Free Workshops Focus on Organic Gardening, Pest Management
February 23, 2009
Who hasn’t heard of the 100 Mile Diet, the eat-local food trend started in Vancouver four years ago? With Richmond’s fertile soils, however, you can cut the distance food travels to reach your table to zero. And we have the workshop to show you how.
The Zero Mile Diet Garden, scheduled on Sunday, March 8 at the Hamilton Community Centre, is the first in the spring series of free environmental sustainability workshops offered by the City of Richmond.
At the workshop, you’ll learn what produce grows best in Richmond and the best timing to plant. Learn what plants are critical to have in your backyard or balcony garden to provide a balanced diet for you and your family, including high-protein plants such as edamame, dry beans and quinoa.
Other spring workshops include a series focused on pest management and pesticide-free gardening, a series on organic food gardening, one on composting and another on safe and sensible lawn care. New this year is Ecologically Based Pest Management for Tree Fruits on March 14, and for small fruits on April 22, both at city hall, Seed Starting, March 25 at Steveston Community Centre; plus Organic Spring Vegetable Gardens on April 1 at South Arm Community Centre. A full list of workshops is available on the city’s website at > Home > City Services > Protecting the Environment > Policies & Initiatives > Pesticide Risk Reduction. They run from March 8 through early June.
The workshops are designed to educate residents about the alternatives to pesticide use and move Richmond toward becoming a more sustainable community, including the promotion of good gardening practices.
Instructors include renowned entomologist and author Dr. Linda Gilkeson, Dr. Kent Mullinix, horticulture professor and specialist in integrated pest management, agronomist and garden writer Arzeena Hamir, and Chef Ian Lai, who started the Terra Nova School Yard Society and is often heard on CBC Radio 1 with tips and recipes on organic gardening.
While the workshops are free, you must register for each, by telephoning 604-276-4300 and press 3 at the prompt, or register online at www.richmond.ca/register.
