Are you a Mom worried about chemicals in the food you feed your kids?
Do you wish you could grow organic vegetables but don’t know where to start?
Starting in late March, join a small group of health-conscious people who want to make their dream of a food garden a reality!
Gardening Workshop - Seed to Success - Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden
If you are a parent wanting to grow healthy food for your family and connect your children to nature, this program may be perfect for you!
Over the last few years I’ve spoken with so many people who really want to be successful gardeners but are frustrated by their lack of skill and knowledge. They might have tried to grow some houseplants (and killed them) or planted some herbs or veggies in a pot with poor results. Sometimes, these folks have relatives such as parents or grandparents who grow amazing food, but somehow the skills were never passed on. Other people tell me they don’t take time to plan a garden in early spring and all of a sudden, June comes around and it’s too late.
If you are one of these folks, the “Seed to Success” gardening program might be what you need to get you into action!
Want to be notified when registration opens? Please sign up to receive Wild Green News.
Why this workshop could be really important to you:
The “Seed to Success” program is the perfect opportunity to:
What you will learn in “Seed to Success”:
Designing and Building a Garden Bed - March
- Learn how to observe your yard, decide where to grow food, make a plan and identify tools and resources.
- This session includes types of garden beds, soil and watering. You will be ready to plan, build and prepare a bed before the next session.
Plant Seeds and Work with Seedlings - April
- Learn how to sow veggie seeds for our area into your garden bed. We will start some seeds under a light and discuss how to prepare seedlings for the outdoors.
Transplanting and Check-In - May
- We’ll do some transplanting and have fun with sample activities for children.
Taking Care of Growing Plants - May
This session is all about support for growing plants and we’ll also build a compost pile.
Dealing with Bugs, Weeds and Fertility - June
- Learn how to identify and manage weeds and pests organically. We’ll also discuss companion planting.
Celebrate, Harvest and Eat! – August
- This final session will include some aspect of preserving, a discussion about seed saving, and of course eating delicious food. Your ideas will shape this celebration of Seed to Success!
What the “Seed to Success” program includes:
Number of Participants: 10
Time: 10 am to approx. 1 pm (including snack break)
Dates: TBD, approx. once per month March-July, potluck in July or August
Location: North Edmonton private residence and garden near 167 Ave and 88 Street – address will be provided after registration
Want to be notified when registration opens? Please sign up to receive Wild Green News.
Feedback from Previous Participants
"Best part? Hmm where do I start? The fact that I did it. With having kids it's an easy excuse to not bother putting more 'activities' on the family plate. So I'm really glad I did it for the family and for me. (Moms do need adult conversation). The power point and literature you gave us is helpful because I like to refer back." Sherry Cook
"As a relatively new gardener, the Seed to Success program provided a lot of information and support as I started a new garden. Claudia has a lot of knowledge to share, and it great about answering all sorts of odd questions as things happened in my garden.This program will give you the skills you need to get started as a new gardener and experience success so you will want to continue gardening! " T.L.
"It was a very beneficial program even for the moderately experienced gardener! I learned a lot of new things about gardening, implemented some new techniques, and learned the theory behind certain gardening practices." Evylin Chudyk
"I`ve gone from knowing nothing about gardening and having no garden, to creating two 4x10 garden beds and friends/neighbors, assuming that I`m highly educated in the area of gardening, asking me for advice. It's been a fun, educational and adventurous course. I've enjoyed the people I've met, the life long knowledge I've gained and the stores i've explored (I never knew they exsisted before). I never felt out of place even though their were people there that were far more advanced than I was. Claudia was always available to answer my numerous questions. It was a great experience. Thank-you Claudia!!!!" D. Saint-Martin
Is this gardening program a good fit for YOU?
The objective of these workshops is to move participants beyond passive listening and absorbing information to taking action and making the dream of an organic food garden a reality within the coming growing season!
As with any project, personal commitment in terms of time, energy and money is required to see the desired results. After each session, you will be asked to put your learning into action. This means that between sessions, you will be going out to purchase materials and working in your yard and home to complete the projects that will help you get a harvest. For some participants, this also means that you may need to recruit the help of a family member, a friend, or reach out to the wider community, and if absolutely necessary, even hire someone. If this sounds like something you want to commit to, great!
This program might be a really great fit for you if you want to garden with your child. Our focus is to keep it simple and fun, and we’ll discuss ideas to engage the kids.
Although nature is quite forgiving, we don’t always get the results we’re hoping for. The reasons might be crazy weather, a bad bug year, poor seed or defective products, naughty critters, and sometimes just lack of time and care, despite our best intentions. If you’re cool with some flops and view mistakes as ‘portals of discovery’, I invite you to come along for the ride!
Why am I leading this program?
I have been gardening for over 10 years and I can’t imagine not having some kind of space for growing veggies, fruit and flowers. I grew up on a farm and was raised on homegrown food. While in university, I had to get used to grocery chains and although I wasn’t too worried about eating ‘conventionally’ grown food at the time, I sure missed the flavor of fresh produce.
Once my husband and I started living in a house with a yard, I started growing a plot of veggies. We now have a small edible landscape and I also grow food on a large community garden plot to meet a considerable portion of our vegetable needs for the year.
I also have the privilege to be working with teachers and students on garden-related projects (for more info, please visit the ‘Projects’ section on www.wildgreen.ca). In the spring, I facilitate a garden club at a school and love planting and exploring the garden with the kids. Before I started my consulting business, I really enjoyed my time at ‘Cityfarm’ where we planted, harvested and cooked or baked (in a clay oven and with fresh eggs from the chickens!) with many kids and families. I hope to share some of my experiences gardening with children during the workshop series.
Finally, I believe that growing food and nurturing plants in our own yards, alongside kids, friends and neighbours is good for the planet, for our body and soul. We gain a deeper appreciation for the many creatures – plants, animals, fungi and insects – that interact in incredibly complex and awe-inspiring ways to feed and sustain us. We also learn to value the people who work long, hard hours to grow the food we can’t grow for ourselves.
By opening ourselves to the mystery of nature, we can alleviate some anxiety about the state of our planet and the future of the younger generation, and let go of daily stress. I look forward to being part of your family’s gardening journey!
The Fine Print:
Snack Break (20-30 minutes)
We'll provide tea, coffee and juice. Please bring your own snacks and mug.
Materials
The cost of materials is not included. The cost for garden supplies and materials will depend on what you already have and types of materials you desire. You will be developing a list as part of the course and the schedule allows for time to acquire the materials. Bulk purchases may be available.
Do you wish you could grow organic vegetables but don’t know where to start?
Starting in late March, join a small group of health-conscious people who want to make their dream of a food garden a reality!
Gardening Workshop - Seed to Success - Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden
If you are a parent wanting to grow healthy food for your family and connect your children to nature, this program may be perfect for you!
Over the last few years I’ve spoken with so many people who really want to be successful gardeners but are frustrated by their lack of skill and knowledge. They might have tried to grow some houseplants (and killed them) or planted some herbs or veggies in a pot with poor results. Sometimes, these folks have relatives such as parents or grandparents who grow amazing food, but somehow the skills were never passed on. Other people tell me they don’t take time to plan a garden in early spring and all of a sudden, June comes around and it’s too late.
If you are one of these folks, the “Seed to Success” gardening program might be what you need to get you into action!
Want to be notified when registration opens? Please sign up to receive Wild Green News.
Why this workshop could be really important to you:
- Maybe you’re a mom or dad who is worried about the safety and health of the food you and your kids are eating.
- Maybe you or someone in your family suffers from sensitivities to vegetables and fruit sprayed with pesticides and herbicides.
- You are sick and tired of hearing bad news about our food system and what it does to our health and the environment.
- You want to take control of your food supply and enjoy better nutrition and flavour.
- The industrialized food system is flawed and you are frustrated and worried about its effect on women and children, the environment, our climate and indigenous cultures.
- Figuring out what to buy at the grocery store is stressful and time consuming. You’d rather be spending that time gardening with you kids and knowing exactly how your food was grown.
- As a parent, you want your kids to know where their food comes from and to learn about science and nature in a natural way.
- You could easily see yourself spending a few hours a week in the garden with the kids or while they are at school.
- You love the idea of growing some of your own organic food, but you don’t know how … or you can’t seem to get organized.
The “Seed to Success” program is the perfect opportunity to:
- Receive personalized guidance and support to grow a successful garden and harvest organic veggies in the coming season;
- Stop procrastinating and worrying about making mistakes and finally build and plant that garden bed;
- Participate in presentations, demonstrations, activities and discussions in a small group of like-minded people;
- Learn by doing with hands-on projects that you can apply directly to your garden;
- Make new friends as you learn and share your challenges and success!
What you will learn in “Seed to Success”:
Designing and Building a Garden Bed - March
- Learn how to observe your yard, decide where to grow food, make a plan and identify tools and resources.
- This session includes types of garden beds, soil and watering. You will be ready to plan, build and prepare a bed before the next session.
Plant Seeds and Work with Seedlings - April
- Learn how to sow veggie seeds for our area into your garden bed. We will start some seeds under a light and discuss how to prepare seedlings for the outdoors.
Transplanting and Check-In - May
- We’ll do some transplanting and have fun with sample activities for children.
Taking Care of Growing Plants - May
This session is all about support for growing plants and we’ll also build a compost pile.
Dealing with Bugs, Weeds and Fertility - June
- Learn how to identify and manage weeds and pests organically. We’ll also discuss companion planting.
Celebrate, Harvest and Eat! – August
- This final session will include some aspect of preserving, a discussion about seed saving, and of course eating delicious food. Your ideas will shape this celebration of Seed to Success!
What the “Seed to Success” program includes:
- 6 Small-group Sessions – Indoor Presentations and Outdoor Demo or Hands-On Activities
- Handouts to support and review the content of each session
- E-mail/phone support between sessions
Number of Participants: 10
Time: 10 am to approx. 1 pm (including snack break)
Dates: TBD, approx. once per month March-July, potluck in July or August
Location: North Edmonton private residence and garden near 167 Ave and 88 Street – address will be provided after registration
Want to be notified when registration opens? Please sign up to receive Wild Green News.
Feedback from Previous Participants
"Best part? Hmm where do I start? The fact that I did it. With having kids it's an easy excuse to not bother putting more 'activities' on the family plate. So I'm really glad I did it for the family and for me. (Moms do need adult conversation). The power point and literature you gave us is helpful because I like to refer back." Sherry Cook
"As a relatively new gardener, the Seed to Success program provided a lot of information and support as I started a new garden. Claudia has a lot of knowledge to share, and it great about answering all sorts of odd questions as things happened in my garden.This program will give you the skills you need to get started as a new gardener and experience success so you will want to continue gardening! " T.L.
"It was a very beneficial program even for the moderately experienced gardener! I learned a lot of new things about gardening, implemented some new techniques, and learned the theory behind certain gardening practices." Evylin Chudyk
"I`ve gone from knowing nothing about gardening and having no garden, to creating two 4x10 garden beds and friends/neighbors, assuming that I`m highly educated in the area of gardening, asking me for advice. It's been a fun, educational and adventurous course. I've enjoyed the people I've met, the life long knowledge I've gained and the stores i've explored (I never knew they exsisted before). I never felt out of place even though their were people there that were far more advanced than I was. Claudia was always available to answer my numerous questions. It was a great experience. Thank-you Claudia!!!!" D. Saint-Martin
Is this gardening program a good fit for YOU?
The objective of these workshops is to move participants beyond passive listening and absorbing information to taking action and making the dream of an organic food garden a reality within the coming growing season!
As with any project, personal commitment in terms of time, energy and money is required to see the desired results. After each session, you will be asked to put your learning into action. This means that between sessions, you will be going out to purchase materials and working in your yard and home to complete the projects that will help you get a harvest. For some participants, this also means that you may need to recruit the help of a family member, a friend, or reach out to the wider community, and if absolutely necessary, even hire someone. If this sounds like something you want to commit to, great!
This program might be a really great fit for you if you want to garden with your child. Our focus is to keep it simple and fun, and we’ll discuss ideas to engage the kids.
Although nature is quite forgiving, we don’t always get the results we’re hoping for. The reasons might be crazy weather, a bad bug year, poor seed or defective products, naughty critters, and sometimes just lack of time and care, despite our best intentions. If you’re cool with some flops and view mistakes as ‘portals of discovery’, I invite you to come along for the ride!
Why am I leading this program?
I have been gardening for over 10 years and I can’t imagine not having some kind of space for growing veggies, fruit and flowers. I grew up on a farm and was raised on homegrown food. While in university, I had to get used to grocery chains and although I wasn’t too worried about eating ‘conventionally’ grown food at the time, I sure missed the flavor of fresh produce.
Once my husband and I started living in a house with a yard, I started growing a plot of veggies. We now have a small edible landscape and I also grow food on a large community garden plot to meet a considerable portion of our vegetable needs for the year.
I also have the privilege to be working with teachers and students on garden-related projects (for more info, please visit the ‘Projects’ section on www.wildgreen.ca). In the spring, I facilitate a garden club at a school and love planting and exploring the garden with the kids. Before I started my consulting business, I really enjoyed my time at ‘Cityfarm’ where we planted, harvested and cooked or baked (in a clay oven and with fresh eggs from the chickens!) with many kids and families. I hope to share some of my experiences gardening with children during the workshop series.
Finally, I believe that growing food and nurturing plants in our own yards, alongside kids, friends and neighbours is good for the planet, for our body and soul. We gain a deeper appreciation for the many creatures – plants, animals, fungi and insects – that interact in incredibly complex and awe-inspiring ways to feed and sustain us. We also learn to value the people who work long, hard hours to grow the food we can’t grow for ourselves.
By opening ourselves to the mystery of nature, we can alleviate some anxiety about the state of our planet and the future of the younger generation, and let go of daily stress. I look forward to being part of your family’s gardening journey!
The Fine Print:
Snack Break (20-30 minutes)
We'll provide tea, coffee and juice. Please bring your own snacks and mug.
Materials
The cost of materials is not included. The cost for garden supplies and materials will depend on what you already have and types of materials you desire. You will be developing a list as part of the course and the schedule allows for time to acquire the materials. Bulk purchases may be available.