Community Gardens Workshops

For an easy to reference copy of our upcoming workshops, download our 2010 Education Brochure (PDF), print it out and hang it on your fridge.

Nanaimo Community Gardens Society has been operating for more than a decade to provide education in backyard gardening. In a series of workshops this spring, Community Gardens wants to get more people growing more food in our region and aims to give you the skills needed to help you grow your own food.

The following workshops will be held at the Nanaimo Community Gardens Greenhouse site and will be led by Jody Simmons, Greenhouse Manager. Jody has spent 25 years working in the horticulture industry and commercial greenhouses; she is committed to using natural organic growing methods. Please note that the Greenhouse is not wheelchair accessible. Bring water, gloves and a snack. There will be an opportunity to purchase compost worms, seedlings, seeds and growing guides.

Indoor Seedling Starts — Take a tour of the greenhouse and learn what you need to start your own vegetable and flower seedlings indoors. Learn about scheduling, soil mixes, germination tests and fertilizing seedlings. Take home a seedling and a seed package of your choice and the information to plant and care for them throughout the summer. For your convenience, the workshop will be held twice on:
Saturday April 17 from 10am — noon. $30 per person
Saturday May 1 from noon — 2pm. $30 per person.

Natural Greenhouse Management — Tour the greenhouse and learn about how to make the best of your own backyard greenhouse including weeding, disease and pest management, soil mixes and varieties suited to greenhouse growing. Take home a seedling and a package of your choice and the information to plant and care for them throughout the summer. Held at the Greenhouse on:
Saturday April 24 from 10am — noon.
Saturday May 8 from noon — 2pm.

There will also be a series of 4 hands-on workshops focused on basic skills that will be held at the Pine Street Community Garden. These workshops will be led by Connie Kuramoto, organic gardener and instructor. Connie taught Horticulture at VIU for years and now teaches Gaia College Organic Master Gardeners

Composting — Visit the Pine Street Community Garden and learn all about how to make wonderful compost. Find out what to put in your compost and what not to put in. Bring your composting questions and take home a starter batch of red wrigglers to seed your own backyard composter. April 10 from 9am to 11am.

Fruit and Veggie Gardening Clinic — Ask our gardening expert any of your gardening questions. Feel free to bring samples of your plants, soil and pests. Topics to be covered are soil health and the basics of growing veggies in your backyard. Bring home a veggie plant and a seed package. Saturday May 15 from 9 — 11am.

Lasagna Gardening — Learn about this wonderful, no-dig method of making a new garden over turf. Perfect for those who want a really quick garden with less work. This will be a hands on workshop at the Pine Street Community Garden. You will take home a veggie plant and seed package and the knowledge of what to do with them. Saturday June 5 from 9 — 11am.

Year Round Gardening — Learn about the basics of growing food year round in our climate. You will be given information about timing of seeding and transplanting, what varieties withstand our winters and how to extend your harvesting season. You will bring home a veggie seedling and a seed package. Saturday June 12 at the Pine Street Community Garden from 9 — 11am.

All Community Gardens workshops are $30 per person and include a plant and seed package of your choice to take home.

To register please call 816-4769 or email info@nanaimocommunitygardens.ca

Gardens for Good Tours

In 2009, the Nanaimo Community Gardens Society, Nanaimo Foodshare Society, and City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture launched a new pilot project to grow food on City land (at City Hall and Beban Park) called Gardens For Good. Produce from these gardens is distributed to the community through the Gleaning Program. In 2010, this program will aim to further develop the educational benefits of these sites.

Come on down for a tour of the City Hall and Beban Park food gardens and a general discussion on backyard gardening. Bring your curiosity and questions. $5 each, children free (must be accompanied by an adult). Please note that the City Hall garden is not wheelchair accessible.

City Hall Garden:
Saturday May 8, 1-2pm
Wednesday June 2, 6-7pm

Beban Park Garden:
Saturday May 15, 1-2pm
Wednesday June 9, 6-7pm

Call Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture to register at 250-756-5200 or visit ireg.nanaimo.ca

You Can Too! Canning Workshops

Do you want to know how to make jams, jellies, chutneys, pickles and relishes to store, share or give as gifts? The Gleaning Program wants to give you the skills and information to confidently and safely preserve your own food at home. All supplies and equipment are provided. Participants will take home a sample of the canning they make in the kitchen. Recipes will be based on produce availability. Children over 10 are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
Each workshop is $30 per person.
Held at: John Barsby School Kitchen

Tuesday April 27, 6-8pm
Tuesday May 18, 6-8pm
Tuesday June 15, 6-8pm
Tuesday July 27, 6-8pm

Call Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture to register at 250-756-5200 or visit www.ireg.nanaimo.ca

Full Circle Workshops

Growing Winter-Harvest Vegetables with Carole McIntyre
Co-hosted by Nanaimo Community Gardens Society

Growing Winter-Harvest Vegetables
How to get organic, fresh produce from your back-yard garden all winter long!

Carol McIntyre is a professional teacher and gardener of winter-harvest vegetables for over 25 years. Designed for novice and experienced gardeners, this hands-on workshop takes participants from theory to October-May harvest with seed-saving for the following year. The four sessions allow time and support to adapt and implement ideas to suit your needs with email support between sessions to answer questions. Treat yourself while supporting the planet!
For more information, download the Full Circle Workshop PDF

Four-Session Program - 2010 Dates:

  1. Starting with Seeds Feb 13 1-4 pm
  2. Preparing the Garden Apr. 18 1-4 pm
  3. Sowing and Growing May 15 1-4 pm
  4. Preparing for Winter Harvest Oct 9 1-4 pm
Fees (include course notes & starter materials):
$50.00/workshop (10% discount when 4-Session Package pre-paid; post-dated cheques accepted). Please contact for family discount.

Workshop Location
Sessions I and II: Nanaimo Foodshare Centre, 271 Pine St, Nanaimo, BC
Sessions III and IV: In the Pine Street Community Garden, 271 Pine Street, Nanaimo, BC
SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY
Register at www.winter-harvestvegetables.ca
Email: carol@winter-harvestVegetables.ca or call Carol at 250-334-2701