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In recent years, urbanites have realized you don’t need a country estate to grow your own greens. So whether you’re a veteran green thumb or still a little wet behind the ears, these urban-gardening classes may help you put food on the table. Best of all, you can do it for free.

Show your kids that fresh vegetables don’t come in boxes and cans with Common Threads’ “Exploring the World Garden” at Kenwood Community Park. They’ll learn all the horticultural basics, from planting the seed to harvesting the product. Plus, what good is knowing how to grow food if you don’t know how to use it? In the program, participants also get a rudimentary lesson in cooking herbs and veggies. Kenwood Community Park, 1330 E 50th St at Kenwood Ave (312-752-2690, www.ourcommonthreads.org). El: Green to 51st. Bus: 172 U of C-Kenwood. May 3–Jun 7, 3:30–5pm; free. Registration is required.

Practice planting edible greens at the Garfield Park Conservatory’s Perpetual Salad Bowl series. Take one or all three of the conservatory’s classes on succession gardening—“First Planting” (Sat 15), “Next Planting and Troubleshooting” (Apr 29) and “The Harvest and Summer Greens” (Jun 10)—and learn how to make the most of your gardening space throughout the season using multiple croppings. While you’re planting, ask Amber Kim Dewey, one of the conservatory’s master gardeners, every burning question you’ve ever had about garden maintenance while trading tips with fellow greenthumbs on handling pesky vegetable munchers and other garden-variety nihilists. Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave at Fulton Blvd (312-746-5100, www.garfieldconservatory.org). El: Green to Conservatory/Central Park. Bus: 20 (24 hrs), 52, 82. Free. No registration is required.