Connect with nature and deepen your appreciation for the environment through Gardening, Nature & Conservation classes at 577. From rain barrels and seed collecting to foraging, beekeeping, and citizen science, these classes offer hands-on opportunities to explore the natural world.
Learn how to create a thriving home garden using organic and sustainable methods—just like 577! Monthly classes cover topics such as growing a garden, planting for pollinators, tree care, and permaculture, all taught by passionate community instructors, local partners, and 577 horticulture staff.
With topics changing each month, classes take place in the Geodesic Dome, Virginia’s House, the Cottage, and throughout 577’s beautiful gardens and grounds, where learning is inspired by the landscape itself.
Upcoming Classes
February classes open for registration on Wednesday, December 17 at 9am. Click HERE to view a full list of upcoming classes.
Home for the Holidays: Eco-Friendly Door Swag
Tuesday, December 2 ~ 6pm to 8pm
What better way to welcome winter visitors than with a decorative swag made of fresh greens for your front door? Starting with evergreen bundles, participants will customize their swag with additional natural elements to create a great backdrop for a birdhouse focal point made of repurposed materials.
The result is a beautiful, eco-friendly decoration you can hang on your door for the holidays or all season long. All supplies are included. Completed door swags will be approximately 12″ wide by 24″ long.
577 Staff Instructor: Bennett O. Dowling
Wreath Making with Fresh Evergreens
Thursday, December 4 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Create your own unique evergreen wreath to enjoy all season long with Becca from River Bend Homestead-Ohio Grown Flowers. Everyone will start with a 12″ wire wreath frame, and together, we’ll learn how to hand wrap bundles of fresh, sustainably sourced evergreens all the way around to make a natural, ready-to-hang wreath. Next, participants can personalize their festive creation by adding decorations from a selection of bows, ribbon, pinecones, and other dried accents.
All supplies are included. Completed wreath sizes will vary for each person and will be approximately 16″ to 22″.
Community Instructor: Becca Mathews
Aquascaping: Create an Underwater Garden
Friday, January 9 ~ 5pm to 8pm
Learn all about aquascaping as you create a customized mini-aquarium in a bowl to enjoy at home. Participants will design and assemble their own underwater garden using a variety of aquatic plants, rocks, sand, and other decorative elements. Along the way, you’ll discover the best placement, care, and propagation techniques to keep your aquatic plants thriving.
For those looking to bring even more life to their creation, there will be an option to add snails and neocaridina shrimp, which are easy to care for and fascinating to watch. By the end of class, you’ll take home a beautifully designed aquatic paradise, along with the knowledge and confidence to maintain it for years to come.
Class Note: 3-gallon bowls are not large enough to add fish, but are perfect for shrimp and/or snails.
Community Instructor: Elena Bleyer
Collab Class: Pottery & Weaving
Two-Part Class:
Wednesday, January 14 ~ 12pm to 1pm
Wednesday, January 28 ~ 1pm to 4pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.
Create a unique clay and coiled fiber vessel in this beautiful collaboration of nature and pottery, led by 577 Horticulturist Samantha Day and Pottery Manager & Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler.
In the first session, Julie will guide you in creating your ceramic base using slab-building techniques. You’ll add holes around the edges for weaving, explore interesting textures to decorate your piece, and choose a gorgeous glaze color. Your base will stay with Julie for firing and glazing. A couple of weeks later, you’ll return for your weaving session with Samantha. She’ll show you how to wax thread and a needle to coil grasses on the edge of your ceramic base, then weave upward to complete your vessel.
Two days of creativity and fun — no prior clay or weaving experience needed! You’ll leave with a stunning, one-of-a-kind treasure that blends the best of both worlds.
577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler & Samantha Day
Basket Making: Woven Grapevine Tray
Friday, January 16 ~ 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Learn how to create a beautiful woven tray using wild grapevine harvested right here at 577! In this hands-on class, you’ll form the tray’s rim with natural grapevine, then use round reed to secure the ribs, and flat reed to weave the base. The finished tray will be approximately 14 inches in diameter—perfect for displaying on your table or counter as a decorative piece.
Most participants will complete their tray during the 4-hour session, but if you need more time, you’ll leave with the skills and all the materials you need to finish your project at home.
577 Staff Instructor: Samantha Day
Beekeeping 101
Saturday, January 17 ~ 10:30am to 1:30pm
Come curious and ready to dive in as you learn the fundamentals of beekeeping. In this hands-on class, you’ll discover beekeeping best practices, from essential equipment and sourcing your bees to understanding hive anatomy, setup, and much more.
Participants will also have the unique opportunity to tour the 577 property, learn why location matters for healthy hives, and help identify potential new sites for our bees. Come dressed for the weather, as part of the class will take place outdoors. You’ll leave with a solid understanding of beekeeping basics and the confidence to continue your beekeeping journey.
Prerequisite: Participants must have completed the 577 “Honeybees 101” class to register for this class.
Community Instructor: Sara Grunberg
Seed Starting for Native Plants
Saturday, January 17 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Explore the native plants that thrive in Northwest Ohio’s climate and learn how to start growing your own natives from seed. We’ll begin by exploring a wide range of native plants and the benefits they bring to your garden. Then, wel’ll get our hands in the dirt to learn a practical method of starting native seeds using milk jugs. These mini greenhouses will stay outside all winter so your plants are ready to germinate in spring.
Each participant will take home one packet of native seeds, one planted milk jug, and an informational handout to repeat the process at home.
Community Instructor: Cara Morrow
Basket Making: Open-Weave Yarn Basket
Friday, January 23 ~ 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Learn a basic twining technique to weave an open, flexible basket out of #1 round reed. This basket would be perfect to store yarn or display light materials hanging from a hook or nail. While most participants will finish their baskets during this 4-hour class, those who don’t will leave with the knowledge and enough materials to complete their project at home. Completed baskets will measure approximately 1 ft high by 10 inches wide.
577 Staff Instructor: Samantha Day
Family Winter Seed Starting (Ages 7 to 17 w/ Adult)
Saturday, January 24 ~ 10am to 11:30am
Beat the winter blues with your family and get a jump start on your garden together! Winter sowing is a planting method where seeds are started outside in the winter, rather than starting them in a house or building. Using simple recycled containers, the seeds will germinate when ready and are already acclimated to your local climate. With this method, seed germination is believed to be higher than 90%! Each family will prepare and take home three (3) containers, seeds, potting soil, a trowel, instructions, and labels.
Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7-17, with an accompanying adult 18 years old or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. Please bring gardening gloves, if desired.
Community Instructor: Sherry Kertesz
Coiled Gourd Bowl with Lemongrass
Friday, January 30 ~ 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Learn a simple coiling method to create a beautiful woven bowl. Everyone will start with a cured gourd base with pre-drilled holes in the rim. Using waxed linen thread and lemongrass leaves grown on the 577 grounds, we’ll learn how to create the woven sides of the bowl and complete our beautifully natural and handmade projects.
577 Staff Instructor: Samantha Day
Creating a Tabletop Terrarium
Saturday, January 31 ~ 1pm to 3pm
Make your very own “forest in a bottle,” a charming terrarium that will be soothing to look at and calming to create. Participants will learn how to best set up a glass container for their chosen plants and enjoy personalizing it for their taste. The proper materials, placement, and plant selection will all be covered to ensure a successful and sustainable growing environment. Come prepared to get your hands a little dirty and leave with an oasis in a jar to help chase away the winter blues.
Class Note: Glass containers will vary in style and size, and will hold approximately one to two gallons. Participants are welcome to bring their own clear glass container from home, so long as it’s in the same size range.
577 Staff Instructor: Bennett O. Dowling
Class Locations & Parking Map
Signed up for a class and need help finding your classroom location and parking? Each class description lists its location. Click the button below to view a full map of the grounds and buildings with two lots available for easy and convenient parking.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Because space is limited, we rely on you to register for classes thoughtfully. Please help us continue to offer these wonderful classes as affordably as possible by adhering to the following registration, cancellation, and refund policies.
Photo & Video Release
Photos and videos may be taken during 577 classes and events for use on our website and other relevant media outlets and your attendance constitutes consent. View the full policy below including how you can opt-out of this release.