Keeping Food Real Workshops

Want to learn more about how to grow and preserve food? Keeping Food Real workshops are the place to find out all you need to know.

The Community Eco Garden is offering a series of workshops that will answer all your questions, and more. Everyone is welcome to learn about gardening from the ground up, and explore the ways to use and keep all the foods you can grow right here in Fernie! Join us in discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities in the garden and the kitchen.
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2011 Winter Workshops
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WE CAN!
Examine food storage and preserving techniques such as dehydrating, freezing, and canning to enjoy the bounty from our gardens all winter long. In this hands-on workshop we’ll be covering preserving techniques for pickles, jams, salsas and sauces with something for everyone to take home.
Wednesday, Sept 21, 6:30-9pm, Community Center $20 plus $10 supplies fee
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CREATING YOUR HERBAL SPA
Make your own natural gifts or treat yourself! Learn how to make herbal bath bags, lip balm, body butter, body scrub and more, with a sample of each to take home.
Wednesday, November 23 – 6:30 – 9:30pm – location: Community Centre kitchen
Workshop fee: $10 plus $10 supplies
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PLANNING YOUR GARDEN
Learn all about types of soils, gardening methods, companion planting, seeds and more. You’ll be planning what you want to grow, mapping your garden, and studying seed an array of seed catalogues. You’ll also have an opportunity to join in a group seed order.
Wednesday, January 25 - 6:30 – 9:30pm – location: Wildsight office
Workshop fee: $10
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SPROUTING FOR GARDEN AND KITCHEN
The seed-lover’s workshop! Learn all the ins and outs of growing sprouts in your kitchen and preparing for the gardening year by starting seeds early indoors. Plant some seeds of your choice in starter mix and receive a sprouting kit, all yours to take home.
Wednesday, March 28 - 6:30 – 9:30pm – location: Wildsight office
Workshop fee: $10 plus $10 supplies
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Pre-registration, including payment, required for all workshops. Registration deadline one week prior to workshop. Cash or cheques accepted. Ways to register:
- in person at the Wildsight Office, 891 2nd Avenue (M-F, 10am-4pm)
- by mail to Wildsight, Box 537, Fernie BC V0B 1M0

Refunds issued only if workshop is cancelled (if minimum enrollment of 5 is not met).
For information: garden.fernie@gmail.com or phone 250-423-3482 or 250-423-7776

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2011 Workshops PAST
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Jumpstart Your Garden
Get off to a good start in your gardening year by learning the basics of planning, design, techniques for starting seeds indoors, and more. A great introduction to growing your own food. Bring your gloves and gumboots to the fantastic organic gardens of White Spruce Farm and learn about healthy soil, managing beds, seeding, transplanting, and more in this hands-on workshop. (Meet at Wildsight Office)
Saturday, May 28, 10-4, White Spruce Farms - $20

Backyard Biketour
Celebrate Solstice with a fun bicycle tour to a handful of unique Fernie gardens. See how these gardeners make it work in our Fernie climate. (Meet at Wildsight Office)
Wednesday, June 22, 6:30-9pm, $10

Gathering & Herbal Preparations
Discover how to capture the medicinal powers of common garden and wild plants. We will be collecting plants and learning how to prepare tinctures, salves, herbal infusions and oils from them, and taking home finished samples to use. (Meet at Wildsight Office)
Saturday, July 16, 10am-4pm, White Spruce Farms $20 plus $10 supplies fee

Walk on the Wild Side
Join us for a walk through one of Fernie’s wilderness parks to learn how to collect wild foods responsibly, identify both edible and non-edible plants.
Wednesday, Aug 17, 7-9pm, Meet at Wildsight Office $10

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Workshops have limited space available, so register quickly to reserve your spot. All income levels welcome, please contact us to discuss trade or our sliding scale prices.

Workshops run rain or shine. Please dress for the weather.

Minimum workshop numbers must be met a minimum of 2 days prior to the date the workshop runs. Contact us to express your interest. No refunds, unless workshop is cancelled.

Workshops have limited space available. $10 evening workshops, $20 Saturday workshops plus supply fees for supply. $100 if registering for all workshops. Preregistration and payment is a must, as minimum numbers must be met for workshop to go ahead, register now!

Registration takes place at the Wildsight Office (2nd Ave) and at the EcoGarden booth at the Fernie Mountain Market (Rotary Park, Summer Sundays).

All income levels welcome, please contact us to discuss our sliding scale prices. Contact us through email (garden.fernie@gmail.com) or by phone (250.423.3482) for more information on the upcoming workshops.