Learn to grow your own food in the desert

Learn to grow your own food in the desert at the inaugural, and aptly named, Grow Your Own Food Summit.

A group of urban farmers are holding the daylong event on Friday, March 7, at Phoenix College.

Participants will learn about seed saving, what to plant to save money at the grocery store, and essential ingredients to a successful garden. Other topics include simple steps to create your own urban farm, how to keep and care for small livestock, and how to reduce the amount of pesticides in your diet.

Join Greg Peterson of the Urban Farm in Phoenix and Kari Spencer of the Micro Farm Project in Phoenix in learning practical ways to grow organic food.

Since 2001, Peterson has used his average-size central Phoenix home as a working farm and classroom, teaching sustainable practices, such as using solar panels and water-reclamation systems.

Spencer, who operates an urban farm and education center, also is an urban farming instructor for the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe.

Other speakers include Bill McDorman and Belle Starr of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance; and Jake Mace, an urban gardening educator at Longevity Gardens in Tempe.

Chef Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis Restaurant in Phoenix will cook and serve lunch.

Details: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 7. Phoenix College, South Gym, Building G, 1202 W. Thomas Road. $49 for the first 200 people to register. Remaining tickets are $89. Available in advance at growphx.com or at the door.