Get Up! Program
Grow more than a garden
Spend three months building knowledge and community in our Gardening and Composting Educator Training Program (Get Up!)—then take your skills beyond our garden to lead, inspire, and advocate in the Bay Area and beyond.
Since 1996, Get Up! has helped over 800 beginner gardeners grow into confident educators, ready to share regenerative gardening and composting practices with communities across the region.
It will reshape how you see our climate future and support you to dig deeper into:
Gardening practices
Every week, we’ll dive into a new topic ranging from microclimates, pruning, soil health, irrigation, worm composting, and more.
📚 Check out the 2024 syllabus.
Teaching methods
Explore different ways students learn through the lens of outdoor education.
You’ll co-teach a two-hour composting class at GFE following the completion of Get Up! coursework.
Building community
Between potluck lunches and weeding side-by-side, you’ll build community with your fellow students.
You’ll also meet local environmentalists, teachers, and Get Up! alumni.
Advancing ecological justice
While some of the seeds and
insects you’ll learn about are quite small, we’ll also zoom out to
look at the bigger picture and discuss connections between gardening, social justice, and climate change.
Important Course Details
2025 COURSE DATES
September 6 → December 6
Applications due: August 8
Every Saturday from 10am to 3pm
Six Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm
No class Thanksgiving week.
COURSE TIMES
COURSE FEES
Sliding Scale: $450 - $600
Opportunities for $200 course fee, more details in application.
“Get Up! changed the course of my life. I learned so much and I made life-long connections with positive people who are making a difference in our communities and who are working on nature-based solutions to solve our environmental crises.”
— Raphael, Get Up! alum
Taught by GFE staff and a roster of inspiring local experts, we hope you’ll join us in the garden. Get Up! alumni have gone on to edit environmental magazines, run local farms, start landscaping businesses, advocate for sustainability in the restaurant industry, manage school garden programs, work in city government, and much more.
FAQs
Additional questions?info@gardenfortheenvironment.org
What kind of experience are you looking for?
Get Up! is designed for adult beginner gardeners. No prior experience is required. We teach the basics of sustainable gardening and composting, providing students with the tools to take this knowledge back to their communities. We are looking for people interested in sharing their new skills with others. Priority is given to San Francisco City and County residents.
Who teaches the course?
This course is taught by an incredible team of garden educators from around the Bay Area. Local garden experts and community members teach the majority of classes, and GFE staff members teach some of the classes as well.
What supplies do I need?
Gardening sessions: Please bring your own gardening gloves and wear pants and durable, closed-toe shoes. All other tools needed for garden sessions will be provided. You should plan to accommodate your personal needs (snacks, clothing layers, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, notebook, and pen, water bottle, etc.). Lunch will be a potluck provided by you and your classmates.
Online sessions: You will need a reliable computer with a strong internet connection and a webcam or other video capabilities.
Homework: All students will receive the course book, Golden Gate Gardening. You will have weekly readings from it along with some additional homework sources provided by GFE.
What accommodations are available in the garden?
We have a portable toilet, water fountain, water bottle filler, sink, soap, hand sanitizer, and rubbing alcohol. Please note that there is no electricity in the garden.
Why is the class fee a sliding scale?
We offer a sliding-scale fee structure to make Get Up! more equitable, as we recognize that there is a vast wealth disparity in the Bay Area. Those who can pay more allow others to participate in Get Up! who otherwise could not.
When is the class fee due?
Accepted applicants will pay the course fee on first day of class, September 6, 2025. If you are interested in setting up a payment plan or have funds from your employer, please reach out to us.
What is the structure of classes?
Classes in the garden are built around a specific topic each week. Typically, we start with a lecture in the morning, followed by hands-on stations in the afternoon. Thursday evening classes are a combination of lecture, group discussion, break-out groups, and viewings.
Are there readings, homework, and tests?
Yes. You will have weekly readings and viewings and projects to complete, and there will be a final to help reinforce the concepts you learned in the program.
What is the 50-hour project requirement?
Service project: In the first half of 2026, all students are required to complete a 40-hour service project at GFE or another gardening or environmental organization in San Francisco. We will help students connect with projects that fit their interests during the latter part of Get Up!. This requirement is designed to give graduates the opportunity to refine their new skills, share them with the community, and connect with local organizations.
Co-teach an Urban Composting class: In the first half of 2026, you are required to co-teach a GFE urban composting class alongside Get Up! colleagues. Between the two-hour course, preparation with your teaching group, as well as time for set-up and breakdown on your teaching day, we ask you to set aside 10 hours. We will provide you with all the necessary skills and training to feel prepared to teach this class.
What is the attendance policy?
We know things come up, and you may need to miss some classes. We ask that you miss no more than three classes. If you anticipate missing more, we recommend waiting to apply to Get Up! at a time that better fits your schedule. Additionally, each class covers a separate gardening topic, and the classes build on one another. We can’t offer make-up classes if you miss one.
I read something about receiving a compost bin as part of my fee for Get Up! Can you tell me more about this?
You will receive either a three-square-foot backyard composting bin or a worm composting bin (worms not included) at the conclusion of the Get Up! program. This is to encourage you to put the composting skills you learned in Get Up! into action!
