Turning turf into food.
3x more land in the U.S. is covered in turf grass than irrigated crops. We're changing that with our Grow, Don't Mow certification course. A collaboration between Roots Down and our trusted landscaping partners, Grow, Don't Mow is a series of on-line courses, in-person training, and paid hands-on learning that prepares you for a career in the growing field of ecological landscaping and maintenance.
Get educated.
Want to learn how to build Productive Urban Landscapes for clients? Our Grow, Don't Mow training courses will give you all the tools you need to take your landscaping career to the next level. Get in on the ground floor of the ecological garden movement with a Roots Down Landscaping certificate.
Get your hands dirty.
Grow, Don't Mow is more than a training course; it's a hands-on learning experience that gets you in the field, working directly with our trusted landscaping professionals in order to build the skills you need to grow your ecological landscaping business.
Get connected.
Through our Grower Forum, we connect you to clients, other landscapers, and continuing education opportunities, plugging you into the wider food justice movement. When you join the Grow, Don't Mow network, you connect to a lifetime of opportunity!
Meet our trusted landscaping partners.
Our trusted landscaping partners are the lifeblood of our Grow, Don't Mow program. Check out the businesses that make our program a success!
What you get
When you sign up for the Grow, Don't Mow network, you get more than landscaper training...you join a movement.
Get certified.
We've built a fun and engaging peer 2 peer certification process for ecological landscapers. Sign up for our virtual 101 class today!
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GDM 201
Learn how to design, install, and maintain ecological landscapes by working directly with our partners on real-life landscapes.
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GDM 301
This paid apprenticeship will have working with one of our landscaping partners to hone the skills you've learned and prepare you to go out on your own.
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GDM 401
Show you've mastered the art of ecological landscaping by designing, installing, and maintaining your own PUL to earn your Roots Down certification.
Michael Hudgins
Woods Keeper, LLC
The Grow, Don’t Mow training course has armed me with basic principles of Productive Urban Landscaping that I’m able to practice immediately in my work. But the best part to me is this new family of burgeoning regenerative landscapers, all with unique skillsets, that are able to learn and feed off each other. I look forward to expanding my knowledge and know-how through this awesome network!
Zoe Oggero
The best thing about the Grow Don’t Mow introductory course is being able to learn from a network of likeminded entrepreneurs and channel avenues into opportunities.
T Povolny
EcoLogic
I feel so much more connected since starting the Grow, Don't Mow courses. We've been given insight into many aspects of the industry that would have taken us years to gain. Roots Down has created access to a space for me to bring up these topics in a public forum as well as with other professionals. It's like we were all singing the same song separately, and now, as a cohort, we're getting closer to singing along 💗
Grow, Don't Mow Resources
Looking for a few resources to get you started? We got you covered!
Can Urban Agriculture solve job and food insecurity?
Yes! One of the best parts of the Fruitful Communities plan is that it solves for three key issues all governments have: food insecurity, job growth, and community engagement. By converting grassy, resource-intensive spaces into Productive Urban Landscapes, communities can create shared places that create good green collar jobs, provide ample food for struggling residents, and an education and community activation location.
What is a Productive Urban Landscape (PUL)?
Productive Urban Landscapes, at their core, are places with soul, places that use natural processes to minimize work and inputs and maximize everything that makes nature great. PULs are landscapes that promote 3 simple elements: Food, Ecology, and Community. They are dynamic landscapes that integrate some elements of traditional landscaping (like organized planting patterns and areas to sit, eat, and play) but bring in elements of the natural world (like biodiversity, pollinator habitats, etc.) and plants that provide us with food (like veggies, berries, and fruit trees). PULs can help heal our lands and feed both our bodies and our souls.
How can I bring Roots Down to my city?
If you'd like to see a Grow, Don't Mow landscaper training in your community, reach out to us and let's chat!
What is Urban Agriculture?
At its heart, urban agriculture is simply agriculture in urban areas. Although it’s a relatively new term, urban agriculture has been around for as long as we’ve had urban areas. Whether it’s a fruit tree, small garden, herbs in a windowsill, backyard chickens, flowers, or just a good ole pile of compost, there is a long history of urban agriculture, even if we didn’t define it that way. However, when we dig a bit deeper, there are a lot of significant differences between agriculture and urban agriculture.