Horticulture Classes – Anytime, Anywhere

Posted by: Jennifer Bousselot, Affiliate Faculty, Colorado State University, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Many who are deeply involved in gardening are drawn in to a little additional horticultural education from time to time. Whether you are a Master Gardener, a member of a horticultural trade organization, or an enthusiastic hobbyist you probably want to dig a little deeper into a subject once in a while.

For example, have you ever wanted to learn more about the origins and basics of garden design? If so, you might be interested in a new online course by Colorado State University in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture called Landscape Theory and Garden Design. It is an eight week course, May 19 through July 11 where you will explore the major aspects of the history, theory and basic design strategies involved in landscape architecture. Assistant professor Kelly Curl will be leading the course. It is available for three college credits but you don’t have to be enrolled at CSU to take it. Visit http://www.online.colostate.edu/courses/LAND/LAND480A1.dot for more information and to sign up for the class.

If growing food is more your type of gardening, then a new online CSU course called Urban Horticulture may be up your alley. Explore the various forms that urban gardening can take, from community gardens to school gardens to rooftop gardens, all in one twelve week course. This is a graduate level course so evaluating all aspects of these systems will be a major part of the course. The course runs from May 19 until August 11 with a new topic discussed each week. I will be teaching this class as a horticulture and online education enthusiast. Visit http://www.online.colostate.edu/courses/HORT/HORT580A3.dot for more information and to sign up. 

Incidentally I will also be teaching an eight week online summer course for Iowa State University on green roofs specifically. Information is available at: http://agonline.iastate.edu/courses/non-credit/hort-193f-section-xw-green-roof-design-installation-and-management-summer2014

The nice thing about online learning is you can earn some credit – or update training – from anywhere at almost any time. Even from a bench in your garden.