Seeds embody growth, life, hope, opportunity and possibility. The magic of seeds lies in their innate generative power in that they hold an extraordinary ability to permeate life and vitality throughout our environment and body.

This workshop will guide you through the life cycle of a plant, from germination to harvest, and how to create the best growing conditions to cultivate and care for your seedlings. We will practice sowing a miniature microgreens garden together for you to take home and continue to tend and nurture. We will also cover topics ranging from seed sourcing and storage to ways to start your own indoor or outdoor edible garden. Each participant will be able to take home a small ceramic planter along with their microgreen!

Instructor Shannon Lai is a first generation Burmese-Chinese American farmer with roots in art and design whose work and mission explores the intersection between ecological stewardship, food sovereignty and diasporic storytelling. She began her farming journey on a 1-acre plot in Crown Heights which led her to farming 12 acres of diversified crops and flowers at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett. Shannon found her way back to NYC where she farmed at Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farms managing their Sunset Park farm. Currently, Shannon is the project manager at Studio Lily Kwong. A next generation landscape design studio whose mission is to reconnect people to nature through transformative landscape projects and site-specific botanical art installations. Their work is currently on view at the New York Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Show.