Where and when do we meet?

Meeting point is 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133; check the booking page for scheduled dates and arrive a few minutes early.

Is prior gardening experience required?

No; the workshop is designed for beginners and intermediate gardeners and focuses on practical, approachable techniques.

Are materials provided?

Instructors provide demonstration supplies for propagation and soil mix examples; bring a notebook for your own notes.

What is the group size?

Group size is limited to 10 participants to allow individualized guidance from UF/IFAS Master Gardeners.

Age requirements are not listed—contact the organizer or check the booking details for any age-specific restrictions.

Grow Flavor: Herbs 101 Workshop with UF/IFAS in Miami

Q: How much does the workshop cost?

The class is free for NTBG members; non-members receive a discount on garden admission with advanced registration—confirm current pricing when you register.

Herbs 101 with UF/IFAS at 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133 invites home cooks and gardeners to a practical, hands-on workshop led by Master Gardeners from the UF/IFAS Extension Team. Set in a working tropical garden open to the public, this compact class focuses on culinary herbs that thrive in South Florida’s heat and humidity. Attendees learn which varieties are easiest to grow, how to pair herbs in containers and beds, and simple propagation techniques to multiply a favorite plant. The setting is as much a teacher as the instructors: raised beds, shaded benches and compact demonstration plots create a full-sensory classroom where fragrant leaves, glossy tropical foliage, and visiting pollinators make each technique immediately useful. Key features include herb beds and container demonstrations, propagation stations, and interpretive signage explaining soil mixes and microclimates. Expect hands-on practice with cuttings, soil mixes, and simple pruning—skills you can use on an apartment balcony or a backyard landscape. This workshop is free for NTBG members; non-members receive a discount on garden admission with advanced registration. Small group size (10 participants) means plenty of time for individualized advice from UF/IFAS Master Gardeners who tailor recommendations to Miami’s limestone soils, salt air, and seasonal rainfall patterns. That local expertise is what makes this session stand out: tips are specific to South Florida challenges like summer heat, fungal pressure, and microclimate shading under canopy trees. Practical takeaways include a short list of herbs that reliably succeed in local conditions, pairing notes for companion planting, and step-by-step propagation so you can expand your collection without buying new plants. The class is ideal for beginners and intermediate gardeners; it’s a chance to smell, touch, and practice rather than just read about techniques. Nearby urban amenities make it easy to combine the workshop with a morning stroll through the garden or a visit to nearby markets for fresh produce. Bring a notebook, hat, water bottle, and a willingness to get your hands dirty. With a mix of science-backed guidance and real-world Miami-tested tricks, Herbs 101 is a small, focused way to change how you cook and garden—one pot, one cutting, one season at a time. Beyond the classroom, the garden itself is a living collection of tropical and subtropical specimens—mature spice trees, citrus, and shade-loving ornamentals that demonstrate how herbs perform under canopy conditions common across coastal Miami. Those plantings give context to lessons about root depth, salt tolerance, and seasonal pruning cycles. Because the UF/IFAS team focuses on evidence-based practices, participants leave with a shopping list and a care calendar keyed to Miami’s rainy and dry seasons. For foodies and backyard growers, this workshop is a practical step toward flavorful, sustainable home cooking that begins in the soil.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.