Enjoy 20 sessions with lifetime access that will get you on the right path toward a natural, resilient,
low-management habitat garden that appeals to both wildlife and people.
Ready to save yourself time and expense over the long haul?
"These inspirational courses offered invaluable information in the quest to turn my small piece of nature into a biodiverse, four season, sustainable wildlife haven."
"I planted 500 square feet of prior nonnative yard into native sedge & perennials this past week. Thank you for the inspiration and advice. Videos are sooo informative!"
$150 or payment plan w/ Affirm
Save 25% off the individual class price
Get off to a solid beginning. You’ll receive:
Starting Your Native Plant Garden | Fundamentals of Garden Layers | Intro to Matrix Design | Designing With Common Nursery Plants | Gardening in the Shade
All 20 Garden Classes
$390 or payment plan w/ Affirm
save 50% when you get the entire suite
It’s 17 hours of content! The entire suite will take you into every nuanced detail from researching and finding plants, prepping the site, how to design with resilient plant communities, and aesthetic strategies to appease neighbors. Prairie up!
All 20 Classes + All 32 Guides + Consult
$750 or payment plan w/ Affirm
a $1,300 value
As you work through the complete 20 classes and 32 guides, you can schedule one private, 45-minute Zoom consultation with Benjamin to address any questions about your gardening project.
The A-Z on creating a wildlife refuge.
A diversity of resources to help you research and choose native plants for your landscape, how to prep the area, how to appeal to neighbors and wildlife, then a step by step plan designing a sustainable garden bed.
Trees and shrubs for wildlife and beauty.
Over 50 shrubs and trees that provide essential wildlife services in multiple seasons, all while looking beautiful to the human eye.
Plants and strategies for seasonal delight and habitat.
We’ll explore dozens of perennial flowers and grasses with stunning fall color and ornamental seed heads. Design strategies are also highlighted.
Our oops are your gain.
We bare all with a variety of projects in scale, cost, and site locations so there will be at least 1-2 landscapes like yours to learn from.
In-depth guide to planting selection.
We’ll explore online and print resources to learn about native plants for each region, go through the methods Benjamin uses to research and select plants, then put together a garden plan based on the research flow modeled here.
Design a small or large from seed.
Learn how to calculate the seed mix then prep, install, and manage the landscape. We’ll cover the nitty gritty including mixing and broadcasting seed, as well as best strategies for managing weeds before and after sowing.
Follow nature’s lead, design with plant communities.
Discover how to read natural plant communities and what lessons to bring home, how to use succession (seasonal and year by year) to increase ecosystem function and decrease management (like weed control), and explore some of the plant options to fill niches in each layer for max climate resilience.
It’s time to unlearn what you’ve learned.
Gardens need constant watering and fertilizing and mulching, plant tags are useful, and the secret to having a green thumb is using USDA hardiness zones. Nope, nope, nope. Embrace sustainability as you relearn how to garden in sync with nature
How to work with and change the law.
Explore ways to work with neighbors and weed authorities by both tweaking your landscape and studying up on the ordinances — including victorious examples from around the country.
Don’t despair!
There’s a better way.
Learn how management begins with site prep and plant selection, how design dictates the work you do, and explore sample timelines from years 0-4. This class is loaded with practical help.
An intro to the pros & cons of native plant cultivars.
What is a cultivar? How are they beneficial or detrimental to wildlife? When is it appropriate to use them? Take a crash course on some of the primary science to help you make the best decision.
Learn how to design with plugs naturally.
If you’re tired of wood mulch and pricey gallon pots, this is the class for you. Covering professional strategies on designing with and installing plugs, we’ll also learn about adaptable sedge species.
Four plans and plant guides that emulate nature.
Learning about plants is key to creating resilient and beautiful gardens. We’ll explore four diverse sites as we match plants to one another in a sustainable, artistic landscape you can start today.
Become a milkweed whisperer.
From indigenous uses and the risks insects take to pollinate flowers, to wildlife that depend on milkweed and how climate change threatens them, we’ll delve into 20+ species suitable for your garden.
What natives make the cut?
Learn which species work best together and how to use plant behavior as a guide. A perfect introduction for those new to resilient design where we let plants guide management.
The simplest way to plan a natural garden.
Suited especially for those new to natural design, learn how to lay out plants in a matrix style to create an artful meadow landscape with year-round habitat.
A candid look at various projects.
Whether you’re dipping your toes into natural design or downsizing, there are fundamental strategies for successful for modest landscapes. Every garden matters.
Ditch the hosta.
Shade gardens can be the most beautiful, low-care, instructive, and fun gardens around! There’s a native plant for any site condition, from under eaves to under trees.
Go beyond plant tags.
In order to create a resilient, low maintenance habitat,we have to select plants based on behavior above all else. Learn how to research sociability and match plants to one another for improved garden function.
Learn why we did what we did.
We’ll go through several projects of varying site conditions / scale and explore why we made specific plant, design, and management choices. Plant and seed lists are included.
Do you struggle with native plant selection?
Are you unsure how to prep, design, and care for a nature-inspired garden?
Wondering how to win over neighbors while supporting wildlife?
These 20 Courses Are For:
What You’ll Learn:
Each video lecture is presented by Benjamin Vogt, author of A New Garden Ethic and Prairie Up. His work has been featured in The American Gardener, Better Homes and Gardens, Dwell, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, Horticulture, Midwest Living, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Benjamin speaks internationally on natural garden design and is passionate about urban lawn conversions (that’s putting it mildly).
In what regions are these classes applicable?
All regions. The design methodology and philosophy is adaptable. And while all of the plants discussed may not be native to you, you’ll easily be able to find local substitutions that work for your landscape.
How many times can I watch the videos?
As often as you like! Classes are made available in perpetuity or until the service is no longer available in some distant, mythical future.
Can these classes be presented to a larger group?
No. The online classes are for personal use only — any other use is expressly prohibited. If you are looking for an event presentation please see the speaking page and reach out for a quote.
How do I log in to access classes and downloadables?
At purchase you will set up login and password credentials. Do not lose these. You will click on the “login” tab on the website header using those credentials. Once logged in, you’ll see your purchases and be able to enjoy the videos and booklets.
I purchased classes at the previous course host, Teachable, are those still accessible?
Yes they are. On March 17, 2026 we transitioned to a new system that’s self hosted and offers greater benefits for both students and admin. The Teachable-hosted classes will be available until October of 2026.
All classes are self-paced and never end — you have unlimited access for as long as they remain online (Prairie Up / Benjamin Vogt reserves the right to take down any class at any time without prior notice). Please refer to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy on each class page as well as at checkout before purchasing so you know what you can and can’t do with class material (for example: you can’t resell or modify any class material, or present it to anyone else). Classes are non-refundable and all sales are final. Classes are intended for personal use only; any other use — including for group presentations — is prohibited. Prices include applicable processing fees while additional taxes are calculated based on locality. If you have technical issues please use the contact form. All class material is copyright © Benjamin Vogt.
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