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Gain skills, resources, and materials to teach your community and clients how to create healthy, resilient landscapes that work with nature. The Landscape for Life™ Train the Trainer program equips educators and professionals with everything needed to lead sustainable landscaping courses in their own communities—whether in person or online.
This 8-week national program is offered through Colorado State University in partnership with the United States Botanic Garden and includes everything you need to establish a new educational offering. Utilizing a co-hort model for delivery, you’ll have access to self-paced online classes with live webinars for interactive discussion and support. By the end of the program, participants will be ready to educate others in designing, establishing, and managing landscapes that conserve resources, restore biodiversity, and strengthen community well-being. No recertification requirement.
Course Schedule
Week One: Introduction to Sustainable Landscapes
Week Two: The Role of Soils in Sustainable Landscaping
Week Three: Water Considerations and Practices
Week Four: Plant Selection & Strategies for Sustainability
Week Five: Design, Materials, & Maintenance
Week Six: Green Infrastructure: Rainwater Harvesting & Gardening
Week Seven: Gardening for Pollinator & Wildlife Habitat
Week Eight: Wrap Up, Toolbox & Group Presentations
What’s included in your registration?
This program is ideal for educators and professionals who share a passion for teaching sustainability in horticulture, including:
Landscape for Life™, a partnership between CSU Extension and the U.S. Botanic Garden, is a sustainable landscaping training program. It was developed to help you work with nature, whether you’re growing in your suburban backyard, on your 20-acre farm, or in a shared urban garden space.
Learners receive access to the course for 1 year from the time of registration to complete the course. Noncredit courses do not produce academic credit nor appear on a Colorado State University transcript.
Noncredit courses do not produce academic credit nor appear on a Colorado State University academic transcript.
There are no prerequisites for open-entry courses. Students need reliable internet and a computer/laptop to access course content. Please note that there are no refunds for open entry courses.
After registering for this course, please allow at least 30 minutes to receive email confirmation and login credentials to the courses. Be sure to check your SPAM folder for the login information.
Please email csuext_programs@colostate.edu if you have questions.
Deryn Davidson is the Sustainable Landscape State Specialist for Colorado State University (CSU) Extension. In this position she develops and delivers educational programs and provides expert consultation to public and private sectors on creating sustainable, resilient landscapes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from CSU and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona.
A former horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX, Deryn is deeply committed to native plant horticulture and pollinator conservation. While in Arizona, Deryn worked designing rainwater harvesting systems and educating the public on rainwater harvesting strategies.
Deryn champions the use of thoughtful design and sustainable horticultural practices to foster biodiversity and implement nature-based solutions that enhance urban resilience and livability.
"There are so many possibilities for positive impact with this role and the education that we can provide." Deryn Davidson