UN World Water Day Event
WATER FOR LIFE - GARDENING SEMINARS
• Grow your garden with insights from local pros!
• Enter to win 1 of 4, $100 gift cards.
• 20% off rain barrels (event day only)!
Date: Sunday, March 23rd
Time: 1 – 3 pm
Location: greengate gardensense Studio
Cost: FREE - walk-ins welcome
1pm - 1:30pm
Drought Tolerant Perennials
Elaine Rude - Paintbrush Garden Design
With warm weather approaching now is the time to start thinking about how to make our gardens more water-wise. There are many, many perennials that thrive in our prairie gardens but alas many of our favourites survive only with supplemental watering. As our summer weather becomes more unpredictable, with extended periods of hotter and drier conditions, it's time to shift our plant choices to ones that use less water. What are some of the attributes to look for in potential candidates? In this short presentation we will discuss some good perennial choices and the qualities that make them perfect for a water-wise garden.
Elaine Rude Bio:
Elaine is a Master Gardener, teacher, speaker, writer, garden designer as well as an avid gardener. She started Paintbrush Garden Design in 2000 and has since helped her clients develop landscapes that thrive in Calgary's climate. Elaine is a strong advocate for water wise gardening. She encourages gardeners to develop their properties in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner based on their own property's unique conditions. Elaine speaks regularly to garden clubs across Alberta and Canada and is an instructor and volunteer with the Calgary Horticultural Society. She is one of the instructors for the Design Your Yard program, designing all five of the Yardsmart demonstration gardens on the City of Calgary's Yardsmart website. She is currently in her second term as president of the Master Gardeners Association of Alberta.
1:30pm - 2pm
Rainwater Harvesting
Carmen Lamoureux - Urban Farm School
Harvesting rainwater is an essential strategy for anyone wanting to nurture resilience on their property. New developments regarding best practices for rainwater capture give us some insights into how to create a natural and safe treatment train, and how to manage this valuable resource mindfully.
Carmen Lamoureux Bio:
Owner and founder of Calgary's URBAN FARM SCHOOL, Carmen Lamoureux is dedicated to helping others gain the freedom, confidence and skills they need to live more abundant and resilient lives.
With a background in the fields of ecological land management, forestry, soils and silviculture, and the horticultural sector, Carmen's grounded base in ecosystem dynamics informs her practical approach to meeting our needs while respecting natural systems.
Through URBAN FARM SCHOOL, Carmen offers practical eco-workshops and presentations to inspire conscious and creative solutions for regenerative local food production and ecological mindfulness. An internationally recognized instructor of the Permaculture Design Certification program, Carmen is also a regular instructor for Government of Saskatchewan Indigenous Affairs, the Calgary Horticultural Society, the Alberta Master Gardeners Association and various other organizations.
2pm - 2:30pm
Yard Smart
Kath Smyth - Calgary Horticultural Society
You have the ideas, but don't know where to start? Then you need a plan.
To have a successful garden, there are key things you need to know:
· Where does the rainwater flow?
· Which areas are in full sun or deep shade?
· Which direction does the wind come from and is there any shelter?
· Which plants do you want to grow?
Make it a YardSmart plan with water-wise trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables, and ground covers.
Kath Smyth Bio:
Kath Smyth is a horticulturist with extensive experience in the horticultural industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge and her unique humour to radio and television appearances, public presentations, and client consultations. She is passionate about helping gardeners achieve gardening success and is currently working as a Horticulturist for The Calgary Horticultural Society. Kath regularly appears on CBC Radio Calgary Eyeopener, Alberta at Noon and Global News Morning Calgary.
2:30pm - 3pm
Soil and Water, Best of Friends.
Mike Dorion - The Green Sheep
Water is life, but what else is essential for life to sustain itself? Here's a hint: it's right beneath our feet. Most of us rarely think about it, much like the water that flows from our taps… That's right it's soil! All living things depend on soil to survive. Water is one of the four key ingredients that ensures our survival on this planet, and the relationship between soil and water is as old as dirt itself.
Let's dive into what this relationship looks like and how we can all do our own little part to show our respect to this selfless ecosystem and all that it gives to us humans. It all starts in the soil and ultimately ends there. So, what does our role as Stewards look like in the time period between? Ensuring living Soil, which gives us clean water to drink, food to eat, oxygen to breathe and shelters to protect each and every one of us.
Mike Dorion Bio:
Mike loves food. That love took him on a journey these last fifteen years starting with obtaining his Permaculture Design Certificate; creating his business, Living Soil Solutions; co-founding Highfield Regenerative Farm and making lots and lots of compost. His latest project is, "The Green Sheep", formed with his wife Eve. They are forming a new flock focusing on education around Soil Health to Human Health all grounded in super tasty, real and wholesome, highly local and nutritious, completely yummy and flavorful, did I mention Tasty? Food! Food that makes one feel Happy.
