CEI Nourishing Gardens

05/12/2026

🌱✨ Dreaming of a beautiful food garden but not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! ✨🌱
Join the Nourishing Gardens Food Gardening Made Simple cohort and learn how to build your dream garden on a budget! Join as a one-day workshop to learn practical, affordable ways to create quality raised beds, or join the full experience to gain the skills and confidence to grow your own food from the ground up.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to level up your garden space, this class is designed to make gardening feel simple, doable, and FUN.
🌿 What’s included:
✔️ Classroom learning session
✔️ Hands-on experience building garden beds
✔️ Guidance on tools, materials, and techniques
✔️ Lunch break at beautiful Freetown Farm
✔️ Take-home instructions to keep the momentum going
📅 May 16, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Come learn, build, connect with our community, and leave inspired to create your own thriving garden space at home. 🌻

Time is running out, so grab your spot today! tinyurl.com/nourishinggardens

Learn how to transform your lawn into a food garden that sustains you and nature!

04/14/2026

Now is an amazing time to join our garden community! Each month, we get together to share garden progress and challenges, enjoy expert presentations, and make garden plans for the month ahead.

We are THRILLED to be hosting expert presenter Mike Raupp, Ph.D. (The Bug Guy!) and Paula Shrewsbury, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland to learn about common garden pests and Integrated Pest Management techniques in May.

But the fun doesn't end there - in June we will meet at Robinson Nature Center to learn the secrets behind their swoonworthy native plant gardens and get hands on in the soil.

Sign up before Tuesday, April 21, and you will have the opportunity to join us to learn about proper tree planting and care (hint* many professional landscapers don't know this!), get your FREE planting kit, and give back for arbor day by planting a tree here at Freetown Farm!

Tinyurl.com/seasons26

04/04/2026

🌱 Want to grow your own food?

Nourishing Gardens Presents: Food Gardening Made Simple
📅 Saturdays, May 9 – June 6 | 10–3

Grow Food. Cultivate Community. Protect the Planet.

NEW! Add the 5-week Beyond The Garden Bed session as an add on (a $95 discount!), offered Saturday, September 5th through Saturday, October 3rd, when topics such as permaculture design, native gardening, gardening with wildlife, and food systems align best with the time of year.

👉 Sign up: tinyurl.com/NourishingGardens

Learn how to transform your lawn into a food garden that sustains you and nature!

03/06/2026

🌱🍄 Discover the Benefits of Growing Mushrooms in Your Garden! 🍄🌱

Curious about adding mushrooms to your garden? Join our upcoming class to learn how easy and rewarding it can be to grow your own! We’ll explore the many benefits of growing mushrooms, from improving soil health and recycling organic materials to producing delicious, nutritious food right at home.

Whether you're a beginner gardener or looking to expand your skills, this class will introduce simple methods to start growing mushrooms and show how they can work alongside your existing garden.

Come learn, ask questions, and get inspired to bring mushrooms into your garden ecosystem! 🍄✨

TinyURL.com/Seasons26

03/04/2026

We are looking forward to welcoming volunteers back to Freetown Farm this weekend! Register: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/d60ecac7-da78-4e01-a208-84089116509b/1

02/12/2026

🌱 Big news! Nourishing Gardens has now installed 31 gardens across Howard County—creating hands-on learning spaces where students grow food, curiosity, and lifelong healthy habits.

These school gardens are more than just plants in the ground—they’re living classrooms that connect kids to nature, nutrition, and their community.

Would you like to get involved? 🌻
Consider sponsoring a school garden and help us grow the next generation of healthy, engaged learners. https://tinyurl.com/Sponsors26

02/03/2026

🌱 A Year of Gardening Success Starts Here 🌱

We’re excited to welcome special guest presenter Gary Pilarchik of The Rusted Garden for our Through the Seasons February class!

This session is perfect for anyone looking to get started with growing food. Gary will share practical, easy-to-follow guidance to help you build confidence in your garden this year—no matter your experience level.

Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with other local gardeners, ask questions, and take home free seeds to get them started.

By joining our community, you’ll receive ongoing gardening support throughout the year, plus access to monthly classes featuring experts covering new, timely, and interesting gardening topics.

🌿 Grow food. Cultivate Community. Protect the Planet.
Join us and take the first step toward a more productive, successful garden.
Tinyurl.com/Seasons26

02/01/2026

Did you know community gardens offer more than just fresh food?

🥕 Healthier Food for You and Your Family
Eating fresh-picked, local vegetables is actually more nutritious than "fresh" store-bought produce! Vegetables begin losing nutrients immediately after harvest, therefore even frozen vegetables—often frozen at peak ripeness—are more nutrient-dense than “fresh” produce from the grocery store.

Join our Nourishing Gardens 5-week or 10-week training to learn everything you need to know to begin growing your own food! https://tinyurl.com/Gardens26

🌱 Support Your Health
Spending time outdoors connecting with nature and caring for plants has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood while offering consistent, low-impact movement that can improve strength, flexibility, and overall fitness.

🤝 Grow Your Social Connections
Gardening fosters social interaction among neighbors and friends through sharing tools, tips, and produce. Join our Through the Seasons members to experience these benefits for yourself! https://tinyurl.com/Seasons26

By combining education, community, and hands-on gardening skills, Nourishing Gardens helps you cultivate a healthier lifestyle—starting right in your own garden.

To learn more about the benefits of gardening, look for our peer-reviewed article "Community Gardens and the Cultivation of Social Capital" published in Current Opinion in Psychology.

01/21/2026

We are hiring for three positions right now:
1. Full-time Freetown Farm Lead
2. Part-time Teaching Assistant for our Roots & Wings Program
3. Intermittent Substitute Teachers for our Roots & Wings Program
Learn more and apply at www.communityecologyinstitute.org/employment.html

01/20/2026

🌱 A Dream Garden Made Possible 🌱

Last year, we shared the plans for Elkridge, Landing Middle School’s dream garden—and once again, this amazing community came through in a big way. Thanks to your generosity and support, that dream is now a reality!

As we head into another year of growing and learning together, we’re excited to share the outcome of this project. With support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, we were able to replace turf grass with a vibrant garden space where students can get their hands in the soil, learn about sustainability, and grow their own food.

This garden is more than just plants—it’s a living classroom, a place for connection, and a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together for its students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! 💚🌼