Organic Gardening

• Introductory Week: Welcome and Introductions
• Week 1: Intensive Gardening Methods; Soil Assessment
• Week 2: Soil, Compost and Mulch; Site Assessment
• There will be a week-long break between Week 2 and Week 3
• Week 3: Gardening Techniques; Draft Design
• Week 4: Growing Annuals: Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs; Early, Mid and Late Season Crops
• Week 5: Garden Maintenance and Managing Pests Organically
• Week 6: Trees, Shrubs and Herbaceous Perennials; Final Design

You will not be able to access the material beyond two weeks after the last day of class.

Instructor: Donna Alese Cooke dmc72 [at] cornell.edu

Purpose

This online course teaches the basics of small-scale organic gardening for the beginning gardener, while also offering experienced gardeners an opportunity to expand their knowledge. 

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will:

• Understand best gardening practices through organic gardening techniques and methods.
• Evaluate the ecosystem, resources, and challenges of your garden site and how to develop a plan for a successful organic garden.
• Develop a systems-thinking approach with a better understanding of soil and plant health, fertility, and pest management.
• Implement methods to build healthy soil, increase organic matter, and use organic fertility sources tools and supplies effectively, while encouraging healthy populations of beneficial insects and organisms.

Note: This is not an organic farming course. The content taught in this course is applicable to small-scale sites, such as a backyard.

Course Philosophy and Approach

We hope to engage participants in learning a foundational perspective about organic gardening that will guide them towards designing and fulfilling short and long-term gardening goals. A wide range of information is presented, including the background of organic gardening as well as organic gardening versus conventional gardening, ecology, landscape design, general technique, and methods for applying this knowledge to daily life. This course focuses on a systems-thinking approach, where many elements contribute to the health and productivity of a garden and landscape.

Expectations

This class is asynchronous and self-paced in its design, where single topics are opened each week, and build upon each other. Participants are expected to keep up with weekly assignments and activities, participate in online group discussions, do hands-on activities, and submit design work and reflective journals. Your online presence through interactive discussion forum is essential. It provides an opportunity to ask questions while learning and growing together with classmates. Students dedicate about 5 or more hours per topic each week for online readings and assignments.

No previous experience in the natural sciences, ecology, landscape design, gardening etc. is required, but will be helpful in expanding your understanding of organic gardening. 

Lessons and Assignments

Weekly topics open each Monday, and required assignments are due on or before the following Monday. Each weekly topic contains lessons and include the following components:

• A series of lessons that present the topic with required readings, videos, and online resources that expand upon and reinforce the material presented
• Activities and assignments that build upon an organic gardening approach and practical techniques
• Discussion forums to expand on topics, ask questions, and share ideas with others
• Reflective writing that cultivates a thoughtful perspective and dialogue with the course instructor
• Additional readings, activities, and relevant resources

Late assignments will be accepted, but instructor feedback may be delayed, and satisfactory completion of the course may be compromised. Consider optional activities only after completing and submitting required assignments.

Recommended Textbook

There is no required text for this course, however we suggest following along with the American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening (2025). Although the book’s focus is on growing vegetables, it aligns well with this course and includes important information on organic gardening in general.

Materials and Supplies

• A garden space you have worked in or hoping to work in this season.
• A binder for assignments, handouts, and other resources.
• The final project is a 2-year garden plan. No art or design experience required!  Plans are either hand-drawn, created digitally (Canva or other app), or a blend of both. For hand-drawn designs we suggest:
  • Drawing paper (or grid-lined paper to help drawing your plan to scale) and tracing paper for overlays. Paper size depends on the size of your garden area.
  • A Basic Set of Colored Pencils or Markers.
• A computer with reliable high-speed Internet access (to view videos, view readings, submit assignments, and participate regularly in discussion forums).
• A device for scanning and/or photographing submissions of the final garden design.