Photo: Spring Training 2025 participants make observations in the EarthDance greenhouse.
With Spring approaching, gardeners are eager to start planting. EarthDance Organic Farm School in Ferguson recently launched its 2025 Spring Training for Gardeners with the first class, “Starting from Seed,” led by Jena Hood and Kaitie Adams. This session provided practical advice and encouragement, helping both new and experienced gardeners begin their season with confidence.
Finding Your “Why”
Class began with a reflection on personal motivations. Jena Hood, EarthDance’s Director of Agriculture and Education, emphasized that understanding the “why” behind gardening is key to long-term success.
Kaitie Adams, a former EarthDance farm manager and current Demonstration Farm Director at the Savannah Institute, led participants through a visualization exercise. “Close your eyes and picture your dream garden,” she encouraged. “Why do you want to grow?”
Participants considered their reasons—whether to grow fresh food, connect with nature, create beauty, support biodiversity, or continue family traditions. Kaitie shared her own top three motivations: feeding her family, enjoying the beauty of plants, and spending time outdoors with her energetic three-year-old.
Resources and Challenges
With motivations in mind, gardeners listed their available resources, such as tools, compost, or a sunny windowsill. Kaitie also encouraged them to acknowledge challenges like limited space, poor soil, or persistent pests. She reassured them that setbacks are normal. “Gardening, like farming, is an experiment every year,” she said.
Jena reinforced that every garden—whether a backyard plot or a few potted herbs—is valuable.
Planning and Planting
Jena covered key factors for choosing a garden site, including sunlight, soil quality, and water access. They explained the benefits of different setups:
• Raised beds for better drainage and weed control
• In-ground gardens for those working with native soil – test your soil!
• Container gardens for patios and small spaces, or if you may move
The instructors also shared planting tips:
• Cool-season crops (spinach, peas, radishes) thrive in early spring.
• Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) need consistent warmth.
• Perennials (thyme, oregano, chives) return yearly with little maintenance.
Jena advised participants to check local frost dates and to use almanac.com or the Seed St. Louis Planting calendar to time their plantings correctly.
Gardening Basics
Jena and Kaitie wrapped up with essential tools: a soil knife/hand trowel, garden hoe, watering can, and pruning shears. They emphasized mulching for moisture retention and watering consistently, ideally in the morning.
Looking Ahead
As the session ended, Jena reminded participants that gardening is a learning experience. “There’s no such thing as a failed garden,” they assured. “Every season is a chance to grow.” With fresh inspiration, participants left ready to dig in and enjoy the rest of the 5-week course and the growing season ahead.
Not enrolled in Spring Training this year? Learn to grow food by volunteering at EarthDance! Our next (monthly) volunteer orientation – plus a free public tour for those just curious about EarthDance – is Saturday, April 12, 2025, and you can sign up here: https://earthdancefarms.org/volunteer/
Getting your garden ready and wanting to start with organic transplants? Join us for our Pay What You Can Spring Plant Sale, May 2, 3, 4th! (See ad for details.)
Not planning to grow your own food this year (or just want to supplement ’til your garden is producing?) Pay What You Can for EarthDance produce – Shop with us at the Ferguson Indoor Farmers Market on Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 9am-Noon at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ferguson, and EVERY WEEKEND beginning in May at the Ferguson Farmers Market and the EarthDance Pay What You Can Farm Stand (Seasonal Grand Opening Weekend – Friday, May 2, 2025, 3-6pm and Sunday, May 4, 2025 11am-3pm!)
AND! Find us at St. Louis Earth Day April 26-27, 2025, 11am-5pm both days, at the Muny Grounds in Forest Park, with plants and merch available for purchase!