Taking Root - Online 

As a forest school, Red Oaks’ primary focus is on nature immersion and environmental stewardship; and nutritious foods and sustainable gardening practices are an important component of environmental and personal health. Sadly, COVID-19 has curtailed outdoor activities for many families as well as highlighted many logistical and ethical problems with our country’s food supply chain. It is with this in mind that we have taken a program we’d hoped to launch on site this year and made it virtual!

Taking Root Online is a 10-week course in which participants will get to know the ecology of their location and learn step-by-step how to create and nurture their own vegetable garden, exploring key science concepts along the way. For students learning from home this semester, classes will provide Next Generation Science Standards-aligned STEM content each week, looking at everything from how seeds germinate to soil chemistry to predator-prey dynamics in insects. For novice gardeners, this class will help participants avoid many of the most common pitfalls would-be food growers face and take a big step towards a greener future. 

Taking Root is being offered in partnership with Amy and Channing Richardson of Forgotten Foods Farm, a 6th generation family farm in Carter County with a wealth of experience in organic gardening and agroforestry. Join Director of Education Hannah Harris for a season of growth and renewal as we walk you through the how and why of vegetable gardening from a practical, ecological, and philosophical perspective.

Dates and Times

Wednesdays: 10 am - 11 am ages 8-12, 7-8 pm adults

February 17, 24

March 10, 24, 31

April 14, 21, 28

May 12, 19

*Each participant will receive their own packet of carefully selected seeds to be used during this program.