Gardening, Nature, & Conservation

Gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for plants and nature with a variety of classes covering topics such as rain barrels, seed collecting, foraging, beekeeping, citizen science, and more. Or learn how to beautify your own home garden using organic and sustainable methods – just like 577! Monthly classes on topics such as how to grow a garden, planting for pollinators, tree care, permaculture, and more are taught by passionate community instructors, local partners, and 577 horticulture staff. Class topics vary each month and are taught in the Geodesic Dome, Virginia’s House, Cottage, and around the beautiful gardens and grounds of 577.

Upcoming Classes

Woven Bottle Gourd Bowl
Friday, March 15 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Use a basic twining technique to weave an edge on your own bottle gourd bowl! We will use willow tips and dried Crocosmia leaves harvested from the 577 grounds, as well as the bottle gourds grown last summer in front of 577’s Cabin.

Before class, bowls will be pre-sealed with a thin lacquer to preserve the natural patterns formed on the gourds while drying. Finished bowls are for decoration only and will vary by size of the gourd.

577 Staff Instructor: Samantha Day

Beekeeping 101
Saturday, March 23 ~ 1pm to 4pm
Saturday, April 13 ~ 10am to 1pm

Come curious and ready to get hands-on while learning the basics of beekeeping. Students will explore beekeeping best practices, including the equipment you’ll need, where to get your bees, hive anatomy and set up, and much more. Everyone will leave with a basic understanding of beekeeping and the confidence to pursue their beekeeping journey.

March Class: Students will dive in and help build two new hives for the 577 bees.

April Class: Students will observe the delivery and installation of a new queen and bees into the 577 hive. 

Come dressed for the weather and to help build some outdoor beehives. Older clothes and shoes are recommended.

**Please note: Students must have completed 577’s Honeybee 101 class to participate.**

Community Instructor: Sara Grunberg

Homesteading: Grow a Canning Garden
Monday, March 25 ~ 6pm to 8pm

March is the perfect month to plan a garden, especially if you wish to preserve your harvest later in the season. Students in this class will learn the many aspects of growing a successful canning garden–starting seeds vs purchasing plants, garden location, best practices for water containment and composting, and much more.

Each student will receive a handout on seed-saving techniques to help ensure canning favorites will flourish year after year. To inspire students interested in homesteading, the instructors will showcase some of their favorite preserved bounties and share simple approaches for extending the lifetime of produce.

Community Instructors: Jan Szalkowski and Wendy Steusloff

Gardening for Pollinator Diversity
Tuesday, March 26 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm

Successful pollinator gardens have a diversity of flowers of differing form and color from spring through fall, as well as spaces that cater to their needs in winter.

This class explores the many different flowers that can best serve a diversity of pollinators, while also providing beauty throughout the growing season.

577 Staff Instructor: Bennett O. Dowling

Art + Science: Create an Eclipse Guide
Monday, March 25 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Monday, April 1 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Join us for this unique class that merges art and science. Learn what it will mean to be in the path of totality during the April 8 total solar eclipse. We will commemorate this once-in-a lifetime event by creating a usable guidebook.

Enjoy a relaxing evening exploring the amazing phenomena we may experience in our region during the different stages of the eclipse. At the same time, you’ll be personalizing each page of your book with simple watercolor illustrations along with checklists and notes. We’ll also cover the different ways to safely experience the eclipse and additional resources will be provided to continue learning at home.

Completed guidebooks will be approximately 3″ x 4.5″. All skill levels are welcome and all supplies are included.

577 Staff Instructors: Connie Stose and Mike Mummert

Reducing Food Waste: Tips & Tricks
Monday, April 22 ~ 6pm to 8pm

“Be the change” in honor of Earth Month! Learn about the impact food waste has on our world and our wallets and the simple solutions you can incorporate in your life to reduce its effects.

Through lively discussion of this timely issue, participants will come to understand that the facts are staggering but the solution is doable right in our homes. The instructors will offer a range of ideas to improve our role in the problem and will showcase the methods and tools they use. Everyone will complete a simple survey about their habits at the consumer level and will leave class with a new view, a plan of action, and additional resources to support their journey to curb food waste.

Community Instructor: Jan Szalkowski and Wendy Steusloff

Rain Barrel Make It and Take It Workshop – 4 Sessions Available
Wednesday, April 17 ~ 4pm to 4:30pm
Wednesday, April 17 ~ 5pm to 5:30pm
Wednesday, April 17 ~ 6pm to 6:30pm
Wednesday, April 17 ~ 7pm to 7:30pm

Harvesting rainwater improves water quality, helps reduce flooding, and collects free water. In this outdoor workshop, participants will learn about the benefits of rain barrels and will be guided step by step to make a rain barrel to take home.

All supplies and materials will be provided. Please bring a vehicle large enough to transport a 55-gallon drum rain barrel home.

Community Instructors:

Lauren Rush, stormwater program manager for the City of Perrysburg. Lauren’s work focuses on improving water quality in Northwest Ohio. She’s often quoted shouting “Only rain in the drain! Slow it down, spread it out, soak it in!”

Members from Toledo-Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative. TLC RGI is a partnership made up of government agencies, educational institutions, environmental organizations, businesses and private citizens, all working together to promote natural stormwater management and urban beautification in efforts to protect our local waterways and Lake Erie.

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. 

Join us on March 20 for a Day of Giving to celebrate Virginia’s birthday! Join us and make a gift to protect, preserve, and support the evolution of this magical place. Won’t you help us reach our goal?

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