Grant offers 3 different workshops. He is a former organic farmer and has been teaching gardening to adults and children since 2003. He also operates an edible landscaping business www.gourmetgardens.ca.
| Date/Time | Course | Location |
| Mar 13, 9-noon | Food Crops: Selection and Care | Grandview/Woodland |
| Mar 13, 3-6 pm | Garden Planning and Preparation | Mt Pleasant |
| Mar 27, 9-noon | Garden Planning and Preparation | Hastings Sunrise |
| Apr 18, 2-5 pm | Food Crops: Selection and Care | Unitarian Church of Vancouver |
| Apr 24, 9-noon | Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management | SPEC, Kitsilano (co-sponsored by SPEC) |
| May 8, 9-noon | Food Crops: Selection and Care | River Market at Westminster Quay, New Westminster |
| May 16, 2-5 pm | Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management | Unitarian Church of Vancouver |
| June 12, 9-noon | Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management | TBD |
Course Descriptions
Garden Planning and Preparation
This course will get you started in thinking about how to start a food garden, and taking the first important step of getting the beds ready for planting. A sound garden plan that takes all the key factors into consideration has a better chance of producing and winning your enthusiasm.
Planning
- goal setting
- location
- layout
- coldframes/greenhouses
- ordering seeds
Preparation
- sheet mulching
- tilling/digging
- cover crops/green manures
- starting seedlings
- irrigation
- planting perennials
- beneficials
Practical Activity
- We’ll do one or more hands on activities related to preparing a garden bed. The specific tasks will depend on conditions at the time.
Food Crops: Selection & Care
So you’ve got a garden all ready for planting. What are you going to put in, and when should you start? This course will cover all the major groups of vegetable and fruit crops that grow well in our climate. We will also discuss the specific needs of plants in each category.
- quick overview of garden planning
- soil health
- The major plant groups
- greens/herbs
- legumes
- root crops
- alliums
- cabbage family
- grains/corn
- berries
- tree fruits & nuts
- planting times
- starting in trays vs direct seeding
- specific needs of each plant group
- annual plant rotation and companioning
Practical Activity
- We’ll do some hands on activities related to garden planting, including transplanting, direct seeding and organic fertilizing at planting time.
Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management
An extremely important topic in organic gardening is soil health and fertility. Healthy soil is a vibrant community. Learn how to be an ally, not an enemy of your soil. We’ll also cover some key techniques for promoting and protecting your annual and perennial food plants, as well as the ones that just look pretty, from disease and pests.
Soil management
- know your soil type and characteristics
- building organic matter
- maintaining a healthy balance
- managing moisture levels
- additives
- tilling
- weeding techniques
Plant health
- the basics
- common pests
- preventative measures
- attracting predators
- pest-specific strategies
Practical Activity
- Learn some weeding techniques, identify pests and make your own compost tea.
Village Vancouver’s food networking get togethers with Grant, Robin Wheeler and others are community based gatherings which help participants connect with others who share a desire to engage around food and sustainability on a neighbourhood level.