Year-Around Harvest for the
Urban Gardener with Linda Gilkeson
Please note: All 2010 sessions are full - we are now accepting participants for the 2011 sessions.The mild winters of Coastal British Columbia make it possible to grow and harvest vegetables all year around.
The benefits of growing your own food are many: the knowledge that sound and sustainable gardening practices were followed; summer gardens are economical and winter gardens even more so and learning how to provide protection from deeper cold will expand the range of what can be grown; the variety of vegetables and fruit available to the urban gardener is enormous; flavour and quality that would never be found in a supermarket; the sense of accomplishment that comes from self-sufficiency. No matter how large or how small your garden is, you will learn how to make the most of it.
Session #1
Garden Plans & Seed Starting
Saturday January 23rd 9:00am - 1:00pm
This session will cover: garden location, sun & water requirements; bed design; planning for the year; growing from seed.
Session #2
Soil, Nutrients & Amendments
Saturday February 20th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Start all your gardening off right with the basics of soil science. Targeted toward the urban gardener, this session will include composting & organic amendments. Healthy soil = healthy plants.
Session #3
The Spring Garden
Saturday March 20th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Planting methods; crop management; schedules, with the focus on the early harvest.
Session #4
Containers, Small Gardens & Greenhouses
Saturday April 17th 9:00am - 1:00pm
This session covers what can be grown in containers including citrus, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and herbs; greenhouse production; how to interplant and maximize production urban gardens.
Session #5
Insects, Weeds & Diseases
Saturday May 15th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Learn how to identify common pests & diseases; prevention & natural control methods; how to attract beneficial insects.
Session #6
The Summer Garden
Saturday June 19th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Methods; planting schedules & crop management including staking, trellising & pollination. The focus will be on summer crops of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, beans, squash, cucumber & small fruit.
Session #7
Planting for Winter
Saturday July 17th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Winter crops including arugula & other salad greens, broccoli, root crops, cauliflower & more; how to schedule for the balance of the year; harvesting & curing of garlic & onions.
Session #8
Preserving the Harvest
Saturday August 21st 9:00am - 1:00pm Simple food preservation including drying, juicing and freezing; curing & storage of winter squash; potatoes & sweet potatoes; tree fruit.
Session #9
Saving Seeds
Saturday September 18th 9:00am - 1:00pm
Methods for a variety of annuals and biennials; how to prevent cross pollination; seed selection of parent plants
Session #10
Preparing for Winter
Saturday October 23rd 9:00am - 1:00pm
The last of the 10 sessions will cover: cold frames, cloches & winter covers; managing a winter greenhouse; mulching, staking; winter pruning of fruit trees.
10 sessions $400.00.
Includes all hand-outs & Linda's book - Year-Around Harvest Winter Gardening on the Coast
NOTE: All the sessions of Year-Around Harvest can be taken individually.
HCP members $45.00 - Non-HCP members $75.00