Et cetera : Learn How to Have a Homegrown Lifestyle

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a course for folks who want to reconnect with the land, grow food for their own use and create a sustainable landscape. Homegrown Lifestyle will be offered by ISU Extension at both Linn & Johnson Counties on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. beginning March 29 and ending June 14.

Extension’s Homegrown Lifestyle is a 12-week spring short course for people living on a large lot or small acreage who want to take full advantage of their space to collect rainwater, make compost and learn how to grow small fruits and vegetables. Topics covered during the course include edible landscape design; soil and water conservation; growing and preserving vegetables, fruits and wild crops; backyard poultry; beekeeping; grazing and ruminants; and wildlife management.

Homegrown Lifestyle focuses on fundamental, scale-appropriate food production techniques and conservation strategies that smallholders and modern homesteaders can quickly put to use. It is not a farm business planning class of commercial growers, rather for homeowners with space to play with. It will run Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm beginning March 29 & ending June 14.

Each weekly session includes an educational session taught by extension educators through a live-stream webinar; plus, each class offers locally organized activities for a face-to-face and sometimes hands-on experience. In addition to weekly Thursday sessions, three half-day local tours or workshops give course participants the opportunity to experience small–scale food production and resource conservation practices first hand.

“Increasing interest in local foods has some folks wondering if they could grow their own food,” said Michelle Kenyon Brown, coordinator for Homegrown Lifestyle in Linn, Benton & Jones Counties. “The Homegrown Lifestyle course combines basic information on a wide range of topics with practical application, local tours and workshops for a complete educational experience. Rain harvesting, growing small fruits, tree pruning are other topics to be covered.”

Weekly sessions are taught by extension educators, with activities led by local experts. The Homegrown Lifestyle County course is offered at Linn County and Johnson County Extension offices. Other sites throughout the state are listed on its website. The course fee is $179. Online registration opens Feb. 10 at www.homegrownlifestyle.org; intent to enroll can be emailed to homegrown@iastate.edu prior to that date. Registrations must be completed by March 22. For more information about Homegrown Lifestyle, contact Michelle Kenyon Brown at (319) 377-9839 or mkenyonb@iastate.edu or visit www.homegrownlifestyle.org

“It was incredible learning from experienced gardeners – they shared simple things that have definitely improved my garden and farmstead this year,” said Rich Myers, a 2011 participant.