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May 30, 2026
1pm-4pm
A traditional view is that the gardening season in the upper Midwest runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but there is so much more time where we can be working the garden and harvesting fresh veggies. In this class we will tend to the spring-planted vegetables - weeding, harvesting, and flipping beds to plant summer crops. We will prepare soil to plant summer crops. While we are working in the garden, you can expect to learn from your instructor Sam about soil health, tillage, managing weeds, choosing varieties and planning your garden. While we’re working you can also chat with Sam about your own garden questions and practices. You will also learn from Sam’s extensive garden tool collection - weeders, seeders, and more.
We will practice skills like:
Weeding with precision tools
Harvesting spring veggies
Intelligent tillage, seedbed preparation
Understanding our soil and adding amendments
Planting and spacing summer seeds and vegetables
Planning succession planting for season-long harvest
Mulching for weed control
Please be prepared to work outside in the garden. Suggested things to bring include:
Warm layered clothes that can get dirty
Work gloves
Hat for sun or warmth
Water bottle
Favorite garden tools (tools will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own if you wish)
Tuition: $50
Materials: $5
This course is for students 14+
Your Instructor
SAM OSCHWALD TILTON
(he/him)
Sam Oschwald Tilton is a former vegetable farmer and passionate hort educator.
He taught horticulture at Lakeshore Technical College and was the Direct-Market Vegetable Specialist for UW-Extension. He works as an organic farm advisor, helping farmers improve their weed management, soil, and machinery systems. Through his business, Glacial Drift Enterprises, he also delivers hands-on trainings to farmers and organizations around the Midwest. He organizes the Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day and lives in Minneapolis, where he enjoys gardening with the neighborhood.