With another gardening season winding down, fall is the perfect time to hone your skills in preparation for next spring.
This fall, Earthwise Society is running anew educational series for adults, Ecological Gardening 101, that will teach youhow to create a thriving, sustainable landscape in a series of six hands-onworkshops.
Ecological gardening can have a profound impact on both the environment and an individual’s health. Rather than interfering with nature’s design by introducing harmful chemicals, it allows us to work with the natural elements to create something beautiful, while ultimately contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
The course is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about organic land care techniques. The series costs $200 and includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience in the Earthwise Garden. A certificate is awarded upon completion.
The program was designed to provide training to those who are interested in volunteering at Earthwise and is free for volunteers who commit 40 hours a year.
The program will begin with an Introduction to the Earthwise Garden. Participants will tour the garden, identify plants and learn about garden ecosystems. The focus of this session will be on working with nature rather than against it to create a beautiful and healthy landscape.
The next workshop will be all about pollinator gardens. Learn about the important role of pollinators in our gardens and how to select plants that will attract pollinators, such as bees, year-round.
Another workshop will focus on gardening for climate change and how to create sustainable gardens that work with our natural environment and the seasons to conserve important resources. Some examples include constructing rain gardens, which collect water runoff and absorb excess water, and surviving drought by creating dry gardens with drought-friendly plants.
Heirloom gardens will be the subject of another workshop that looks at biodiversity issues and the importance of seed saving. Native plants and the creation of year-round garden habitats round out the series.
This workshop series hopes to demonstrate that ecological gardening might be easier than you think and participants will be rewarded with diverse and healthy gardens to enjoy for years to come.
Ecological Gardening 101 runs twice weekly from Oct. 11 to 29. For more information or to register, or to inquire about volunteering, call 604-946-9828 or email education@earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
