Welcome to Locavore U
Where experienced instructors, hands-on lessons, and a community of curious learners gather on the farm to learn traditional skills that will build confidence in your abilities to care for you and your people.
As a student of the Locavore U community, you’ll be equipped with information you can apply to everything from your small garden or 400 acres and everything in between. We’ll serve up classes that you can choose from based on your needs and goals.
Locavore U at a Glance
-
Hands-on classes getting back to the basics and teaching traditional skills
-
Register for as many classes as you wish
-
Classes are available April through December
-
Classes are 2-4 hours long
-
Class fees include all materials and supplies needed for instruction and take-home projects, as well as any take-aways!
We look forward to guiding YOU through YOUR journey as a student of Locavore U
2025 Classes
Current Open Classes:
-
Garden Planning – March 8 & March 15
-
Spring Detox 101 - Register Now!
Our 2025 schedule is actively evolving as we collaborate with new instructors and expand our learning experiences.
At Locavore U, we offer hands-on, collaborative, and social learning experiences designed to equip you with practical skills for a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. Led by experienced instructors who have embraced a simpler, more intentional way of life, our workshops cover a diverse range of topics, from herbal wellness and food preservation to beekeeping, sourdough baking, and regenerative gardening.Each session is designed to build skills, foster community, and provide hands-on experience in sustainable living. All class fees include materials, supplies, and take-home projects.
Topics Covered in Locavore U Workshops:
(Workshops are scheduled throughout the year—check back often for new dates!)
Homestead & Land Stewardship
-
Construction for the Backyard Homestead
-
Creating Income from Your Land
-
Homestead Design
-
Permaculture Design for Backyards & Farms
Gardening & Food Production
-
Garden Planning – March 8 & March 15 (Register Now!)
-
Grow Your Own Victory Garden
-
Raised Bed Systems & Hugelkultur
-
Seed-Saving & Seed Banks
-
Natural Beekeeping 101 (Treatment-Free Beekeeping)
-
Natural Beekeeping 102 (Colony Collapse: What Are the Bees Telling Us?)
-
Raising Chickens for Eggs & Meat
-
Mycology & Mushrooms
Food Preservation & Culinary Skills
-
Sourdough & Grains
-
Traditional Foods for Daily Menus
-
Food Preservation: Dehydrating & Canning (Pressure & Water Bath)
-
Fermenting Vegetables & Gut Health
-
Making Bone Broth
-
Pasture-to-Plate: Smoke, Roast & Grill
Wild Foods & Herbal Wellness
-
Wildcraft & Wellness
-
Wildfoods & Foraging
-
Herbal First Aid
-
Edible Flowers & Crystalized Flower Petals
-
Winter Seed Sowing
Handcrafting & Self-Sufficiency
-
Basic Hand Stitch for Garment Repair & Gift-Giving
-
Handcrafting: Felting Wool
New workshops are continually being scheduled as we refine our offerings and introduce fresh topics. Check back regularly to see what’s new and join us at Locavore U! If you are interested in joining our Instructors Collective, shoot us a message.
The Permaculture Course Offering
Locavore Farm is proud to collaborate with Midwest Permaculture to offer hands-on learning experiences that bring permaculture principles to life. As participants engage with Midwest Permaculture’s online and in-person coursework, they will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting at Locavore Farm's 30-acre Sumac Creek estate. Through immersive, guided experiences, students will deepen their understanding of regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and land stewardship—gaining practical skills that complement their studies.
Curriculum Overview:
-
Earthworks
-
Water Harvesting
-
Soil Building
-
Plants and Guilds
-
Food Production Systems
-
Humane Use of Animals
-
Alternatives to Alternative Energy
-
Natural Building
-
Aquaculture - Aquaponics
-
Community Governance
For more information including a deeper dive into the curriculum that will be offered, shoot us a message so we can schedule the right hands-on experience for you.
_websize.jpg)
