Hort 101 A
OPEN TO EVERYONE: Hort 101 A - is a two-day, hands-on introduction to regenerative organic growing, designed for people who want to improve the health and productivity of their gardens and growing systems through practical skills they can put to use immediately. Our foundation programme is open to all levels of experience. Choose the two-day practical course (Hort 101 A), the three-day technical course (Hort 101 B), or complete both. Whether you're growing food at home, supporting a māra kai or community garden, or managing a small to mid-scale growing operation, this course provides practical tools to build healthy soils, strengthen plant resilience and reduce reliance on external inputs. The emphasis is on learning by doing, with accessible explanations of the living systems that support productive growing. Hort 101 A is a complete standalone course, making regenerative organic education accessible to those who may not need, or have the time and resources for, the full five-day Hort 101 programme.
- Level
- Foundation
- Duration
- 2 days
- Format
- in person
- Price
- NZ$550
- Max students
- 20
- Status
- Currently accepting enrolments
Course overview
Course content
Over two days, you will learn practical skills and techniques that can be applied directly to your growing system, including:
- Understanding the role of microbes in healthy, living soils
- Compost production, function and application
- Practical principles of soil fertility and nutrient balance
- Seed inoculation and seedling health
- Learning to observe and read plant health
- Maximising photosynthesis and biological activity
- Practical techniques for building resilient, productive growing systems
- Reducing external inputs by supporting natural biological processes
The course supports organic, biodynamic and permaculture approaches, while offering an accessible starting point for anyone transitioning from conventional growing methods.
Complex concepts are introduced through practical learning, making the course suitable for beginners while offering valuable insights for more experienced growers.
Where to next?
Hort 101 A can be taken independently or followed immediately by Hort 101 B, our three-day introduction to the technical principles of regenerative organic horticulture.
Together, Hort 101 A and B form Earthworkers' complete five-day foundation programme.
Course options
- Hort 101 A — 2 days: $550
- Hort 101 B — 3 weekdays: $825
- Complete Hort 101 A + B — 5 consecutive days: $1,200 (save $175)
Ongoing mentoring and access to Earthworkers' alumni learning network are available to participants who complete Hort 101 B.
