"I am grateful for the education I got through Gaia College. The program is well laid out and covers the widest range of topics I could find. I am confident in my skills and knowledge after taking this program. I'm also happy to report that within 6 months of completion I have a wonderful full time job tending an amazing organic garden!"
Melanie Isles
"When covid forced me out of an occupation I had for over 10 years, I was keen to retrain and follow my heart’s desire: being a better gardener. After a search online, I found Gaia College and started with the Organic Master Gardener course, taught by Astrid. She was a wonderful, patient instructor and her passion for organic and ecological gardening was contagious! That was the start.
From there I took as many courses as possible until a new career focus took hold of me: becoming a landscape designer, fine tuned by Ken’s superb teaching of the Sketch Up and Ecological Landscape Design courses. Christina’s Natives I course was excellent for combining all the previously taught courses.
Gaia College was instrumental in forming a new career path for me, as well as being a welcoming and exciting forum of like-minded individuals that want to do something to help heal our planet, one garden at a time."
Sarah Valentine
"I have found the courses at Gaia College to be relevant and leading edge in ecological design. Whether it is in person or online, they facilitate ongoing connection between environmentally conscious students and teachers that has been helpful for educational and occupational opportunities."
Laura Walker
Thanks again for doing such a great job with the OMG course. It’s provided lots of great resources that I’ve been able to pull from. Just recently the local community gardeners were asking us... and whether or not it truly is organic. Between the resources on the Gaia website and Soul, I was able to answer all their questions and provide them with the tools for more educated opinions around labeling. That’s just one example, I use the information the course provided weekly, and my position at LEPS doesn’t focus on gardening! Kim Greenwood
Special Projects Coordinator
Langley Environmental Partners Society
We who tend the land and garden are not to be underestimated. We collectively have the power and ability to nourish the body and soul; create beauty around us; heal an environmental wound; create school, memorial, dedication, guerrilla, teaching and public gardens, to name a few; return an area back to it's natural state, add value to properties; delight children and adults alike; create habitats for many living creatures; create retreats and places of meditation as well as playgrounds and community parks; address erosion and water problems and help to ward off famine. Gardening, like music, is one of the few common languages throughout the world and helps to unite us all.
Margo
This course has given me a much deeper understanding of gardens and agroecosystems, how damaging conventional growing methods have been, and how a holistic organic approach offers many advantages, benefits and opportunities. Particularly, I'm grateful for the way you and the other instructors presented the practice of organic gardening within the context of a bigger picture, including ethical considerations and providing important reminders of the limits of the science.
Ian
Thank you so much Heide, for your advice on this matter and also for the fabulous programs you have compiled. The OMG really sparked my passion for gardening/landscaping into full flame. I look forward to meeting you one day. The OMG has provided me with a new way to 'dig' my work, a challenging way to look at our whole industry. I think this "Shifting Paradigm" is timely and necessary for those of us who love and honor Mother Earth!
Valerie Deakin
It is the best course I have ever taken and probably one of the best things I have done in my life so far, for a number of reasons, but mostly because the knowledge we gained in the class is invaluable and cannot be bought or acquired anywhere. I thank you also for bringing a lot of energy into the class and you made it fun to be there... I think everyone should learn about organic gardening and organic living. I want other people to learn the same things I did and then educate other people as well. I think with this "snowball" effect, we might eventually have a large percentage of the population engaging in organic gardening, which would be amazing.
Erik Mraz
Finding out about SOUL and Gaia college was like an answer to a major question. I am now enrolled in this unique class that helps me recap and expand my knowledge, meet lots of friendly soulmates, and better my chances for making a living in the industry in a meaningful way. Already I had numerous "a-ha!" moments. Those "How is this important?" links are fantastic!
Christina Nikolic, Landscape Architect
I have found the program extremely helpful in operating my business. I now have a lot more knowledge and the confidence to make the right choices.
Michael Cowan, Organic Landscaper