KCCG Workshops

Below is the schedule for Spring & Summer Workshops.

Depending on COVID restrictions, we will determine if these workshops will be held virtually or in-person at a later date.

Video recordings and powerpoint downloads of all 2021 & 2022 workshops can be viewed on our Virtual Workshop page.

Spring & Summer 2022 Free Workshops

When	Time	Workshop
April 15th (Friday)	12:00pm	Tomatoes, Peppers and Sweet Potatoes: Are you overwhelmed by the number of tomato varieties available? Are you confused about heirloom tomatoes? Do your pepper plants not produce as many peppers as you would like? Are you disappointed when you dig up your sweet potatoes? Come learn how to select, plant and care for tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes.
April 26th (Tuesday)	5:30pm	Growing Vine Crops in Your Garden: Members of the Cucurbit family are considered vine crops and include cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, cantaloupe, watermelons, gourds and more. There are many challenges to growing these crops but they are worth the effort.
May 20th (Friday)	12:00pm	Cooking with Spring Veggies: You’ve planted, maintained, and harvested, but how are you going to cook those beautiful spring vegetables from your garden? Join us and learn how to prepare simple, delicious recipes inspired by Spring. Popular Spring veggies include: spinach, kale, green onions, radishes, potatoes, and more! (This workshop will be pre-recorded and will debut on the KCCG Website May 20 to watch at your convenience - no registration required)
May 24th (Tuesday)	5:30pm	What’s Really Bugging You? Insects in the Garden: Do you ever wonder whether the insects in your garden are helping or harming your plants? Learn about the common insects found in our area so that you can identify garden pests as well as the beneficial insects. We will also discuss how to control problem insects safely and effectively.
June 10th (Friday)	12:00pm	How to Control Weeds in the Vegetable Garden: Every gardener has to deal with controlling weeds and unfortunately sometimes weed growth is one of the main reasons that gardens fail and people give up. Come learn about the different kinds of weeds and their life cycles. There are practices and techniques that can make dealing with weeds much easier and your garden will be much more successful.
June 24th (Friday)	12:00pm	Container Gardening: Learn how to grow vegetables and herbs in containers. Container gardening can be a useful solution when space is limited. Discussion will include types of soil mix and containers along with planting and fertilizing techniques.
July 8th (Friday)	12:00pm	Cooking With Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are a tasty and healthy way to enhance your cooking. Learn the best ways to prepare and cook with the most popular varieties of herbs. We will cook with several easy-to-grow herbs.
July 15th (Friday)	12:00pm	How to Have a Successful Fall Garden: Gardening doesn’t end with tomatoes and zucchini. Don’t miss Kansas City’s bountiful third gardening season. You can plant cool season vegetables in July and August for a long and delicious fall garden harvest in September, October and November! Learn the details of what and when to plant for best results.
July 22nd (Friday)	12:00pm	Planting for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators: Insectary or pollinator gardens are great ways to lure beneficial insects to your yard and garden. Learn about what native wildflowers and common culinary herbs you can use to create a more eco-friendly, biodiverse garden.
August 5th (Friday)	12:00pm	Protecting Your Garden From Animal Pests: How do I keep the squirrels out of my tomatoes? Voles out of my sweet potatoes? Although there are no guaranteed solutions to keep pesky pests out of your garden, this workshop will discuss best practices for deterring animal pests.
August 19th (Friday)	12:00pm	Cooking with Summer’s Bounty: Learn how to prepare the beautiful, fresh produce that you have harvested from your garden. Is your kitchen counter covered with tomatoes? Have zucchini coming out of your ears? No problem. Come learn about creative and healthy veggie recipes featuring summer produce.
October 7th (Friday)	12:00on	Growing Great Garlic and Onions: Garlic and onions are the foundation of many recipes where they add so much flavor. They are some of the best crops to grow for eating year- round from your garden because they store well. Join us to learn how to grow them successfully and increase your harvest.

Giving Grove Workshops

For KCCG Stewards Only

The Giving Grove workshops are available for registering. All workshops are free for Giving Grove stewards and apprentices. Click here to RSVP and click here to download the schedule.

When	Time	Where	Workshop
Tuesday, January 25th	12pm-1:30pm	Zoom	Engage Your Community - Important for anyone looking to increase community involvement in orchard activities. Learn how to engage community through Asset-Based Community Development and Asset Mapping. Appropriate for all orchards.
Thursday, January 27th	6:00pm-8:00pm	Zoom	Engage Your Community - mportant for anyone looking to increase community involvement in orchard activities. Learn how to engage community through Asset-Based Community Development and Asset Mapping. Appropriate for all orchards.
Thursday, February 10th	12pm-1:30pm	Zoom	Pests and Pest Management In Your Orchard - What is that leaf spot? Who made holes in my leaves? Find out about many of the insects, fungi and diseases that can plague your trees and what you can do about it. Appropriate for all orchards.
Saturday, February 12th	10:0am-11:30am	Zoom	Holistic Spray in Pest Management - Class explains how to utilize Michael Phillips’ Holistic Spray method in your orchard. Recommended for all orchards installed in 2019 or earlier.
Thursday, February 17th	12pm-1:30pm	Zoom	Dormant Season Pruning - Learn the basics of pruning in the comfort of your own home. Please bring hand pruners. Attend a site that is similar in age and species in your orchard.
Saturday, February 19th	10:00am-11:30am	Zoom	Pests and Pest Management In Your Orchard - What is that leaf spot? Who made holes in my leaves? Find out about many of the insects, fungi and diseases that can plague your trees and what you can do about it. Appropriate for all orchards.
Tuesday, February 22nd	10am-12pm	Liberty Orchard - 5th and Washington, KCK. (Parking behind Liberty Bank)	Dormant Season Pruning - Learn the basics of pruning. Many types of fruit 3-5 years in the ground. Please bring hand pruners.
Wednesday, February 23rd	2:00pm-5:00pm	Kauffman Orchard, Parking at 4750 Troost Parking Lot	Dormant Season Field Day - Come prepared to help with pruning, fertilizing, and dormant oil spraying. Learn the processes! Appropriate for all orchards.
Wednesday, March 2nd	2:00pm-4:00pm	KCCG - 6917 Kensington Avenue, KCMO, 64132	Dormant Season Pruning - Learn the basics of pruning. Please bring hand pruners. Many species of fruits some in the ground 10+ years some planted in 2021.
Tuesday, May 17th	12pm-1:30pm	Avenue of Life Orchard - 5117 E 31st, KCMO, 64128. Park in upper lot next to orchard.	Orchard Basics/New Tree Maintenance - Mainly for newer orchards, but great for understanding tree growth, training trees, and other things that are happening to your trees in the growing season.
Thursday, May 26th	6:00pm-8:00pm	KCCG - 6917 Kensington Avenue, KCMO, 64132	Orchard Basics/New Tree Maintenance - Mainly for newer orchards, but great for understanding tree growth, training trees, and other things that are happening to your trees in the growing season. Lots of tree varieties, young and old, planted from 2008-2021
Tuesday, June 14th	12pm-1:30pm	Zoom	Preparing for Harvest - How do you engage your neighbors around the orchard and fresh fruit? How do you keep the trees from getting picked too soon? How do you tell if the fruit is ripe? What do you do with the harvest? These important questions and more will be answered. Important for Orchards Installed in 2019 and Earlier, and All Sites with Berries.
Saturday, June 18th	9:00am-11:00am	Zoom	Preparing for Harvest - How do you engage your neighbors around the orchard and fresh fruit? How do you keep the trees from getting picked too soon? How do you tell if the fruit is ripe? What do you do with the harvest? These important questions and more will be answered. Important for Orchards Installed in 2019 and Earlier, and All Sites with Berries.
Thursday, June 23rd	6:00pm-8:00pm	Zoom	Engage Your Community - Important for anyone looking to increase community involvement in orchard activities. We will customize your engagement strategy based on your orchard’s location and identifying nearby resources within the surrounding community. Appropriate for all orchards.
Thursday, July 14th	2:00pm-4:00pm	MU Ext. Kitchen	Fruit Preservation - This session will cover harvest and storage tips for keeping garden produce in optimal condition, as well as touch on food safety principle for freezing, and dehydrating as simple methods for preserving surplus. The first workshop will be located at the MU Extension Kitchen at the River Market, 105 E 5th ST, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO, 64106. The second workshop will be announced later this year. Appropriate for all orchards, especially those with a large stewardship team.
Tuesday, July 19th	12:00pm-1:30pm	Zoom	Orchard Biodiversity - Help manage pests and add fertility to the orchard floor. Learn about insectary gardens, beneficial insects and groundcovers, nitrogen fixers, pest deterrents, dynamic accumulators, and more. Appropriate for all orchards, especially those with a large stewardship team.
Tuesday, August 2nd	10:00am-12:00pm	KCCG - 6917 Kensington Avenue, KCMO, 64132	Summer Pruning & Maintenance - This workshop will focus on older pear, apple, and Asian Pear. Please Bring Hand Pruners! Focus is on regulating excessive growth and topping trees. Highly recommended for all orchards.
Thursday, August 4th	2:00pm-4:00pm	MU Ext. Kitchen	Fruit Preservation - This session will cover the basic food safety and preservation principles of canning and pickling and include a display of basic equipment used in food preservation. This workshop will be located at the MU Extension Kitchen at the River Market, 105 E 5th ST, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO, 64106. Appropriate for all orchards, especially those with a large stewardship team.
Saturday, August 6th	10:00-12:00pm	Beaumont Baptist Church 8319 Independence Ave, Kansas City, MO 64125	Fruit Preservation - This session will cover the basic food safety and preservation principles of canning and pickling and include a display of basic equipment used in food preservation. Appropriate for all orchards, especially those with a large stewardship team.
Wednesday, August 10th	6:00pm-8:00pm	Overland Park - 9500 Bluejacket Overland Park, Ks, 66214. Park in Library parking lot	Summer Pruning & Maintenance - This workshop will focus on 3-5 year pear, apple, and Asian Pear. Please Bring Hand Pruners! Focus is on regulating excessive growth and topping trees. Highly recommended for all orchards.
Thursday, August 18th	10:00am-12:00pm	Avenue of Life - 5117 E 31st, KCMO, 64128. Park in upper lot next to orchard	Summer Pruning & Maintenance - This workshop will focus on mostly apple, pear and Asian pear. Planted in 2020. Please Bring Hand Pruners! Focus is on regulating excessive growth and topping trees. Highly recommended for all orchards.
Thursday, August 25th	6:00pm-8:00pm	105 E 5th ST, Kansas City, MO, 64106TBD	Fruit Preservation - This session will cover harvest and storage tips for keeping garden produce in optimal condition, as well as touch on food safety principle for freezing, and dehydrating as simple methods for preserving surplus. The first workshop will be located at the MU Extension Kitchen at the River Market, 105 E 5th ST, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO, 64106. The second workshop will be announced later this year. Appropriate for all orchards, especially those with a large stewardship team.