Part of our store mission is to offer classes in all areas of urban homesteading. Please check this page for updates as we add classes to our calendar. Most of our classes are on Saturday afternoons in 2013 unless otherwise noted.

Payment is required for registration. Call 651-645-0818 to pay with a credit card or to make some other arrangement. We will also need a contact phone number and email where we can reach you in the event of a change in the schedule. Call 651-645-0818 or e-mail audrey@eggplantsupply with questions.

June 2013 Classes

Home Cheesemaking - Chef Sean Jones
Saturday, June 15 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

This class will introduce you to soft, semi soft, and hard type cheeses. We will cover local, and regional cheeses as well as basic home cheese making. Chef Sean will demonstrate how to make ricotta and fresh mozzarella. Other topics will include milk composition, rennet, cultures, tools and equipment for home cheesemaking, as well as resources for the home cheese maker.

Sean Jones has been a culinary arts instructor for 6 years at Saint Paul College. He has worked locally at the Marsh, Lucia’s, Vincent, and W.A Frost as well as in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas (most notably for Chef Paul Bartolotta) Sean has worked throughout his restaurant and education career to incorporate and spread awareness about sustainable foods and food systems.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, June 8, 1:00-3:00

Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

Bokashi Composting -- Sean Alter

Saturday June 1, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15 class, $40 class plus take-home bokashi bin and month's supply of bokashi bran

Learn how to compost all your household organics (including meat and bones) with this innovative, no hassle method. Bokashi is a traditional form of composting that is perfect if you live in a apartment or don't want to trudge through the snow this winter (or "spring") to your compost pile!

Sean Alter is the owner of Urban Compost, a local company that is focused on compost solutions for the urban grower. Also visit Urban Compost's Facebook page.

May 2013 Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, May 18 1:00-3:00

Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

Straw Bale Gardens - Joel Karsten
Saturday, May 11 2:00 pm

Cost: Free Demonstration, registration required due to limited space. Call 651-645-0818 to register.

Joel Karsten, author of Straw Bale Gardening will demonstrate how to use straw bales to create a container and garden all in one. This gardening technique works well anywhere in the world.

Edible Gardening with Chickens - Theresa Rooney
May 4, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Cost $20

Learn all about incorporating edible plants and chickens into your landscape. This can be as little as one tomato plant in the border or an entire, turfless yard filled with edible vegetables, fruit, nuts, berries and roots. And you can do this without feeding the whole crop to your chickens or worrying the neighbors too much!

Theresa Rooney is a Hennepin County Master Gardener who grows as many edible and beautiful plants as she can in her backyard in Minneapolis, where she also keeps a small flock of chickens.

April 2013 Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, April 27 10:30-12:00 noon and 1:00-3:00 pm

Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

Spring Foraging: Morels and More! - Mike Kempenich
Saturday, April 20 1:00-3:00 pm

Cost: $20

Mike Kempenich of www.mikeologystore.com will talk morels; how to positively identify them, where to find them, and how to clean and prepare them uisng safe and sustainable harvest practices. You will also learn about other wild, edible plants that are available this time of year.

Urban Veggie Gardening: Beginner - Dina Kountoupes and Krista Leraas
Saturday April 13th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

cost: $20

Get some great tips on how to grow a high yielding vegetable garden using sustainable methods and permaculture principles that make growing your own food easier for you and better for the environment. Taught by Krista Leraas and Dina Kountoupes: vegetable growers and permaculture experts who promote urban farming and gardening with their business, Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers.

Backyard Mushroom Basics - Jeremy McAdams
Saturday April 6th, 10:30 am - 12 Noon

cost: $36 including oyster mushroom log kit

Growing your own gourmet mushrooms can be easy and nearly maintenance free - perfect for backyards and community garden plots. Learn what mycelium is and how to start and care for garden mushrooms and large-diameter mushroom logs. Each participant will inoculate his or her own oyster mushroom log to take home – which should fruit mushrooms in a matter of months! Inoculated shiitake and nameko log kits are also available for purchase and pickup at this class.

Jeremy McAdams runs Cherry Tree House Mushrooms, LLC, an urban farm in south Minneapolis and Maplewood that provides log-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms to Twin Cities restaurants, markets and grocery stores.

Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation - Jeremy McAdams
Saturday April 6th, 12:30 - 2:00 pm
cost: $48 including shiitake mushroom log kit

This is an advanced class on how to start and care for your own shiitake mushroom logs - which are perfect for shady backyards and community garden plots. Each participant will take home a shiitake mushroom log kit – which is ready to fruit mushrooms right away!

Jeremy McAdams runs Cherry Tree House Mushrooms, LLC, an urban farm in south Minneapolis and Maplewood that provides log-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms to Twin Cities restaurants, markets and grocery stores.

March 2013 Classes

Seed Starting Basics - Courtney Tchida
Saturday, March 2, 1:00-2:30 pm
Cost: $15

It's time! Starting your own seeds allows you to pick varieties you love, grow many plants for less money, and brighten up late winter days with the promise of summer gardens. Learn about seed selection, seed starting soil mixes, flats and pots, lighting, temperature and fertilizers for optimum growth.

Courtney Tchida is currently the Student Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Minnesota where she coordinates the graduate and undergraduate minors in sustainable agriculture and the Cornercopia Student Organic Farm. She is a member of the Teacher's Guild of the Permaculture Research Institute - Cold Climate.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, March 9, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

Intro to Beekeeping - Jacquelynn Goessling
Saturday, March 16, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Cost: $20

Become one with the hive mind with this informational overview of backyard beekeeping. This short class will answer all of the questions you have about whether you are ready to become a backyard beekeeper. Topics covered include hive boxes and equipment, rules and regulations,seasonal care, lifecycle of the honey bee, breeds, apiary suppliers and more.

Jacquelynn Goessling runs United Nectar, an urban apiary in its fifth year with 14 urban hives throughout the Twin Cities.

Worm Composting - Neil Cunningham
Saturday, March 23, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Cost: $15 Class only, $45 Class and Worm Bin

This workshop is for beginners, compost enthusiasts, and those wanting to learn more about the ins and outs of worm composting. The cost is $15 for the workshop and $45 if you are interested in leaving the workshop with a fully functional worm bin using the system demonstrated during the workshop.

Neil Cunningham is a writer, working entomologist, urban naturalist, environmental educator, and one of a growing number of advocate/practitioners of the emerging field of urban agriculture.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, March 30, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

February 2013 Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, February 23, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

January 2013 Classes

Home Cheesemaking - Chef Sean Jones
Saturday, January 19 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

This class will introduce you to soft, semi soft, and hard type cheeses. We will cover local, and regional cheeses as well as basic home cheese making. Chef Sean will demonstrate how to make ricotta and fresh mozzarella. Other topics will include milk composition, rennet, cultures, tools and equipment for home cheesemaking, as well as resources for the home cheese maker.

Sean Jones has been a culinary arts instructor for 6 years at Saint Paul College. He has worked locally at the Marsh, Lucia’s, Vincent, and W.A Frost as well as in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas (most notably for Chef Paul Bartolotta) Sean has worked throughout his restaurant and education career to incorporate and spread awareness about sustainable foods and food systems.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, January 26, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15, children with adult $5

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for over five years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in an urban setting: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chickens (chickens permitting).

2012 Classes

2011 Classes

2010 Classes

For a listing of classes held in previoius years at Egg|Plant, click a heading above.