Class Schedule April – August 2026

Growing and Using Culinary Herbs | April 18 | IN-PERSON 

Fresh herbs add flavor to your favorite dishes and beauty to your garden, patio or deck. Avoid extra expense at the grocery store by growing your own often used culinary herbs. Join foodie, world traveler, and herbal expert Mark Ragland and learn how to successfully grow herbs in your garden. Then, explore exciting and delicious ways to use them in your kitchen.

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NEW! Organic Vegetable Gardening | May 16 | IN-PERSON 

Growing vegetables is fun, easy and can transform your yard into a beautiful, delicious space. By growing your own, a vegetable gardener can delight in delicious varieties that will never grace grocery store shelves. In this course you will learn organic approaches to edible gardening including siting for success, choosing the right cultivar, seed starting and transplanting, the basics of compost and amendments, common pests and diseases, irrigation, companion planting and much more! A tour of the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden will give participants a chance to learn hands on planting techniques. Each student will take home a transplant for their own garden.

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Edible History: Plants of the Mediterranean | August 12 | IN-PERSON 

Transport yourself to the sun-soaked landscapes of the Mediterranean and discover the plants that thrive in its signature climate of hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Join expert Mark Ragland and explore the history and unique characteristics of these resilient plants and discover many of the herbs and ingredients that define Mediterranean cuisine.

Then, indulge your senses with a delicious buffet lunch incorporating these iconic ingredients, and experience firsthand the aromas and tastes that make this region’s cuisine so beloved. Savor the fragrant oils, fresh herbs, and vibrant flavors and experience the connection between garden and table. Fee includes presentation with Mark, buffet lunch, all taxes, fees and gratuity.

Tea – A 5,000 Year Tradition at the Queen’s Library Tea Room | August 27 | IN-PERSON OFF-SITE

One amazing plant in over 3,000 varieties produces the second most consumed beverage on Earth: tea. Join tea expert Mark Ragland for an exploration of all things tea through an elegant formal tea experience at the Queen’s Library Tea Room. Steeped in history, lore and tradition, tea is again becoming America’s favorite beverage. Taste the difference as we explore how that single leaf, depending on where it’s grown, picked and processed, provides an endless variety of sensory experiences. Learn how to make the perfect cup of tea and how to grow your own tea plant. Located in Jackson Ward, the Queen’s Library Tea Room provides a sophisticated and intimate setting with botanically-inspired decor.

Registration includes tea samples, and full tea luncheon with 3-course tea tower featuring delectable savory and sweet selections and British tea room classics. Class will be held at the Queen’s Library Tea Room’s NEW LOCATION

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Vine to Glass Series

NEW! Sipping the Sun: A Masterclass in Mediterranean Terroir | June 23 | IN-PERSON

Step into the light of the world’s most iconic coastal vineyards. This masterclass strips away the label and focuses on the elemental forces that define the Mediterranean glass: scorching sun, cooling sea breezes, and ancient, rugged soils. From the limestone cliffs of the Levant to the windswept volcanic slopes of the Aegean, you will discover how “Liquid Sunlight” is captured, structured, and served.
The experience will move beyond the glass to explore the molecular harmony between the vine and the table. You will learn to decode a wine’s architecture—its bracing salinity, its sun-drenched textures, and its savory herbal core—and how these traits allow it to dominate the boldest flavors of coastal cuisine. This is a deep dive into wines born of heat but defined by their incredible freshness and poise.

All-inclusive fee covers tasting of 6 wines, an elegant 6-course dinner, complimentary wine glass and gratuity.

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Garden to Glass Cocktail Series

NEW! Beyond the Margarita: Tequila Cocktails | August 19 | IN-PERSON

Join local Tequila expert and mixologist Beth Dixon in this Alebrijes Exhibit inspired class, focusing on Tequila. Join Beth for an in-depth exploration of the spirit; from plant to production to your glass. Learn how to use Tequila in exciting and different ways – beyond the Margarita in a Paloma, Mexican Firing Squad and Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Come prepared to ask questions, connect with your fellow foodies, and treat your taste buds. As Beth showcases how to create these delicious traditional and modern Mexican cocktails, you’ll learn expert techniques for kicking your mixology up a notch. You’ll also enjoy a glass of each cocktail, finding pairing inspiration with three courses of small plates designed to play perfectly with the drinks’ refreshing, aromatic tasting notes.

Fee includes 3 cocktails, 3 courses, all taxes, fees and gratuity.