The Canadian Garden Council (CGC) has proclaimed 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden to commemorate our country’s vast horticulture sector and rich garden heritage.
Earthwise Society has long recognized the ecological value of gardens and their contribution towards a healthy environment and more vibrant communities.
Earthwise will be celebrating The Year of the Garden in their programs throughout 2022, starting with a series of virtual workshops designed to highlight the ways in which gardens can help us create legacies for a more sustainable future, starting in our own backyards.
Without plants, we simply wouldn’t be able to survive. They allow us to breathe, filter out toxins, and feed us. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with recent extreme weather events, the ability to get food on our plates has been seriously impacted. With the growing concern about the affordability and availability of fresh, healthy food, the concept of growing our own crops at home has become more appealing than ever.
In response, Earthwise Society’s first webinar in their Year of the Garden series will be all about food garden planning. Topics will include seed starting, what to plant now for early spring harvests, and how to maximize your growing space. Participants will also learn how they can grow and give back to those in need through Earthwise Society’s Victory Garden program.
In addition to putting food on our tables, gardens offer countless environmental benefits, from feeding our pollinators, to creating key habitats for songbirds and other species threatened by habitat loss.
The second Year of the Garden webinar will demonstrate that the month of February is anything but drab! Participants will learn all about the bold and beautiful winter blooms currently in flower at the Earthwise Garden that attract all kinds of beneficial critters to our gardens. Learn valuable tips on planting and caring for your own winter gardens, and get some inspiration for creating beautiful floral arrangements to brighten up a February day! For even more inspiration, follow up with a visit to the Earthwise Garden to see for yourself.
The Get Growing: Planning Your Dream Food Garden webinar will be held on Thursday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. and the February Flowers Webinar is on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon. These webinars are offered by donation, but pre-registration is required. To register please email [email protected], and keep watching for announcements about upcoming Year of the Garden events at Earthwise!