Join us for our ANNUAL PLANT SALE 2026! Our sale is of the small, backyard varietal. Seeds were carefully started by weekly volunteers and lovingly cared for here in the home of Blue Shed. All seedlings will be $5 or less (stay tuned for our plant list). 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. We hope to see you there!

Join us for our ANNUAL PLANT SALE 2026! Our sale is of the small, backyard varietal. Seeds were carefully started by weekly volunteers and lovingly cared for here in the home of Blue Shed. All seedlings will be $5 or less (stay tuned for our plant list). 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. We hope to see you there!

Join us for a fun and informative evening about seed companies, how to harvest your own seeds and how to start your seedlings at home

This evening's focus will be on all things 'Seeds! We will dive into seed resources, the importance of climate-adapted seeds and how you can become a seed steward. Saving seeds from your garden is not only easy, it's a powerful act of self-reliance. Seeds, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, and need their own unique environments in which to grow. We hope to set you up with the education you need for seed-starting success at home AND in the garden.

Facilitators: Linda Kiker of the Denver Local Seed Project and Co-Director of Grow Local Colorado and Steff Grogan of Blue Shed Urban Gardens.

Our Hosts: Jeanine Kopaska Broek is the founder of The Denver Table Urban Farm and, along with her husband, Craig, own and operate the Table Public House. Come support their work by enjoying dinner and a beverage before class!

Class Fee: $25

Lovely Lavender Class In this class, Barbara Masoner will show us how to create a Lavender Salt scrub using dried lavender blossoms harvested from BSUG this summer. We will also explore the culinary uses of lavender in the kitchen by making Lemon Lavender Muffins and Lavender Honey Simple Syrup. Participants will leave with a sample of all.

The suggested donation for each class is $20. Please bring cash, a check to "Blue Shed Urban Gardens" or you may Venmo @blue-shed-urbangardens to class. All materials will be provided. 

Healing Salves Workshop Join us for this fun and informative afternoon as we learn about the many benefits of calendula, goldenrod, rosemary and sage. We will create a Calendula Honey Salve, Goldenrod Salve and a Rosemary Sage salve. Participants will leave with salves, calendula seeds and the knowledge of how to harvest and dry these flowers throughout the season to make the infused oils at home. 

The suggested donation for each class is $20. Please bring cash, a check to "Blue Shed Urban Gardens" or you may Venmo @blue-shed-urbangardens to class. All materials will be provided. 

Begin the growing season with a plan to enhance the beauty and productivity of your garden!

Get a jumpstart on your growing season with this fun and informative garden planning workshop. We will help you make the most of your garden space, discuss how to group plants, how to grow vertically, why companion planting is important, and how square foot gardening can improve your productivity. We will be bouncing off Jenny Cavanaugh's (of Colorado Kitchen Gardens) garden planning curriculum.

Come with your questions, ideas, concerns, etc. and we will do our best to guide you!

Your Facilitators: Steff Grogan of Blue Shed Urban Gardens along with Keith Reed, a Master Gardener with years of experience in community and residential gardening, and Jeanine Kopaska Broek, Farm Manager of the Table Urban Farm will be your educators for the evening.

Our Gracious Hosts: Craig Broek and Jeanine are co-directors of the Table Public House. Support their work to provide free fresh produce to all who hunger, by purchasing dinner and a beverage before class.

Class fee: $25 per garden plan (ie. if there are two of you planning one garden then it's just $25).

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

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. 

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

Join us in Wash Park with SummerHome Garden founder, Lisa Negri, and Bug Snug Creator, Gerald Abner

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.

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

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

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

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.

Mark your calendars now to join us for this Seed Sharing Extravaganza!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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+

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.

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:

• Denver Urban Gardens

• Grow Local Colorado

• Ekar Farm

• The Table

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}.