The Edible Gardening For All program (EGFA, formerly known as Citizens Gardening Training Program) is a partnership between Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Dallas County Health Department Obesity Prevention program.  EGFA is intended to teach people living in food deserts how to grow fruits and vegetables to improve their diet and reduce the incidence of obesity.

The first EGFA training was in Fall of 2022.  This first cohort included primarily people who wanted to establish community gardens but did not know anything about gardening.  The class consisted of lectures and activities, but not much hands-on gardening.  The subject matter included soils, integrated pest management, growing specific vegetables, growing fruit trees, community gardens and their organization, and backyard chickens.

Dallas County Horticultural Agent Katerina Graham showing DCMG Lisa Patterson different types of mulch before the Spring 2023 class. Photo by Stephanie Suesan Smith.

For the Fall 2023 EGFA training, the lectures on each subject were recorded and the participants watched them on their own.  They met at R&B1, the urban demonstration farm, at a garden at a food bank, and will meet at several other locations to get hands-on training in how to grow fruits and vegetables.  As an example of a hands-on activity, participants first listened to a lecture on raised bed gardening.  Then, participants helped put hoops over garden beds so they can be covered in cold weather.  They then helped plant shrubs and learned the proper techniques for preparing the hole, adding some compost, then back filling the hole with dirt.  The shrubs were watered, mulch was spread around them, and the shrubs were watered again.

Participants and Master Gardeners planting shrubs at Metrocrest.  Photo by Stephanie Suesan Smith

For the Spring 2023 EGFA training, Katerina Graham, the Extension Horticulture agent, enlisted master gardeners who had advanced training in growing vegetables to help with the class.  It consisted of seven classes covering the same material as the first class, five of which participants had to attend to earn a certificate.  The classes on community gardens and backyard chickens were optional.  Each class also had activities to help the participants learn the subject matter better.  This cohort was primarily individuals who had never gardened before but were interested in growing their own food.  These people asked for more hands-on opportunities so they could start gardening sooner.

Larry showing class participants how to construct a hoop to put freeze cloth over and protect the plants inside it from a freeze.  Photo by Stephanie Suesan Smith

Each cohort of participants has evaluated the classes, and changes have been made accordingly.  The original name was not very descriptive, according to participants, so it was changed.  More hands-on activities at actual gardens were included.

For the Spring 2024 class, the hybrid formula (pre-recorded lectures and hands-on training) will be offered in English and Spanish (bilingual volunteers needed). If you are new to gardening and would like to learn to grow your own food, you can contact Katerina Graham at katerina.graham@ag.tamu.edu to be placed on the list for more information in the spring about signing up for the class.  The class is free but is for complete beginners with no experience gardening at all.  If you have ever gardened, even just ornamental plants, you will find this class is too basic for you.  We will also offer more advanced classes and talks throughout the year at a number of different locations.  Our event calendar is on the Dallas County Master Gardener Association webpage, along with articles on gardening.  The Dallas County AgriLife Extension Facebook page has information about programs put on by Extension for a range of different skill levels on many different subjects.