Join us for these upcoming gardening workshops!
Our goal is to enable as many gardeners as possible to grow food successfully in the region.
We invite all growers to join our workshops.
All facilitators are experienced growers who have teaching experiences and understand growing conditions in the region.
All workshops are $10 each, or Pay-What-You-Can (even if that’s $0!).
Everyone is welcome to attend!
*Specially indicated workshops may have an additional cost for materials*
Click on the headings below for more information on each available workshop
When?
Wednesday, November 6th, 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Where?
Online via Zoom
Description
Replacing invasive plant species with native species can restore biodiversity and boost the productivity of your edible garden.
Join facilitator Christina Keys to learn about the practicalities of identifying plants as invasive, removing them, and how to responsibly dispose of them. This workshop will discuss Ottawa’s most common invasive species such as quackgrass, buckthorn, and dog-strangling vine, as well as popular, but harmful, perennials like lily of the valley, goutweed, and periwinkle. Christina will also highlight local community projects as models for success and outline how you can replicate their actions in your own garden, plot, or community to create thriving native plant gardens.
About the Facilitator
Christina Keys
Christina Keys is a wildlife gardener for Garden ReLeaf, a Glebe-based ecological garden design company, and a former geography teacher with qualifications in international development, environmental studies, and food security. Living in Aotearoa New Zealand, she became acutely aware of the ecological devastation caused by invasive mammal species. Upon returning to Canada, she learned about similar harm from invasive plant species and converted her urban property from lawn to native plant gardens with seed from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library. With Garden ReLeaf, and as a volunteer with the Manor Park Community Association, she works to remove invasive species and establish native plant gardens across Ottawa.
Previous Workshops
Click on the headings below for more information on workshops we held earlier this year. See something you’re interested in? Contact us at communitygardening@justfood.ca for more information!
Late Season Container Gardening
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
There’s still time to grow food this season, and this workshop will set you up with the basic skills needed to garden in containers. Whether you have a balcony garden or are looking to make the most out of other areas of your yard, container gardening is a great, versatile option that can also be less physically demanding. We will also focus on crops that can still be planted to harvest this year!
Join us to learn about what kind of containers and soil to look for, what crops do best when grown in containers, and what special considerations need to be taken into account when growing in containers instead of in the ground.
Meet your Facilitator
Join our very own Community Gardening Network Coordinator, Kate Veinot, for this workshop!
Demystify Your Vegetable Garden
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
What’s happening in our gardens sometimes feels like a mystery. Is that plant wilted from disease, or did I just forget to water it? Are those signs of nutrient deficiency or is it pest damage?
Join us for this interactive workshop where facilitator Rob Danforth will help demystify what’s going on in our very own vegetable gardens. After a brief introduction addressing some of the common tell-tale signs of issues in your garden, Rob will review your submissions to specifically address what is likely going on, and provide best organic practices to remedy the situation. This is your chance to have some direct feedback to figure out the inner workings of your vegetable garden.
Please submit photos of your vegetable plants in question to communitygardening@justfood.ca in advance of the workshop to ensure we are able to address them during the session.
If you do not have a specific issue that you are looking to address, this workshop will still provide excellent tips on what to look for when spending time in your garden – the best offense is a strong defense!
Meet your Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Videos: https://justfood.ca/gardening-workshops/
Articles: https://www.cog.ca/ottawa/seasonal-resources/
SOG site: https://seniororganicgardeners.ca/
A Practical Approach to Low-input Edible Landscapes
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa K1B 4Z3
(Click here for directions)
Description
Join Shelley Lambert, Director at Forêt Capitale Forest & Chief Food Forester at Nanabush Food Forests, at the Just Food Community Farm for this workshop, which will cover a wide array of food-bearing trees, shrubs, perennials, and edible mushrooms that you can grow at home. Shelley will touch on the practical side of permaculture, and how you can realistically create an edible landscape that requires minimal maintenance and will provide food, beauty, and pleasure year after year. This workshop will include a walk around the Just Food Community Farm, followed by a snack and discussion period.
Please ensure you wear appropriate footwear and clothing, keeping in mind the possible presence of ticks and mosquitoes at the farm.
For accessibility information, please contact us at communitygardening@justfood.ca so we can provide further information on the terrain.
Strengthening your Garden’s Resilience to Adversity
Where?
Nepean Allotment Gardens
239 Viewmount Dr, Nepean, ON K2E 8B6
Description
Our gardens are facing more adversity than ever before: increased pest pressure, severe weather events, extensive periods of drought, etc. This workshop will discuss some of the ways that we can work towards having a more resilient garden that will continue to feed us and our families, while also contributing to climate change in a positive way.
During this workshop, you will be encouraged to assess your current gardening methods and setups, and how you can make changes to strengthen your garden’s resilience for the future. This is your opportunity to receive feedback on your own setup, so make sure to think about how you currently handle watering, increased pest pressures, or any other challenges you’ve been facing in the past few seasons!
For accessibility information, please contact us at communitygardening@justfood.ca so we can provide further details on the terrain.
Meet your Facilitator
Bri Petersen is an avid gardener, educator and sustainability advocate. She is the owner of an online gardening education business – Urban Gardening Canada – where she teaches people how to garden alongside nature, while strengthening the gardening community. Bri focuses on education as a way to bring people closer to the environment, climate patterns and nature. She believes that as people work with the soil and grow plants, they will naturally find a connection between how they live and how they treat the earth. She believes that climate and social justice can start in the garden.
Making the Most out of your Herbal Garden
Where?
Jo-jo’s Community Garden
located behind Jo-Jo’s Pizza
1573 Stittsville Main St, Stittsville, ON K2S 1Y1
Description
As the growing season begins to come to a close, we all often have more herbs than we know what to do with. Amber will walk us through the many ways that herbs can be used, including for healing practices, preserving, teas and kitchen use, etc.
Even if you don’t have your own herbal garden, this workshop will both inspire you to start your own, and to find new ways to make use of the beautiful herbs you may encounter at your local markets.
For accessibility information, please contact us at communitygardening@justfood.ca so we can provide further details on the terrain.
Meet your Facilitator
My name is Amber (she/her). I am a registered herbalist, plant-lover, medicine maker, seasoned gardener, and wildcrafter. I’m also a passionate educator, eager to invite people into relationship with plants.
The intersections of herbalism, sustainability, environmental ethics and social justice are deeply rooted in my work. I strive to provide accessible herbal care and purposeful education, that is in service to the plants, people and environment. I began my herbal studies in 2008, and since then, have built my practice to offer herbal consultations, plant walks, workshops and youth programming.
I look forward to connecting with you!
Where?
Lowertown Community Garden
40 Cobourg St, Ottawa, ON
(Behind the building, along Patro St)
PLEASE NOTE: There are two community gardens that are located at the Lowertown Community Resource Centre at this address; we will be meeting at the garden located behind the centre, along Patro St.
Description
The Box Of Life is an Ottawa social enterprise that teaches people how to build healthy soil from their food scraps efficiently in small spaces. Creating good quality compost is both an art and a science, and good system and process design go a long way in making composting a seamless part of every garden. They provide the expertise and help in creating beautiful composting systems.
In this workshop Akil, from The Box of Life will talk about building soil using hot composting. This workshop is for both home composters and community garden composters. At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to understand how to compost properly, how to size and design the composting systems, and how to efficiently manage the composting process so that you can build good quality compost every gardening season!
Meet the facilitator
Akil is the founder of The Box Of Life and a climate warrior. Anxious, frustrated, and saddened by the lack of action of our communities towards fighting climate change, Akil decided to do something about it!
He created The Box of Life because he believe that the humble composting earthworm can reshape our relationship with food waste and rekindle our love for nature in the urban world.
What started out as an at-home vermi-composting experiment a few years ago has now turned into a full time profession that Akil is really passionate about!
Akil hopes that your composting journey, whatever the reason might be, can bring about some positivity and joy in your life.
Digging in: Building Soil Health
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa K1B 4Z3
(Click here for directions)
Description
Jeff from REWILD Landscapes joins us to teach this workshop about types of soil, how to determine what kind of soil you are working with, ways to amend your soil when needed, and best practices for building your soil health. Pick up some tips on how to get your soil ready this fall for the growing season next year! Jeff is a self-proclaimed “soil nerd”, and is particularly passionate about providing folks with the knowledge to assess and improve their soil health. This workshop will give you the confidence to set your soil up for success, whether you grow food at home, a community garden, or elsewhere.
Meet your Facilitator
Jeff Collins
(he/him, they/them)
Horticulturist & Landscape Designer
Jeff Collins, owner of REWILD Landscapes, is a horticulturist and landscape designer focused on restoring habitats and ensuring food security. With a lifetime of experience, Jeff uses his knowledge and skills to create spaces for people and the ecosystem surrounding them. Jeff’s designs include native plants and non-invasive, edible species. He believes that it shouldn’t just be the local wildlife and pollinators enjoying the landscape but the homeowner and community as well.
Canning/Preserving for Beginners
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa K1B 4Z3
(Click here for directions)
Description
Are you looking for new ways to process your end-of-season harvest? Do you find the process of canning and preserving to be intimidating and you aren’t sure where to start?
Join us for this workshop at the Just Food Community Farm, which includes a live demonstration of canning, plus lots of information to get you started on your canning and preservation journey!
Meet your Facilitator
Putting your Vegetable Gardens to Bed for Winter
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
It’s that time of year again: we’ve harvested all that we can, and are ready to rest up after another growing season. But what should you do with your garden beds to prepare them for the long winter ahead?
Join us and our facilitator Rob Danforth for this workshop on putting your vegetable gardens to bed for winter! Rob will cover not only in-ground beds, but also containers, raised beds, and elevated beds. He will also discuss options for soil saving and amending. We will all be ready tuck our gardens in for their winter rest by the end of this workshop!
Meet your Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Intro to Fermentation
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa K1B 4Z3
(Click here for directions)
Description
Join us at the Just Food Community Farm in our catering kitchen to learn the basics of fermentation!
Meet your Facilitator
Sun Shan was born in Beijing, China, and now lives in Ottawa, where she is an urban farmer and educator with a vast biology and ecology background. In 2015, Sun Shan founded Chi Garden along with her partner, where she combined over 20 years of experience working as a biomedical researcher, conservation biologist, non-profit leader, sustainability educator, and cultural/community interpreter. Her small ecological farm is cultivated as a place for diverse vegetables and herbs, community conversations around food, and connected traditions. Sun Shan is a member of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and its BIPOC group, and is an organizer for the East Asia Earth Village, where a diaspora of producers and creators from East Asia connect and co-create.
Grow All Year: Indoor Edible Gardening
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
As gardeners, October often feels like the time we start to wind down, preparing to put our gardens to bed for the winter. We may be starting to look forward to the (comparatively) restful months ahead, after another long growing season is behind us. While our outdoor growing spaces are certainly dwindling down in production, we can certainly still make lots of use of the space available inside (even if that’s not very much!).
In this workshop, we will cover some of the common and easy ways you can grow food inside, and the considerations that need to be taken in order to have success. This is the best time to get your indoor garden started, especially if you are growing from seed.
Meet your Facilitator
Join our very own Community Gardening Network Coordinator, Kate Veinot, for this workshop!
Edible Native Perennials
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
Are you interested in including more native plants in your garden in an effort to support pollinators, biodiversity, positive climate change, and landscape regeneration?
Are you also interested in including more edible perennials?
This workshop, facilitated by Jeff from REWILD Landscapes, will help you combine these two goals! Learn about edible native perennials and different ways to use them. Build your confidence when identifying edible native plants as you are exploring outdoors!
This is a highly anticipated workshop, and we encourage you to attend so you can get some ideas of what you’d like to plant next year (and maybe you can start them from seed this winter!).
Meet your Facilitator
Jeff Collins
(he/him, they/them)
Horticulturist & Landscape Designer
Jeff Collins, owner of REWILD Landscapes, is a horticulturist and landscape designer focused on restoring habitats and ensuring food security. With a lifetime of experience, Jeff uses his knowledge and skills to create spaces for people and the ecosystem surrounding them. Jeff’s designs include native plants and non-invasive, edible species. He believes that it shouldn’t just be the local wildlife and pollinators enjoying the landscape but the homeowner and community as well.
Selecting and Winter Sowing Native Plants for Your Food Ecosystem
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
Are you interested in adding more native plants to your growing space, but aren’t sure where to start when making your selection? Do you want to learn how to grow your own native plants from seed? Maybe you joined us for the Edible Native Perennials workshop and now want to learn about growing them yourself?
Join us for this workshop facilitated by Sundaura of A Cultivated Art to learn about selecting and winter sowing native plants, with a special focus on species that offer food, support pollinators or host nitrogen fixing bacteria.
Meet your Facilitator
Sundaura has been working in the horticultural industry in Ontario since 1998 and was an avid gardener for over a decade before that. In 2002 she combined an education in architecture with her passion for plants into a career as a landscape designer for residential spaces.
Her interest in sustainability eventually led her away from much of the conventional landscaping industry and toward a focus on growing and working with native species, teaching hands-on courses intended to help restore care-based land and plant relationships and offering design services specifically focused on supporting local ecosystems and sustainable food relationships in urban and suburban environments.
Indoor Hydroponic Gardening
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
*OTS = “Off-The-Shelf”
Meet your Facilitators
Seed Starting Indoors
When?
Thursday, February 22, 7pm-8:30pm
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
Rob Danforth, an Ottawa urban food gardener for over 45 years; Gardening coach for over 12 years (Just Food Ottawa, COGOSO, SOG, and private bookings).
Ottawa has a growing season of 152 frost free days – give or take, depending on the whims of nature. Tomatoes can take over 100 days to reach maturity. Other plants like head lettuce, cabbage, head broccoli, and squashes also take a long time to grow to maturity. To enjoy your fresh garden produce earlier, start seeds indoors!
This zoom workshop will address start times, seed pots, growing mediums, lighting, watering, fertilizing, indoor climate, indoor tools, and “hardening off.”
Meet your Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Videos: https://justfood.ca/gardening-workshops/
Articles: https://www.cog.ca/ottawa/seasonal-resources/
SOG site: https://seniororganicgardeners.ca/
Winter Sowing Edible Plants
Where?
Virtual (via Zoom)
Description
Have you ever wanted to start your own seeds, but don’t want to invest in costly setups – or don’t have the space inside your home?
Do you like experimental gardening and are interesting in trying out new methods?
Winter sowing is for you!
Winter sowing involves using recycled materials, such as water jugs, to create mini greenhouses to start your seeds in – and yes, you can get setup to do this in winter when there’s still snow on the ground! You just need some outdoor space, even if that’s a balcony, to get your seedlings going.
Join this workshop to learn the ins and outs of winter sowing, including what materials you need, what methods we recommend using, which plants are best to start this way, and how winter sowing edible/non-native plants differs from winter sowing native plants!
Meet your Facilitator
Join our very own Community Gardening Network Coordinator, Kate Veinot, for this workshop!
Build Your Own Little Free Seed Library & Be A Seed Librarian
When?
April 20, 2pm- 4pm
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pepin Ct
Near Blackburn Hamlet
Description
For this workshop join Cole Etherington, from The Good Shit, as you build a little free seed library. Host a seed library on your lawn to allow community members to borrow and get access to seeds! Gain access to the Ottawa Seed Library network and help support local growers.
2 options available:
FULL WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
– Materials to build your own Tiny Free Seed Library including ground post to install in front lawn
– Access to tools, used under supervision and with guidance
– Presentation on how to run your library
– Cost = $99 (no tax)
REGULAR WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
– Observing the build of a Tiny Free Seed Library
– Opportunity to help with hands-on experience when needed
– Presentation on how to run your library
– Cost = $10 (or pay-what-you-can, even if that’s $0!)
Library will be similar to this model:
About the Facilitator
Cole’s gardening journey started back in 2016 and it all changed when chickens entered the picture… Fast forward to 2023, and Cole (alongside his beloved chickens) launched The Good Shit – a social enterprise dedicated to helping people and the planet, one organic garden at a time. With a professional background in sociology and knowledge translation, along with and a passion for equity, food access, and climate action, Cole brings a unique perspective to the landscape of sustainable, resilient gardening. Cole and his partner share a farm west of Ottawa with their dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Small Space and Container Gardening
When?
April 25, 7pm- 8:30pm
Where?
Online, via Zoom
Description
Are you growing on a balcony, small yard, or even a community garden plot?
Interested in learning how to make the most out of your space and maximize your gardening output?
This entry-level workshop will cover:
- organic practices for container gardening
- plant selection for small spaces/containers
- succession planting
- small garden setup for maximization
- and more!
Come ready with your questions, or submit them ahead of time to make sure they are addressed at the workshop.
Le Potager Urbain (en français)
Please note this session will be delivered in French
Quand?
Le 7 mai, de 19h à 20h30
Où?
En ligne, via Zoom
LE POTAGER URBAIN – UNE EXPÉRIENCE DE SAVEURS ET DE BEAUTÉ – DESCRIPTION
Imaginez toutes les couleurs de l’arc-en-ciel dans votre saladier et davantage. Des laitues croustillantes, des pousses orientales, des tomates sucrées aux saveurs estivales, et des fleurs savoureuses.
Dans cette présentation, Odette mettra la table avec sa méthode de création pour un espace de vie regorgeant de légumes, d’ornementales, de fines herbes et tout cela à l’aide de structures dans un environnement urbain restreint. Voyez comment faire pousser des fleurs, des légumes uniques et des pousses vertes qui éveilleront les saveurs de votre table et enchanteront vos invités.
Cette présentation touchera au jardinage à la verticale, aux pratiques éprouvées, aux objects éclectiques et fera appel à votre créativité. Une manière excitante et sans limites de considérer votre jardin.
Odette McIntyre
Odette a eu le coup de foudre pour l’horticulture à l’âge de 8 ans, en jardinant avec son père dans son village natal de Ste Anne de Beaupré, Québec. Elle a poursuivi sa passion pour l’horticulture et l’écologie à l’Institut de Technologie Agricole de La Pocatière où elle a complété des études en Phytotechnologie. Après sa graduation, Odette a travaillé pendant 4 ans au Jardin Botanique de Montréal avant de déménager dans la région de Toronto où elle a continué à oeuvrer en Horticulture dans la Région de York avant de prendre sa retraite.
Odette est devenue Maitre-Jardinier en 2013. Elle a partagé avec plaisir sa passion pour l’horticulture et ses connaissances avec les jardiniers de la grande région de Toronto grâce aux ateliers techniques et tables d’experts auxquels elle a participé sur une variété de sujets horticoles. Après s’être relocalisée ici à Ottawa en 2020 afin de se rapprocher de sa fille et de ses petite-filles, elle a continué de partager sa passion horticole avec les gens d’ici, notamment grâce à une série d’ateliers de jardinage offerts par les Bibliothèques Publiques d’Ottawa, aux différents sociétés d’horticulture locales ainsi qu’au Salon de la maison et du jardin d’Ottawa. C’est avec joie qu’elle propose sa participation à votre programmation.
THE URBAN POTAGER – A FIELD TO TABLE EXPERIENCE – SYNOPSIS
Think rainbows of color in the saladier and beyond. Crisp lettuces, asian greens, sweet tomatoes and blooms. In this presentation you will learn how to create an attractive living space full of vegetables, ornamentals, herbs and structures in an urban setting where space is a constraint. Grow beautiful blooms, unique veggies and greens to enhance your table and thrill your guests. Find out about vertical gardening, best practices, found objects and more. An exciting, wide-ranging, transforming way to look at your garden.
Odette McIntyre
Odette discovered her passion for horticulture in her first ornamental garden, which she tended with the help of her father at their home in Ste Anne de Beaupré, Québec. Her interest in horticulture and ecology intensified as she studied plant science at the Institut de Technologie Agricole. After graduating in 1980, Odette worked for 4 years at the Montréal Botanical Garden before relocating to Toronto where she has worked in a member municipality of York Region until retirement.
Odette continued experimenting with varieties & techniques in her own gardens, learning from Nikki Jabbour’s principles. She became a Master Gardener in 2013. She shared her love and knowledge of plants with York Region gardeners, through Lake Simcoe South Master Gardeners advice clinics, giving workshops, including a range of organic gardening topics and cold season production. Since relocating to the Ottawa region to be closer to her daughter and grandbabies, Odette has lead gardening groups with the Manotick Horticultural Society and presented with several Ottawa Public Library Gardening Programs, the Ottawa Home & Garden Show and several seniors residences.
Composting at Home and in Community Gardens
When?
May 16, 7pm- 8:30pm
Where?
Online, via Zoom
Description
Composting at Home and in Community Gardens
– an excellent, inexpensive fertilizer!
Compost nourishes all soils for all plants, loosens stiff soils, retains moisture, balances pH, fights diseases, and recycles waste. It is non-polluting, non-burning, non-smelly, and safe for all growing things and gardeners alike.
Join us for this session on best practices for composting both at home and in a community garden setting!
About your Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Videos: https://justfood.ca/gardening-workshops/
Articles: https://www.cog.ca/ottawa/seasonal-resources/
SOG site: https://seniororganicgardeners.ca/
Intensive Intercropping and Companion Planting
When?
June 4, 7pm- 8:30pm
Where?
Online, via Zoom
Description
This workshop is geared towards gardeners who are comfortable in their basic food growing skills and are looking to level-up their capacity to grow more, and to be even more intentional with their planting.
Intensive intercropping and companion planting are methods of maximizing your growing space while supporting your plants to be stronger and healthier by pairing them with beneficial counterparts.
Join us for this session to enter into the world of intentional planting!
About the Facilitator
Cole’s gardening journey started back in 2016 and it all changed when chickens entered the picture… Fast forward to 2023, and Cole (alongside his beloved chickens) launched The Good Shit – a social enterprise dedicated to helping people and the planet, one organic garden at a time. With a professional background in sociology and knowledge translation, along with and a passion for equity, food access, and climate action, Cole brings a unique perspective to the landscape of sustainable, resilient gardening. Cole and his partner share a farm west of Ottawa with their dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Fall Succession Planting
When?
Thursday, August 8th, 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Where?
Online via Zoom
Description
Are you wishing you could enjoy fresh harvests from your garden into the fall months?
Interested in learning how to make the most out of your garden space and maximize the growing season?
This entry-level workshop will cover:
- Benefits of succession planting
- Extending the growing season beyond the first frost
- Crops to plant now for fall harvest
- And more!
About the Facilitator
Join our very own Community Gardening Coordinator, Kath Stevenson, for this informative workshop!
Mid-Season Garden Maintenance
When?
Thursday, August 22nd, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Where?
Online via Zoom
Description
Learn how to troubleshoot common garden issues, prepare for harvesting, and start thinking ahead to seed saving!
Join us for this interactive workshop where expert facilitator Rob Danforth will provide us with the crucial tips and tricks to keep our gardens successful till the end of the growing season. This session will cover essential maintenance practices, from effective pruning and watering techniques to soil enrichment and pest management. Learn how to diagnose and address common issues such as nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, and plant diseases. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you’ll leave with practical skills and insights to ensure your garden thrives through the rest of the growing season.
You will also have the opportunity to submit questions, and photos of your garden, ahead of the workshop! Rob will review your submissions to specifically address what is likely going on in your garden, and provide the best organic practices to remedy the situation. This is your chance to have some direct feedback to figure out the inner workings of your vegetable garden.
About the Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Videos: https://justfood.ca/gardening-workshops/
Articles: https://www.cog.ca/ottawa/seasonal-resources/
SOG site: https://seniororganicgardeners.ca/
Introduction to No-Till and Regenerative Gardening
When?
Thursday, August 29th, 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pepin Court
Near Blackburn Hamlet
Description
Are you ready to transform your garden into a thriving, eco-friendly oasis? Learn how to revolutionize the way you grow and cultivate a garden that’s as resilient as it is beautiful.
Join facilitator Cole Etherington from The Good Shit for this informative session on no-till and regenerative gardening practices. This workshop aims to educate participants on the principles and practices of no-till and regenerative gardening, empowering them to create sustainable, productive gardens that improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact.
About the Facilitator
Cole Etherington
Cole’s gardening journey started back in 2016 and it all changed when chickens entered the picture… Fast forward to 2023, and Cole (alongside his beloved chickens) launched The Good Shit – a social enterprise dedicated to helping people and the planet, one organic garden at a time. With a professional background in sociology and knowledge translation, along with and a passion for equity, food access, and climate action, Cole brings a unique perspective to the landscape of sustainable, resilient gardening. Cole and his partner share a farm west of Ottawa with their dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Introduction to Seed Saving and Storage
When?
Monday, September 16th, 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Where?
Debra Dynes Family House
955 Debra Avenue
Ottawa, ON, K2C 0J5
(Near the intersection of Prince of Whales Drive & Meadowlands Drive)
Please note: parking is free on Debra Avenue, however, it is required to download the Flowbird parking app either through the Google store or Apple Store in order to avoid getting a parking ticket.
Debra Dynes Family House is also accessible by bus route #111.
Description
Learn the basics of saving seeds, plant genetics, collection techniques, storage and viability. You may even be able to breed your own varieties, adapted specifically to growing conditions in your garden! We will also look at seed varieties that are suitable for beginner, intermediate and expert seed-savers. Timing and collection methods are discussed, along with information on seed sanitation and storage. We will also discuss long-term viability of seeds.
This workshop includes hands-on interaction and experience! We will have envelopes on hand, but also encourage folks to bring a couple of glass mason jars that can be used to store seeds.
About the Facilitator
Rebecca Last
Rebecca Last has been gardening on and off since age 8 and has been a member of Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton since 2005. Her small suburban garden is certified by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as wildlife habitat. Rebecca grows a dozen or more varieties of heritage tomatoes every year. Her garden design includes elements of permaculture and she has been honoured to receive several awards from the Ontario horticulture community.
Aside from getting her hands dirty, Rebecca is also passionate about the science behind gardening. Not a scientist herself, a big part of her career was translating science into terms that would resonate with the public. Now retired, she uses these same skills to share what she learns about gardening and plant science via her blog Gardening at Last (https://gardeningatlast.ca/). She also shares her own research and writing on ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebecca-Last), where her publications have garnered over 10,000 reads.
Rebecca’s gardening addiction is enabled by her loving husband Richard and a collection of very spoiled rescue cats.
Season Extension Structures & Techniques
When?
Thursday, September 19th, 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Where?
Online via Zoom
Description
Ever wondered how to keep your garden thriving beyond first frost, or how to turn your backyard into an off-season harvest haven?
Join us for an insightful gardening workshop dedicated to extending your growing season and maximizing your harvest throughout the off-season. In this session, expert facilitator Rob Danforth will help you discover the art of keeping your garden productive from early spring through late fall and beyond. We’ll discuss the basics of season extension as well as some fundamental techniques that you can implement to extend your growing season. Additionally, we will learn about various season extension structures such as cold frames, row covers, tunnels, and more.
Whether you’re a novice gardener eager to extend your growing season or an experienced grower looking to refine your techniques, this workshop will equip you with the tools and knowledge to keep your garden thriving long past the peak of summer. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your gardening practices and enjoy fresh produce even in the off-season!
About the Facilitator
Rob Danforth
Experienced urban food gardener (over 45 yrs.+) & gardening coach (over 12 yrs.+) for Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa/St Lawrence /Outaouais Chapter, Senior Organic Gardeners, Just Food Ottawa, and private groups. Revised June, 2023.
Past gardening experiences with vegetables, herbs, & the flowers that support them in plots, raised beds, & containers (pots, box beds, elevated beds, cold frames, composters, & recycled items). Backyard (45 yrs.+), Past: Gloucester Allotment Gardens (14 yrs.), Past: Arrowsmith Community Gardens & Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard Garden (7 yrs.). Past donor of organic vegetables & herbs [most of our produce on the 2900 sq. ft. we used to garden] to GEFC & CCRC food banks (10 yrs.).
Gardening coach: on-the-road seminars (122 — 7 with translators), articles (42), videos (4), hands-on workshops (14), consultation booths (9), & zooms (57 — 14 with translators).
Past team member founding SOG and Arrowsmith Community Gardens.
Past volunteer at Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (14 yrs.).
DTE Newsletter, https://ottawa.cog.ca/down-to-earth-newsletter/
Videos: https://justfood.ca/gardening-workshops/
Articles: https://www.cog.ca/ottawa/seasonal-resources/
SOG site: https://seniororganicgardeners.ca/
Simplifying Soil Building: Vermicomposting for Healthier Gardens
When?
Monday, September 23rd, 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Where?
Goldenrod Community Garden
(near the intersection of Parkdale Avenue & Goldenrod Driveway)
Please note: free parking is available after working hours in the nearby Tunney’s Pasture parking lots. The garden is also accessible by bus routes 18, 28, 54 and 58. The Tunney’s Pasture O-Train station is a ten-minute walk to the south.
Click here for directions on how to get to the Goldenrod Community Garden by car, public transit, or bike!
Description
Is your garden struggling with unsuccessful compost piles or overly complicated systems? Ever wondered how to transform your everyday food scraps into rich, fertile soil for your backyard garden?
Join us at the Goldenrod Community Garden with Akil Mesiwala, founder of The Box Of Life, for this informative workshop on vermicomposting. In this hands-on session, we will focus on practical, effective vermicomposting techniques to turn your food waste into rich soil—quickly and easily. Learn how to troubleshoot common composting issues and streamline your process with the help of earthworms. We will also discuss community composting principles that make the process more enjoyable and will allow you to harvest tons of compost each season. This workshop is perfect for gardeners looking to simplify their composting efforts and dramatically improve their soil quality.
This workshop will include a live demonstration of the vermicomposting bench set-up at the Goldenrod Community Garden!
About the Facilitator
Akil Mesiwala
Akil, founder of The Box Of Life, is a passionate climate advocate committed to helping gardeners and farmers enrich their soil. Through years of experimentation, Akil unlocked the key to successful composting and now excels at turning food waste into nutrient-rich soil with the help of earthworms. What began as a personal project has become a full-time mission to support sustainable growing practices. Akil hopes to empower you with the tools to nourish your soil and deepen your connection with nature.
Let’s Make Kimchi!
When?
Wednesday, October 2nd, 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court
Near Blackburn Hamlet
Free parking is available on site. The farm is also accessible by bus routes #25 and #28.
Click here for directions on how to get to the Just Food Community Farm by car, public transit, or bike!
Description
Kimchi is a traditional East Asian dish made with fermented vegetables, historically cherished as a healthy and flavourful staple in many homes.
Join us in the catering kitchen at the Just Food Community Farm for this unforgettable, hands-on workshop with Sun Shan of Chi Garden. Sun Shan will guide participants through the art of kimchi-making in a group setting, just like in the old days! Each participant will be able to take home a jar of their very own freshly made kimchi to enjoy later.
Cost = $15/per person
This workshop has a maximum capacity of 15 participants.
All materials will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own pre-washed jar (500ml or smaller) if you prefer.
Accessibility Notes:
The catering kitchen is located on the second floor of the big red barn at the Just Food Community Farm. The barn is accessible and is equipped with a motorized lift and accessible washrooms.
If you have any additional questions on accessibility, please contact communitygardening@justfood.ca
About the Facilitator
Sun Shan
Sun Shan was born in Beijing, China, and now lives in Ottawa, where she is an urban farmer and educator with a vast biology and ecology background. In 2015, Sun Shan founded Chi Garden along with her partner, where she combined over 20 years of experience working as a biomedical researcher, conservation biologist, non-profit leader, sustainability educator, and cultural/community interpreter. Her small ecological farm is cultivated as a place for diverse vegetables and herbs, community conversations around food, and connected traditions. Sun Shan is a member of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and its BIPOC group, and is an organizer for the East Asia Earth Village, where a diaspora of producers and creators from East Asia connect and co-create.
Herbal Wellness for Fall and Winter
When?
Monday, October 7th, 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Where?
Online via Zoom
Description
Are you eager to embrace the changing seasons with natural remedies that support your wellness?
Join herbalist Amber Westfall, RH, for an informative and practical online workshop where we explore common herbs that can support health and well-being during the colder months. We will discuss simple strategies for integrating herbal remedies into your daily routine to support immune competence, as well as useful tips for dealing with the symptoms of coughs, colds, and flu.
About the Facilitator
Amber Westfall
Amber Westfall (she/her) is a registered herbalist, plant-lover, medicine maker, seasoned gardener and wildcrafted. She is a passionate educator, eager to invite people into relationship with plants. She strives to provide accessible herbal care and purposeful education that is in service to the plants, people, and environment.
Water Bath Canning 101 for Seasonal Preserving
When?
Thursday, October 10th, 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Where?
Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pépin Court
Near Blackburn Hamlet
Free parking is available on site. The farm is also accessible by bus routes #25 and #28.
Click here for directions on how to get to the Just Food Community Farm by car, public transit, or bike!
Description
Looking to enhance your food preserving skills this fall? Wondering how you can enjoy the fruits of your delicious garden harvests well into the colder months ahead?
Join us in the Just Food Community Farm catering kitchen for this seasonal, hands-on workshop with Sara Pishva of Top Shelf Preserves. In this session, Sara will teach participants the basics of water bath canning and preserving. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore a simple pickling recipe together as a group! Each participant will be able to take home a jar of their very own freshly made pickled carrots to enjoy later.
Cost = $15/per person
This workshop has a maximum capacity of 15 participants.
All materials will be provided through the workshop fee of $15.00.
Accessibility Notes:
The catering kitchen is located on the second floor of the big red barn at the Just Food Community Farm. The barn is accessible and is equipped with a motorized lift and accessible washrooms.
If you have any additional questions on accessibility, please contact communitygardening@justfood.ca
About the Facilitator
Sara Pishva
Sara Pishva (she/they) has been cooking professionally for over 20 years. Sara grew up eating pickles and jellies and got into preserving as a means to eat locally when fresh produce is scarce. She earned a certificate of Chef Training from Algonquin College in 2004. Their passion for seasonal preserving led to them to open Top Shelf Preserves in 2013.
