This summer we’ve had some excellent workshops including Grow Your Own Ice Cream, Make Your Own Tea and there are more still to come!

If you’ve missed our workshops, or want to make something again at home, visit the brand new Learning Garden Cookbook. Where you can find recipes for Sarah’s watermelon, chocolate chili, fennel mint and spiced hibiscus ice creams, along with Clara’s hibiscus, rose and lavender tea blends and more.

A big thank-you to Clara and Sarah for sharing their recipes, knowledge and creativity with us. And the Julie and Wendy for contributing a few classic Learning Garden recipes as well.

[Visit the Learning Garden Cookbook →]

Behind the scenes: When I’m not sending Learning Garden events and updates your way, I’ve been working on something of my own. TLG’s cookbook is hosted on Olivette, a recipe and meal-planning app inspired by many of the same things that bring us to the garden, eating with the seasons, wasting less food, becoming more confident in the kitchen and sharing what we know with one another.

If you want to make tea, dinner or dessert from your garden, and save or share recipes, explore Olivette via desktop or download the iPhone app from the App Store.

If you’d like to see more recipes from The Learning Garden, let us know!

-Ali

Check Out Olivette

Presented by: Sarah Harroff

Beat the summer heat with us and learn how to craft your very own cool treat straight from the summer garden!

Back for our 2nd annual workshop, we’re excited to bring back fan-favorite flavors alongside a brand-new garden creation.

What to expect:

• Beat the Heat: Learn how to whip up a fresh bowl of ice cream by hand in minutes—the fun, no-tech way!

• Taste & Sample: Enjoy returning garden-grown favorites like fennel mint and spiced hibiscus, plus try our exciting new featured flavor for this year!

• Get Inspired: Take home the skills to create your own unique flavor combos.

Event Details & Reminders:

• Zero-Waste Goal: To help keep this a low-waste event, please bring your own reusable bowl and spoon. We also recommend bringing a hand towel or tea cloth to insulate your hands while handling ice.

• Ingredients: Ice cream base includes dairy and sugar.

• RSVP Required: Space is limited to 30 people, so please reserve your spot early!

• Suggested Donation: $5 per person to help cover materials (payable online or at the event).

When: Sunday, July 26th, 2026 @ 1PM

Where: 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Get your tickets to this special event on Eventbrite!

RSVP

Beat the summer heat with us and learn how to craft your very own cool treat straight from the summer garden!

Back for our 2nd annual workshop, we’re excited to bring back fan-favorite flavors alongside a brand-new garden creation.

What to expect:

• Beat the Heat: Learn how to whip up a fresh bowl of ice cream by hand in minutes—the fun, no-tech way!

• Taste & Sample: Enjoy returning garden-grown favorites like fennel mint and spiced hibiscus, plus try our exciting new featured flavor for this year!

• Get Inspired: Take home the skills to create your own unique flavor combos.

Event Details & Reminders:

• Zero-Waste Goal: To help keep this a low-waste event, please bring your own reusable bowl and spoon. We also recommend bringing a hand towel or tea cloth to insulate your hands while handling ice.

• Ingredients: Ice cream base includes dairy and sugar.

• RSVP Required: Space is limited to 30 people, so please reserve your spot early!

• Suggested Donation: $5 per person to help cover materials (payable online or at the event).

When: Sunday, July 26th, 2026 @ 1PM

Where: 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Get your tickets to this special event on Eventbrite!

RSVP

Sunday, July 26th. Learn to grow, harvest, dry, and create flavorful combinations of teas in your garden.

Experience the different flavors and combinations of garden-grown herbal teas, plants, and flowers that can be used to custom make your own tea blends while learning about their unique flavors and traditional uses.

Take home recipes, samples, and seeds to grow in your gardens.

Sample lavender, roses, calendula, and many other flowers to custom make your own tea. Then enjoy tasting the Learning Garden’s very own tea garden and discover how fresh, homegrown herbs and flowers can be transformed into delicious, aromatic teas.

When: Sunday, July 26th, 2026 @ 1PM

Where: 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

If you plan on attending, please let us know!

Dreaming of tomatoes, basil and thyme on the patio? Cilantro by the kitchen? Zinnias, calendula and marigolds brightening up a corner of your backyard? All is possible with container gardening.

During this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Build simple, affordable raised beds and container gardens

• Create rich, living soil using organic and sustainable materials

• Grow healthy vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers together in beautiful, functional designs

• Use composting, crop rotation, and natural pest control to keep plants thriving

• Choose the right plants for each season and growing condition

• Conserve water, avoid overwatering, and make the most of available resources

• Incorporate companion planting to create resilient, productive gardens

• Better understand the fundamentals of plant biology, soil health, and water management

Whether you’re planting your very first container or looking to refine your gardening skills, this workshop will leave you with practical knowledge and fresh inspiration to grow with confidence.

We hope you’ll join us in the garden for an afternoon of learning, creativity, and the simple joy of growing something beautiful. 🌿

The Artistry of Container Gardening
Presented by Clara Yoshihara

Where: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066

When: Sunday, June 28th at ⏰ 1:00 PM

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Geodesic domes are sanctuaries of energy, shade and where people gather to reflect, recharge, connect with the universal energy of nature.

We will learn how to energize seeds and plants in the geodesic dome and what to plant for the hotter months ahead, “summer propagation”. Take home seeds and seedlings, come and taste hibiscus Papaya tea with herbs from the garden. We hope to see you in the garden.

The Geodesic Dome & Its Relationship to Summer
Presented by Clara Yoshihara

📍 The Learning Garden
13000 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

🗓 Sunday, May 31
⏰ 1:00 PM

Subscribe now

With Clara Yoshihara

On Sunday, April 26th at 1 PM, landscape designer and educator Clara Yoshihara will guide us through the foundational principles of designing urban vegetable and herb gardens that are both productive and deeply restorative.

Good garden design is essential for creating a beautiful, harmonious and functional space. Gardens are sanctuaries of water and shade where people gather to reflect, recharge and connect with nature.

We will cover the essential principles, and aspects of sustainable design of urban vegetable and herbs gardens, such as location, soil, seeds, plants, water, container planting, urban fruit forest, amenities, permaculture and maintenance by analyzing them with samples of some landscape artists, designers, and permaculturists such as Beatrix Farrand, Brad Lancaster, and Alice Waters.

We will learn and put into practice the different planting, composting and soil remediation techniques of Dr. Elaine Ingham, Masanobu Fukuoka, Hillculture, and bioremediation systems.

Take home seeds and seedlings. Come and taste hibiscus orange tea with herbs from the garden.

📅 Date: Sunday, April, 26th
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Learning Garden 13000 Venice Blvd, California

About Clara Yoshihara

Clara is a Horticulturist, Permaculturist, and Master Gardener with a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC. With over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable gardening, education, and community-led green design, Clara brings a holistic and deeply knowledgeable approach to propagation. She has taught permaculture and horticulture across California and designed landscapes from Los Angeles to Japan.

We hope to see you in the garden!

What does it mean to “be a seed” for the Paradise Realm? What is the New Earth and what do we want to plant within it?

It’s all about seeds and being a seed this week at Garden Mystics. Seeds are genetic miracles, culture can be passed through seeds, and seed diversity ensures our resilience and food diversity. So if YOU are a seed, what does that mean for the world?

We get deep and mystical at Garden Mystics, every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 3pm at the Venice Learning Garden.

📅 Date: April 12th (and Every 2nd and 4th Sunday)
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM
📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Subscribe now

With Clara Yoshihara & Ed Kennedy

Mushrooms have been part of the human story for thousands of years—sometimes treasured as delicacies, sometimes relied on as survival food. With just a little time, effort, and the right conditions, you can enjoy fresh mushrooms straight from your own garden.

Many types of mushrooms are surprisingly easy to grow, even for beginners. From classic button mushrooms to unique varieties like lion’s mane, the options are endless. Whether you have a small space or a larger garden, there is a mushroom variety that fits your needs.

In this session, we’ll explore:

• The classification of mushrooms

• The mushroom life cycle

• The benefits of growing and eating mushrooms

• Techniques for cultivating mushrooms at home

• Examples of mushroom applications currently growing in the Learning Garden

A quick but important note: while wild mushrooms can be incredibly nutritious and delicious, proper identification is critical. Even a small mistake can be dangerous. This workshop focuses on understanding mushrooms and learning safe ways to cultivate them at home.

📅 Date: March 28
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Learning Garden 13000 Venice Blvd, California

About Ed Kennedy

Ed is a University of California Master Gardener with a strong focus on practical, sustainable home gardening. Through the UC Master Gardener program, he provides research-based horticultural guidance to help gardeners grow healthy plants, improve soil health, conserve water, and create productive food gardens. With a hands-on approach to vegetable growing, composting, integrated pest management, and climate-appropriate planting, Ed enjoys translating university research into clear, practical techniques that gardeners can use right away. He regularly supports the community through workshops, demonstrations, and garden consultations, helping gardeners of all experience levels grow successfully while promoting environmentally responsible gardening practices.

About Clara Yoshihara

Clara is a Horticulturist, Permaculturist, and Master Gardener with a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC. With over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable gardening, education, and community-led green design, Clara brings a holistic and deeply knowledgeable approach to propagation. She has taught permaculture and horticulture across California and designed landscapes from Los Angeles to Japan.

We hope to see you in the garden!

With Clara Yoshihara & Ed Kennedy

Mushrooms have been part of the human story for thousands of years—sometimes treasured as delicacies, sometimes relied on as survival food. With just a little time, effort, and the right conditions, you can enjoy fresh mushrooms straight from your own garden.

Many types of mushrooms are surprisingly easy to grow, even for beginners. From classic button mushrooms to unique varieties like lion’s mane, the options are endless. Whether you have a small space or a larger garden, there is a mushroom variety that fits your needs.

In this session, we’ll explore:

• The classification of mushrooms

• The mushroom life cycle

• The benefits of growing and eating mushrooms

• Techniques for cultivating mushrooms at home

• Examples of mushroom applications currently growing in the Learning Garden

A quick but important note: while wild mushrooms can be incredibly nutritious and delicious, proper identification is critical. Even a small mistake can be dangerous. This workshop focuses on understanding mushrooms and learning safe ways to cultivate them at home.

📅 Date: March 28
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Learning Garden 13000 Venice Blvd, California

About Ed Kennedy

Ed is a University of California Master Gardener with a strong focus on practical, sustainable home gardening. Through the UC Master Gardener program, he provides research-based horticultural guidance to help gardeners grow healthy plants, improve soil health, conserve water, and create productive food gardens. With a hands-on approach to vegetable growing, composting, integrated pest management, and climate-appropriate planting, Ed enjoys translating university research into clear, practical techniques that gardeners can use right away. He regularly supports the community through workshops, demonstrations, and garden consultations, helping gardeners of all experience levels grow successfully while promoting environmentally responsible gardening practices.

About Clara Yoshihara

Clara is a Horticulturist, Permaculturist, and Master Gardener with a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC. With over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable gardening, education, and community-led green design, Clara brings a holistic and deeply knowledgeable approach to propagation. She has taught permaculture and horticulture across California and designed landscapes from Los Angeles to Japan.

We hope to see you in the garden!

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This will be a casual meet-up with a focused themes— conversational, reflective, grounded in lived experience.

Topics may include:

• Healing the world through gardens

• Holy Decay — compost as transformation

• The genetic miracle of seeds

• Stewardship vs. ownership

• Plant communication and symbolic language

And so much more.

Not a class or a commitment, but an offering to those who feel drawn.

Sarah Irani — longtime gardener, permaculture practitioner, and author exploring the mystical dimensions of nature — will help guide the conversations.

📅 Date: Sunday, February 22nd
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM
📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Winter is a quiet season in the garden — the kind that asks us to slow down, observe, and make thoughtful choices that will echo into spring.

On Saturday, February 7 at 1:00 PM, we’ll gather at The Learning Garden for a hands-on Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop, led by LA County Master Gardeners. This workshop is for anyone who has ever stood beneath a fruit tree wondering: Am I helping… or about to make a very expensive mistake?

We’ll start with the fundamentals — not just what to cut, but why.

You’ll learn:

• 🌳 The Why: How pruning supports long-term tree health and better fruit production

• ✂️ The How: Essential cuts, techniques, and how to read a tree’s structure

• 🧰 The Tools: How to select, sharpen, and maintain your equipment

After a brief overview, we’ll move into a live, hands-on demonstration, where you can watch these techniques applied in real time.

What to bring (for your safety and comfort):

• Closed-toe shoes, long sleeves, and a hat

• Water, snacks, and sunscreen

• Hand pruning tools (optional)

• Eye protection or goggles ( recommended)

We hope you’ll join us.
See you in the garden.

Event Details

📅 Date: Saturday, February 7
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

About the Instructor

Sarah Harroff is a Master Gardener with a deep love for the natural world. With nearly a decade of experience at the Learning Garden, she specializes in bio-intensive vegetable gardening and community education. Sarah can also be found at LA Green Grounds, Ocean View Farms. This year, she is excited to expand her impact as a new Ambassador for the Xerces Society, advocating for the tiny but mighty invertebrates that keep our gardens thriving.

By Clara Yoshihara

Garlic has always been more than just a seasoning, it has been prized, accepted and even used to ward off evil. It’s a plant woven into medicine, myth, and daily meals for thousands of years. We will approach the journey of garlic from ancient Egyptian pyramid builders to French chefs.

In this immersive, hands-on gathering, let's explore garlic's trajectory through history and across cultures‐ from its medicinal roots and rich folklore to its stellar role in kitchens worldwide. Garlic isn’t only about taste—it’s a thread running through folklore, healing, and food. Sharp on the tongue, rich in history, and impossible to forget, it’s a plant that has endured across centuries.

What to expect:

• 🧄 Black garlic: We will learn how to make black garlic, and its culinary and medicinal qualities.

• 🌱 Garlic evolution: hardneck, softneck, solo garlic, and the many varieties in between

• 🌍 Growing garlic: planting, care, harvest, curing, storage, and environmental uses

Take home seeds and seedlings. Come and taste black garlic, different types of garlic foods, and Hibiscus tea with tropical herbs.

Event Details

📅 Date: Saturday, January 10
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Come curious. Leave fragrant.

Presented by Clara Yoshihara

Join us as we dive into what to grow, how to propagate, and keep your garden thriving through the coldest months. Plus, take home winter vegetables, trees, herbs and flowers seedlings.

Why Winter Crops Matter

Winter garden plants bring color, texture, and nourishment when everything else in the yard seems to be on a months-long nap.

Choosing the right cold-hardy vegetables doesn’t just brighten your garden beds—they keep your kitchen stocked with fresh produce when the world outside is whispering “hibernation.”

These tough little overachievers thrive in low temperatures, meaning you get delicious greens, roots, herbs, and even flowers that shrug off the chilly mornings.

What You’ll Learn

• Cold-season vegetables that don’t mind being nipped by frost

• Herbs and flowers that actually prefer winter weather

• Propagation techniques for steady growth and healthier plants

• How to keep your garden productive even on short winter days

• Tips to transform your space into a cold-weather sanctuary

About Clara Yoshihara

Clara is a Horticulturist, Permaculturist, and Master Gardener with a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC. With over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable gardening, education, and community-led green design, Clara brings a holistic and deeply knowledgeable approach to propagation. She has taught permaculture and horticulture across California and designed landscapes from Los Angeles to Japan.

Details

• When: Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 PM

• Where: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, (Venice Blvd. at Walgrove)

• What to Bring: gardening gloves (if you like), notebook, a bit of curiosity

• Cost: Free!

Sunday, October 26th | 1:00–3:00 PM @ The Leaning Garden (13000 Venice Blvd) in Partnership with Seva with Love

Seva With Love promotes teen and young adult mental health through holistic programs like mindfulness, yoga, nutrition, and outreach in Los Angeles.

Workshop: Repair a garden bed (on the ancestral land of Tongva people) with us by sowing winter wheat — a 280-day crop that takes nearly nine months to mature, symbolizing patience, rhythm, and regeneration in farming. Unlike quick seasonal plantings, winter wheat endures through the cooler months, strengthening the soil and nourishing the ecosystem before harvest. It’s a living lesson in the long game of regenerative agriculture.

Learn More About the Event

Join us for a hands-on afternoon as we perpetuate this ancient crop cycle and prepare the soil for another season of growth and learning.

Teens, young adults and their parents can sign up for the event here. And as always all ages are welcome to volunteer every Saturday and Sunday at the Learning Garden 12-3.

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Presented by Clara Yoshihara

Join us for an inspiring and hands-on afternoon exploring the world of beneficial insects — nature’s little garden superheroes. We’ll dive into:

• How to recognize and appreciate beneficial insects in your garden

• The important roles they play in natural pest control

• How a well-designed insectary garden attracts diversity and balance

• Propagation time! You’ll plant and bring home seedlings (dill, marigold, nasturtium, parsley) to start your own insect-friendly patch

Expect a mix of talk, garden strolls, and planting fun. Bring your questions — and your enthusiasm.

About Clara Yoshihara
Clara is a Horticulturist, Permaculturist, and Master Gardener with a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC. With over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable gardening, education, and community-led green design, Clara brings a holistic and deeply knowledgeable approach to propagation. She has taught permaculture and horticulture across California and designed landscapes from Los Angeles to Japan.

Details

• When: Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 PM

• Where: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, (Venice Blvd. at Walgrove)

• What to Bring: gardening gloves (if you like), notebook, a bit of curiosity

• Cost: Free!

Why It Matters
In our gardens, every insect doesn’t have to be the enemy. Beneficial insects help maintain balance, pollinate, and reduce pests naturally. This workshop arms you with knowledge and seedlings — a little gift from nature to your garden.

Join us for an afternoon in the garden exploring moon cycle gardening — an ancient practice rooted in generations of ancestral wisdom. At its heart, this approach honors the rhythms of nature, the changing seasons, and the biodiversity unique to our local environment.

Together, we’ll learn to:

• Observe the subtle signs of nature

• Work with moon phases and planetary influences

• Align our planting and harvesting with natural cycles

🌱 Hands-on Activity:
We’ll be propagating late summer vegetables, and you’ll take home seedlings of arugula, calendula, and lettuce to continue your garden journey.

📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
🗓 Date & Time: Sunday, August 24 at 1 PM
💚 All are welcome — no prior gardening experience needed!

Join us for an afternoon in the garden exploring moon cycle gardening — an ancient practice rooted in generations of ancestral wisdom. At its heart, this approach honors the rhythms of nature, the changing seasons, and the biodiversity unique to our local environment.

Together, we’ll learn to:

• Observe the subtle signs of nature

• Work with moon phases and planetary influences

• Align our planting and harvesting with natural cycles

🌱 Hands-on Activity:
We’ll be propagating late summer vegetables, and you’ll take home seedlings of arugula, calendula, and lettuce to continue your garden journey.

📍 Location: The Learning Garden, 13000 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
🗓 Date & Time: Sunday, August 24 at 1 PM
💚 All are welcome — no prior gardening experience needed!

Grow Your Own Ice Cream Flavors: An ice cream making workshop at The Learning Garden

Presented by Sarah Harroff

Join us for an ice cream making workshop where the flavors come straight from the summer garden. Imagine the possibilities!

- Learn how to whip up a bowl of ice cream by hand in minutes the no-tech way.

- Sample garden-grown flavors like fennel, lavender berry, and hibiscus.

- Don't stop there. Imagine what cool new flavor combos you can create at home!

To help keep this a low waste event, please bring your own reusable bowls and spoons. We also recommend bringing a hand towel or tea cloth to insulate your hands when handling ice.

Ice cream base includes dairy and sugar.

Please RSVP for the event as space will be limited to 30 people.

Suggested donation of $5 per person to help cover materials (at event or online)

🌴 TROPICAL PLANTS: An Introduction at the Learning Garden
Presented by Clara Yoshihara

Come explore the vibrant world of tropical plants! The Learning Garden’s Tropical Habitat features vegetables, fruit trees, and herbs that thrive in tropical climates. Discover their adaptability and vitality as we:

• Transplant coffee plants

• Explore Purple corn from Peru

• Learn how to grow pineapples, hibiscus, and herbs

Enjoy hibiscus tea with tropical herbs and take home your own seeds and seedlings!

📅 Sunday, July 20th at 1:00 PM
📍 The Learning Garden – 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

We hope to see you there!