Past Events

Instructor: Robert Pavlis Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person Vermicomposting is a way of using earth worms to compost organic material. One benefit of this method is that it can be done in the home using special bins that require a very small space.

Instructor: Robert Pavlis Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person The previous workshop provided information about the composting process. This workshop is more hands on and looks at various methods for completing both hot and cold composting. Hot composting is the traditional method using one or more bins. This is a great system that makes faster compost, but it is impractical for smaller gardens. Various plastic bins and drums are more suitable there. We’ll have a look at various commercial and DIY systems.

Instructor: Polly Samland Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person if booked before the early bird deadline of Monday, March 10, 2025. After the early bird deadline the fee is $75 (plus HST)

Instructor: Matt Soltys Fee: $65 (plus HST) per person if booked before the early bird deadline of Tuesday, March 4, 2025. After the early bird deadline the fee is $75 (plus HST)

Instructor: Robert Pavlis Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person. An introduction to the composting process including the role of microbes, greens and browns, carbon to nitrogen ratios, moisture levels, the importance of temperature and a definition for finished compost. We’ll take a brief look at the pros and cons of various composting methods so that you can select the right workshop for you, in the following weeks.

Instructor: Sean Fox Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person. Please join us for a concentrated and in-depth look at Ontario’s incredible diversity of Oaks (Quercus spp.). Sean will share some practical tips about how to accurately identify oak species and hybrids, as well as outline the huge ecological role this group of plants plays in our region.

Instructor: Robert Pavlis Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person. Cuttings are a great way to propagate all kinds of plants including perennials, trees, shrubs and houseplants. This workshop will look at different ways to propagate cuttings and compare them to using seeds. Most of the time will be spent on techniques that use media other than water. We’ll distinguish between softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings. Have a look at different media and examine the role of rotting hormones, both commercial and DIY options.

Instructor: Shelley Hunt Dates: Friday, February 21 OR Saturday, February 22, 2025 Fee: $94 (plus HST) per person if you register by the early bird deadline of February 13, 2025. After February 13 the fee is $104 plus HST.

Instructor: Wild Ontario Fee: $12 (plus HST) per person. Discover how to use your eyes and ears to identify Ontario's Owls. Through a wide variety of hands-on activities participants will learn about owl plumage, calls and behaviour, habitat requirements, migration patterns, and owl folklore. You'll get a chance to meet some of Wild Ontario's owl ambassadors, and then be shown tips and tricks for finding owls in the wild!

Instructor: Robert Pavlis Dates: Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, and 19, 2025, 7:00 - 8:00 PM Fee: $40 (plus HST) per person. This fee includes all 4 sessions. This course is designed for the new gardener or the gardener that has only been growing vegetables for a couple of years. We’ll start at the very beginning, with ordering seeds and end with a detailed discussion of the 10 best vegetables for new gardeners. Focus is on hardiness zones 4 – 6. We’ll cover the following topics: