Fundamentals of Permaculture Design

Canmore Community Gardening presents: 

Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture

Dates: April 10th & 11th 6pm-9pm
Location: Canmore Civic Center
Cost: $89/$99 Members/Non-Members
To Register: canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com

There's no question that you will come out of this workshop full of inspiration and ideas for your garden, your home, and your life, just in time for spring!

“For anyone interested in the health of the planet and for their own family, this workshop is a must. It is a terrific first step to gaining an understanding of how they can have impact and benefit from smart design.” -Nolin Veillard CA, President, TRAK Performance Folding Kayaks

Permaculture is a completely solutions-oriented approach to addressing environmental, social and energy-supply problems. Discover your untapped potential for creating immense positive change starting at your back door.

Verge has designed this six hour intensive to provide you with the tools to turn your home into the greenest home on the block - all the while saving money and making a super healthy, beautiful and inspiring environment for family, friends and community.

 You will learn:

• a few core permaculture principles, strategies and practical design tools for energy-efficiency, reducing water use, cycling nutrients, and growing food.
• how to create super-productive gardens (to the envy of your neighbours) that don't require weeding or chemical fertilizing.
• how to create abundance and a thriving garden with rainwater, using neat techniques such as wicking beds and swales.
• a whole new practical philosophy of working with (rather than against) nature; a perspective that can save you thousands of dollars when it comes to designing and integrating the layout of your home & garden (in ways you never imagined)!
• additional design tools that you can use to increase the sustainbility of your home and community.
• and much much more!

Here's what others have said about this workshop:

“I loved the simplicity of the material even though it was packed full of info.  Rob was a great speaker with an authentic energy.” -Stephanie Brodsky

“I can't remember the last time I felt so inspired! So many things brought together that I knew but didn't.” -Evonne Smulders

“Thank you for the inspiring insight to starting something huge!” -Hannah Webb

Helping Our Garden Grow

A garden always needs lovin' and there are many  ways that you can get involved this season! If you are ready to take on a more committed role in the garden, or feel inspired to take on a building project...we've got something for you!

Garden Volunteer Positions:

Irrigation Master:
Duties - Maintain hoses, nozzles, cisterns in good working condition.  Notify Garden Coordinator of any missing or broken pieces.  Keep hoses tidy, clean, rolled.  Help gardeners keep cisterns filled, and offer assistance/guidance to gardeners regarding proper use of hoses and cisterns.  Ensure everything is properly stored for winter.

Maintenance Specialist:
Duties -Maintain garden tools in good working condition.  Keep garden structures such as fence, gate, tool shed, tool box, cistern stands, etc. in safe, working condition.  When large-scale maintenance is required, work with Garden Coordinator to organize work party of gardeners.  Ensure proper steps are taken to store/shut down everything at season's end

Fence Garden Gurus (2-3):
Duties -  Plan, plant, irrigate, and otherwise maintain gardens along the exterior of the fence.  Keep an eye on perennials, tending to as needed, and plant appropriate annual flowers etc. around entrance, along front and east sides.

Garden Log Keeper:
Duties -  While all gardeners may make notes in the Garden Log, the 'Keeper' is responsible for making regular entries, including: map of communal garden, planting dates, weather observations, notes on which plants thrive/fail, notes about what work may need doing, what is ready to harvest etc.

Bloggers:
Duties - to add occasional or regular Blog and Facebook posts. 1) posting about what has been going on in the garden 2) posting relevant gardening resources 3) a personal log of a community gardener's experiences

Garden Projects:

Constructing a Tomato House:
Project Details: Using recovered windows, and as many recovered/recycled materials possible, design and construct passive solar-style hot house for tomatoes and other heat-loving crops on north side of garden.  Work with Garden Coordinator to compile materials list and budget, and to organize building party.

Garden Signage:
Project Details: Design and paint Welcome Sign for garden entrance, Notice Board for gardener use just inside gate, visitor signs including Water Works. Work with Garden Coordinator for budget/supplies

Constructing Cistern Stand:
Project Details: Construct cistern stand at north end of garden in the same fashion as the previous stands.  Work with Garden Coordinator to compile materials list, budget.

If you would like to volunteer please contact us at:
canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com


 

2012 Garden Applications Available!

Let the Gardening Season Begin!

Applications can be submitted at the Annual General Meeting on March 7th, 7-8:30pm @ Civic Center Atrium.  Bring your seeds for the Seed Exchange!

If you have not received an application form, contact us! canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com 

We are offering 2 types of community gardening again this season:

Allotment Garden Plot
    $40/season for a 8’ x 4’ raised ‘wicking bed’.  There are 25 total of these available for rent.  Plot Renters are able to renew their plots seasonally. There are 10 returning plot renters this year, so 15 beds are available. Gardeners maintain their beds autonomously within the organic community gardening guidelines. 

     
 New Allotment gardeners agree to participate in a Wicking Bed Installation and Orientation Workshop from 10am-4pm on Saturday June 2nd.
   

Communal Gardening
    $40/season for participation in the communal garden beds.  The communal gardens are intended to allow gardeners to share in both the responsibility and the bounty of the garden.  First-time gardeners have an opportunity to work alongside those with more experience, and this arrangement allows flexibility for those who vacation or have limited time in the summer.   Max 50 gardeners.
  
Communal gardeners agree to commit a minimum of 1-2 hrs/wk to the garden, to work cooperatively with other gardeners, and responsibly share the garden harvest.  They also agree to participate in the Garden Opening & Closing Work Parties.