Keeping Food Real is pleased to introduce their upcoming and exciting workshops. Workshops can be registered for through the College of the Rockies Fernie Campus either in person or please call (250)423-4691. If you would like any further info on these classes or to find out how to get involved with the Keeping Food Real Project please contact Dawn Deydey at dawn@wildsight.ca.
Dig Into Gardening – DIG101
Elkford SAT 1 APR 2017 10am-1pm (Elkford Aquatic Centre)
Fernie SAT 8 APR 2017 10am-1pm (COTR Fernie Campus)
Sparwood SAT 8 APR 2017 2-5pm (Sparwood Public Library)
Time: 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $19
Instructors: Dawn Deydey, Mary Cosman and Gaëtane Carignan
Want to grow food? This 3-hour workshop for beginners is a great place to start. Learn about soil and seed basics, starting seeds indoors, preparing a garden site, selecting crops and co-existing with wildlife. Explore how to access growing space even if you live in an apartment. Take away the knowledge to get started and a useful workbook for planning and planting your first garden. Bring a lunch and have your questions answered during a lunchtime Q&A. Participants will leave with a planted tray of seeds and a reference resource workbook.
Jump Start Your Garden
Fernie 29 APR 2017 10am-4pm (Spruce Spring Streams Farms)
Time: 6 hours
Prerequisite: We recommend taking DIG101 or having some gardening experience prior to this workshop, but all participants are welcome.
Cost: $49
Instructors: Dawn Deydey, Mary Cosman and Gaëtane Carignan
A hands-on opportunity to build upon your gardening knowledge, this workshop will demonstrate organic-inspired techniques for soil preparation, garden planning (spacing, mapping, crop rotation), as well mulching at a small-scale, commercial, permaculture-inspired farm. Learn about the benefits of cold weather gardening. Wear weather-appropriate clothing/footwear and bring a lunch. Participants will leave with vegetable seedlings and a reference resource workbook.
Maximize Yields, Optimize Efforts
Fernie 15 JULY 2017 10am-4pm (Spruce Springs Stream Farms)
Time: 6 hours
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $49
Instructors: Dawn Deydey, Mary Cosman and Gaëtane Carignan
The best strategies, tips and techniques to help get the most out of your garden while optimizing your time and efforts in our cold-climate, short-season conditions. Learn about season-extension techniques (floating row covers, hoop houses), cut-and-come-again crops, variety selection, succession planting, harvesting, efficient watering, and easier weeding. Experience the strategies commercial, permaculture-inspired farmers use, then apply them in your own garden. Wear weather-appropriate clothing/footwear and bring a lunch. Participants will leave with just-picked garden produce and a reference resource workbook.
Saving your own Seeds – Growing better crops
Fernie: 19 AUG 2017 10am-1pm (Fernie EcoGarden)
Time: 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $19
Instructors: Dawn Deydey, Mary Cosman and Gaëtane Carignan
In this 3-hour workshop you will learn how to select, harvest and store seeds from locally grown plants, and why it is so beneficial to do so. Participate in collecting, cleaning and packaging seeds and have all your seed saving questions answered. Wear weather-appropriate clothing/footwear, and bring a lunch. Participants will leave with a variety of locally-grown seeds and a reference resource workbook.
Making Good Compost: Methods and Uses
Fernie: 30 SEPT 2017 10am-3pm (COTR Fernie Campus & Community EcoGarden)
Time: 5 hours
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $39
Instructors: Dawn Deydey, Mary Cosman and Gaëtane Carignan
Compost provides nutrients and organic matter, but also a healthy community of soil-microbiology to help your plants thrive. Learn to source appropriate materials, mix them at the proper proportions, and monitor the pile as it matures into black gold. This workshop is part classroom theory and part outdoors at the EcoGarden, so bring weather-appropriate clothing, wear rubber boots and bring a lunch. Participants will leave with vermicompost and a reference resource workbook.