Workshops with Robin Wheeler

Village Vancouver and Fork in the Road are pleased to offer seven get togethers with Robin Wheeler on a variety of topics related to gardening, urban agriculture, community and sustainability.

Robin is the founder of The Sustainable Living Arts School, and the author of "Gardening for the Faint of Heart" and "Food Security for the Faint of Heart". She lives on the Sunshine Coast, and brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience with her to each workshop.

Robin's workshops are always a real treat. You can expect your knowledge to expand and your soul to be delighted... and sometimes for your hands to get dirty.

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Tuesday, September 29th

Concepts in Year Round Gardening 9:45-11:45 AM
Grandview Woodland (near Nanaimo and 1st)

The Whys and Wherefores of food cycles - why we want them, how to get them. We will plan round-the-calendar food supplies, both in the larder and stored in the garden.

Introduction to Medicine Making 1:30-4:30 PM
Main St./Little Mountain (near Cambie and King Ed)

There are so many plants that are safe, easy to recognize and locate, and effective. We will learn some recognition techniques, and then how to make teas, poultices, tinctures and infused oils. We'll learn about solvents, supplies and storage.

Apartment and Container Gardening 6:30-8:00 PM
Potluck @ 5:30 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Downtown (near Davie and Seymour)

How to get more food from your balcony or patio. Space and weight are big problems for apartment dwellers. We will decide how to choose plants, discuss containers, soils, feeding and watering, succession planting and more in this workshop for small spaces.

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Wednesday, September 30th

Seed Saving Primer 9:00-10:30 AM
Kits Point Village (near Cornwall and Arbutus)
co-sponsored by Kits Point neighbourhood Village

Seed saving is the missing link in food security. In our current political climate of seed patenting and ownership, it is increasingly important that a critical mass of a population have a good understanding of seed saving techniques. This will make it possible to create networks for seed abundance and resilience in many communities. This workshop will provide a deeper understanding of seed saving basics as well as provide time to discuss the implications of forming our relationships soon and well. Your donation includes a copy of The Five Levels of Seed Saving by Terry Klokeid.

Shapes in Sharing 10:45-11:45 AM
Kits Point Village (near Cornwall and Arbutus)
co-sponsored by Kits Point Neighbourhood Village

Ideas for sharing land, food, space and time with a workshop component. We'll do a study of our own assets and shortfalls and figure out how to equalize these on both a large and small scale.

Intensive Urban Microfarming 1:30-4:30 PM
Potluck @12:30 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Cedar Cottage (near Victoria Dr., south of Trout Lake/John Hendry Park)

For folks who are ready to refine and to deepen their knowledge of urban microfarming, Robin invites you to participate in a 3 hour gathering that will examine as many of the following topics as time allows:
- Increasing backyard food production
- Succession planting
- Shade growing
- Extending the growing season through your choice of plants, Water Wisdom, Plant Calendar Mapping and Microclimating.

Apartment and Container Gardening 7:00-8:30 PM
Potluck @ 6 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver (near Lonsdale & 1st & Lonsdale Quay)

How to get more food from your balcony or patio. Space and weight are big problems for apartment dwellers. We will decide how to choose plants, discuss containers soils, feeding and watering, succession planting and more, in this workshop for small spaces.

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All workshops are offered on a pay what you can basis. A one hour workshop usually costs around $10 to $15; a 1 1/2 hour workshop around $15 to $20; a two hour workshop around $25 to $30, a 2 1/2 hour workshop around $30 to $35. and a three hour workshop around $40. Our contributions to these workshops make it possible for teachers like Robin to expand and to deepen the scope of the important educational and social change work that they are involved in, particularly in these uncertain times.

Enrollment is limited to 20 people for each workshop. (15 for Apartment workshops.)

To register (or to find out more about hosting a future workshop), please contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

There is also a Sustainable Living Arts School in Vancouver.