Monthly Archives: February 2009

Mar 7-8 | Local Food Security and Starting your own Community Garden

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This two-day interactive course will introduce you to the concepts and practice of community gardening in Vancouver.

A general history of community gardening will open the class.

Then the basics on how to plan and start your own community garden.

Then, a half day interactive workshop for each student’s unique “plan of action” towards starting a community garden in Vancouver.

The second day will include a field-trip to two community gardens in Vancouver via public transit.

Instructors:

  • Devorah Kahn, Food Policy Coordinator, City of Vancouver ;
  • Kathrine Richardson, Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, UBC;
  • Polly Ng and Jing Niu, co-authors of Growing Gardens: A Resource Guide to Starting your Own Community Garden.

9 am–4:30 pm, $75 (GST included)

For more information http://www.sfu.ca/city/course15popup.htm

Mar 4 | Enterprising Non-Profit Orientation in Vancouver

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Looking for a grant for social enterprise?

David LePage is about to embark on another whirlwind tour of BC to deliver a 10th round of ENP Orientation Sessions.

Attendance at an orientation sessions prequalifies groups to apply for a technical assistance grant for social enterprise planning in BC.

David will visit Vancouver, Naniamo, Revelstoke, Kamloops, Surrey, Kitamaat Village, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, and Cranbrook.

For more information and fees, see the Enterprising Non-Profits website.

Feb 25 | Growing Food in the City

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Are you concerned about food security? The quality of the food you eat? Would you like to learn to grown you own food?

Our new course “Growing Food in the City” teaches essential Permaculture and organic gardening techniques in a practical, hands-on way.

No prior education or experience required.
Courses start Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Of the 16 sessions, 6 to 8 will be classroom sessions and 8 to 10 sessions will be held in the garden. Students are encouraged to grow their own garden during the year, putting the newly acquired knowledge and skills to practice.

The course will end with a celebration and potluck event, for all to share their experiences and recipes.

Learn to:

  • Create and maintain healthy soil, which in turn can grow nutritious food;
  • Analyze and optimize the growing conditions in your garden;
  • Creatively collect, use and preserve water for optimal garden health;
  • Use holistic solutions for plant health problems (“pests” and “diseases”);
  • Select, plant, maintain, harvest a large variety of food plants for year-round enjoyment;
  • Store your harvest;
  • Save your own seeds

For additional information and course costs, please visit www.gaiacollege.ca

Feb 23 | Decision Making for Community Gardens

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How do we make decisions in the community garden setting? How can we design a decision-making system that is inclusive, empowering, and efficient? This reflective and practical workshop is a space to tailor decision-making processes to best serve your particular community gardening context.

FREE.

Location: Collingwood Neighbourhood House near the Joyce Skytrain Station (transportation subsidies available by contacting VCAN).
6:30 – 8:30 pm. Registration is limited, so if you’re interested please email Stephanie Lim at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House — foodsecurity@cnh.bc.ca or call David Tracey at 604.215.1914.

Feb 21 | Be Your Own Farmer

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A weekend urban food production course for gardeners of all levels.
Based in principles from Permaculture and organic agriculture, this 25-hour course takes you through the process of planning and designing an intensive food production system to suit your own individual urban space, working with your needs, goals, and resources. We’ll start with system design and principles for sustainable closed-system production, and learn about soil fertility, nutrient and water cycling, crop plant families and crop rotation, and making the best use of urban resources and infrastructure. You’ll leave with a complete design and planting plan that meets your specific needs and goals, and the knowledge to execute it, learn from it, and evolve it over the coming seasons.

The course will run Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6.00, February 21-22, March 7-8, and Saturday only March 14th. The course is offered on a pay-what-you-feel basis; this means that you decide how much you want to pay, based on the time and effort that went into designing and offering the course, what you think it’s worth to you, and your own personal situation. The suggested donation ranges from $150 to $300, and goes to keeping the Farmhouse Farm operating.

For more information or to register, contact farmhousefarm@gmail.com
or visit the Farmhouse Farm website.

April 2 | Sustainability 2.0: The Evolution of Green

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The Strathcona Business Improvement Association (BIA) proudly presents its 2nd annual sustainability expo for small businesses.

At Sustainability 2.0 you’ll learn about the current state of green business and discover why it still pays to go green now more than ever.  This year’s theme explores using collaboration to create new business opportunities while also building community.  Attend to network, to learn, to get inspired, and to access a range of green business services designed to save you money and help your company become more green.

Thursday, April 2, 2009 | 3pm-7pm at Chapel Arts

Registration is free, sign-up today: www.strathconabia.com/expo2