holiday Market. These smaller jars are perfect for 2 people, a smaller pie, crisp, topping for oatmeal or yogurt, or filling for hand pies/croissants. These will be canned for safe keeping through the winter.
Quarts will sell for $30 and fill a standard pie shell. These will be pre-order only and also canned for shelf stability.
*All apples and pears are organic and locally- sourced.
Pumpkin Gingerbread (plain, pecan or chocolate chip) will also be available for pre-order. I will sell small sizes of these at the Holiday Market, but you may also pre-order the standard 9”x5”. They will be $25 for plain and $28 for the pecan/chocolate chip varieties. These freeze well.
All proceeds go directly back into Blue Shed Urban Gardens, LLC and allow our community to do the work we do to grow, glean and share food.
All items will be available for pickup at 1064 S High St from 3-6:00 p.m. November 19th, 20th and 21st, Thanksgiving week.
{*Please note that I am a Cottage Foods Producer Colorado Cottage Foods Act and have received the training and certification for safe food handling}.