Preserving Your Garden Harvest: Fresh Storage, Easy Freezing, Dehydrating & Canning
presented by
Linda Gilkeson
When you work so hard to start your seeds, collect up the many seedlings that you’ve bought or traded with friends, and plant all of those veggies and fruits it becomes invaluable to be able to save all of that wonderful food. Join the SSI Garden Club and Linda Gilkeson for an online Zoom workshop to learn about the best methods to make your food go as far as it can.
This workshop will cover four basic ways to keep surplus produce, starting with how to store fresh onions, potatoes, squash and apples without processing. Preserving methods to be covered will include how to freeze fruit and vegetable and how to
dehydrate fruit, vegetables and herbs. The final section will demonstrate equipment and methods for simple cold and hot pack canning. Bring your questions!
Linda is a retired Entomologist, author, wonderful gardening instructor and a real Salt Spring Island Gem! Join Linda and gain insights into traditional and new ideas for your home grown and purchased fresh produce. When: Saturday June 26th, 3 PM – 5 PM Where: Zoom online. How much: Free! Why: It is a great idea! REGISTER using the following form:
All About Mushrooms!
How to Grow Your Own
with
Danielle Stevenson
Thursday April 29th 7-9 PM
Sold Out!
In this workshop, we will begin by introducing fungal ecology – the different kinds of fungi and mushrooms and how they live and thrive- and ground the presentation in ancient practices for growing and eating mushrooms for food and medicine. We will highlight edible and medicinal mushrooms which can be grown in spaces you can’t otherwise grow in, or can be companion planted in your gardens and orchards to boost plant growth and build healthy soil ecosystems. We’ll talk through how to make a mushroom bed, mushroom pathways, logs, and companion plant within your veggie beds, and discuss the important role of mycorrhizal fungi in the garden, farm and orchard.
Growing Healthy Seedlings
Saturday, February 27th, 2021
10 AM to 11:30 AM. VIA ZOOM
By Linda Gilkeson
SOLD OUT
A workshop on how to produce your own good quality vegetable starts from seed: We will cover requirements for growing seedlings (light, temperatures, moisture, soil mixes), when to start different kinds of vegetables and how to harden them off for their move to the garden.
Post meeting information
A special thanks to Linda, who granted us permission to record the presentation for viewing by club members. It can be viewed at the following page: Growing Healthy Seedlings
PRUNING WORKSHOP
Sold Out!
February 15, 11am – 2pm
By Gordon MacKay, Alba Plants
This is an outdoor workshop and so is weather dependent. IF February 15 has heavy rain, snow or strong wind we will reconvene on a later date to be determined.
In this workshop we will be outside at two locations on Sunset Drive. We will cover and demonstrate the concepts of both winter and summer pruning and which particular fruit trees are pruned at their respective times of year.
We will try and add more meaning to such terms as: slender spindle, espalier, UFO pruning, super spindle and cordon. We will also have time to talk about: young tree selection, planting, staking and subsequent after-care…after all we all hope that the trees we plant will be around long after we are gone!
Please note: this workshop will focus primarily on fruit trees.
Hot drinks will be provided
Workshop fee:
- $30 for Garden Club members if register by February 8th
- $40 for later registration and for members of the public
(Remember Club members may register one non-member friend at the special members’ price). Register using the links above, or phone Charley Miller 250-931-7335
Maximum of 15 participants
Gordon MacKay studied horticulture at Threave School of Gardening in southwest Scotland and Pershore College of Horticulture in England. He is the owner of Alba Plants in Cowichan Bay. He specializes in teaching fruit tree pruning, and he teaches horticulture and apiculture at the Pacific College of Horticulture. He is also involved with the horticulture therapy programs at Providence Farm in Duncan.
Great Garden Photography Workshop
with Simon Henson
Sunday, May 26th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (meet at Lion’s Hall)
This workshop will teach you how to maximize your garden photography by developing skills that make your photos as beautiful, colourful, sharp and dynamic as possible. Learn tips and tricks from experienced semi-professional Simon Henson who brings decades of garden and photography experience. No special camera needed, simply bring your own, borrow a friend’s or bring your phone if that is your tool of choice.
Meet in the morning at the Lion’s Hall for learning & discussion and then after a break for lunch you can join Simon at a beautiful local garden to get practical advice and try out your new knowledge.
Bring a camera (and other related equipment if you like), notepad & pen, and make plans for your lunch break. Dress appropriately for weather and please carpool if you can.
Simon Henson graduated from Leicester College of Art in England, majoring in Ceramic Sculpture and Design. He pursued a career as a professional artist and arts educator, first in England, then in Canada after emigrating in 1970. Living on the West Coast has provided both subject matter and inspiration for much of Simon’s photography. His work reflects his involvement and love of nature, capturing the essence and personality of coastal wildlife and landscapes.
Simon’s Photography:
- Set Design, Production photography Salt Spring theatre and dance groups 1985-2007
- Resident photographer with the Salt Spring Island Conservancy 2009-2018
- Co-Founded the SS Photography Club 2009
- Participated in Photography Club Annual shows, Artspring Lobby shows 2010-2018
- Photosynthesis 2015
- Member of ‘The Group of Six’ Photographers
Simon’s Gardening:
- Trained on English Estate gardens Leicestershire UK
- Salt Spring island 1980-2008: Landscape Gardener, Workshop/Class Instructor
- Gardener Hastings House: 1988-91
- He has lived on Salt Spring Island for over thirty-five years
Biochar Workshop
with Brian Smallshaw
Sunday, May 19th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Stark’s Road farm location)
Dear Garden Club members, come out to a blazing hot workshop with Brian Smallshaw. Let’s get everyone fired up and make a batch of biochar together! We’ll be learning the ins and outs of biochar in the garden and making a delicious supper at the same time. This is a full participation workshop so we’ll need gloves and tools to make it happen. Let’s get stoked! Maximum 15 participants. Cost of $30.00
Tender Succulent Centrepiece Workshop
with Andrian Scanlan
Join succulent enthusiast, and garden club member Andria as she leads us through the creation of “Spring Succulent Centrepieces” This workshop will focus on creating a beautiful Easter centrepiece with the tender succulents that provide so many rich colours in reds, gold, silver, blues and greens.
Andria will supply a selection of containers, as well as tender and hardy succulents. Participants will be encouraged to create a beautiful planter that will thrive for months. You are welcome to bring your own container and the fee is based on 3 sizes listed below.
Succulent Wreath Making Workshop
with Andrian Scanlan
The Succulents are all hardy in our zone so can be hung outside.
The SS Garden Club will be subsidizing workshop costs in order to keep the fees low for members which makes this 
one super great value. These wreaths sell for much more
than the fees reflect.
This is a special workshop that is going to be challenging,
highly rewarding, and super fun!
TALK/TOUR OF SALTSPRING SEEDS
Hosted by Dan Jason
Dan will talk to you about SS seeds, how it all started, and tour us around his operation. You will have an opportunity to ask questions, look around and check out his farm shop.
with Rupert Adams at Salt Spring Seeds Farm.
Sorry, but the workshop had to be cancelled.
We’ll walk through the herb and flower gardens at the Salt Spring Seeds Farm, identifying various medicinal herbs, discussing their growth cycles and healing properties. We’ll discuss the timing of harvesting various herbs and their seeds, and harvest ones that are ready.
DIY MUSHROOMS
with Danielle Stevenson at Bullock lake Farm
Pruning Workshop – SOLD OUT!
Presented by Jeff De Jong & David Whiting
February is the perfect time to start the process of pruning fruit trees. Jeff de Jong and David Whiting will be hosting a three-hour class to take away the mystery of how to prune. This class will cover various pruning cuts, how to prune dwarf, semi-dwarf, standard and neglected apple trees, along with other general pruning topics.
Bring your pruning questions!
Sustainable Gardening as we Mature
Presented by Jillian Reid
Adapt your garden, change your habits, and improve your techniques. Learn how to watch out for your joints and soft tissues. Learn ways to save your back and be kind to your joints as you work in the garden. Jillian gives all kind of helpful tips and tricks to make our gardens more efficient and keep our bodies pain free!
Sustainable Placemaking: Landscape Design Essentials for a Changing World – SOLD OUT!
Presented by Erin Renwick
In this two-hour, hands on workshop participants will learn the basic principles of great design with a focus on sustainability. Erin will cover topics such as rain gardens and drainage swales, native and deer resistant plantings, and drought tolerant gardens, all through the lens of simple design principles that really work. Participants should come prepared with the dimensions of a space, real or imagined, and we will take it from there.