Speaker Series 2022-2023

 

All meetings are at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, 537 Highway 105 (across from the Freshmart).

Meeting time is 7:30-9 pm (unless indicated differently).

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We strongly encourage the wearing of masks in our indoor space over the winter flu season, as recommended by the Quebec government.

 

Monday, Sept 26, 2022

Topic: How to Grow and Cure Garlic 

Speaker: Gary Bougard of Mayo Hill Garlic

 

He will tell you everything you need to know about growing garlic:  preparing your garden plot, choosing your seed garlic, planting, and harvesting scapes and bulbs, saving your own seed and curing your culinary garlic. Bring some cash because he will also bring garlic cloves to sell. 

Gary and his wife have been organic farming for about 30 years, focusing on small-scale commercial garlic for the past 10 years. They grow 15 varieties of different strengths and flavours for seed and culinary garlic using sustainable, chemical free methods on their small farm in the Outaouais.  They are very interested in soil microorganisms and soil fungi and have been building their soil using multi crops rotations and limited tillage.  Their garlic is sold through farmers’ markets, the online boutique and garden centres. They recently sold their garlic operation to the younger generation, Anna, whom we have been mentoring. More information about varieties and how to grow garlic can be found on the website: mayohillgarlic.com

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 Mon, Oct 24, 2022

Topic:  Cultivating Shiitake Mushrooms on Logs Outdoors

Speaker: Sean Butler of Ferme et Forêt in Wakefield

 

Sean will go through all the steps required to grow delicious and nutritious shiitake mushrooms from the logs of local tree species, including 1) what tree species to cut and when to cut them, 2)  how to inoculate the logs with shiitake spawn, 3)  where to situate the logs while the shiitake grows, 4)  how to force fruit the logs on a regular schedule and 5)  how to harvest, store, and cook your mushrooms.

 Sean’s enthusiasm for growing food came first from a passion for eating good food. When he realized that one could grow or gather foods far superior to most of what you can buy, there was no looking back. He WWOOFed, apprenticed, and worked on organic farms from BC’s Cortes Island to an abandoned Newfoundland outport. Along the way he also went to film school, taught English in Latin America, and wrote freelance articles for newspapers and magazines. Since co-founding Ferme et Forêt in 2014, most of his energies have gone into building a sustainable farm business, but he still finds time to write at seanbutler.ca.

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Mon, Nov 28, 2022

Workshop: Planting Bulbs for Winter Enjoyment Cost: $10/person

Speaker: Mary Sherman Reid, Master Gardener

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Our holiday meeting is almost here! Mark your calendars and register for our workshop.  Our holiday meeting will provide you with three pots of bulbs to take home and enjoy over the winter or to share with friends this holiday season. Mary will lead us through the steps of “forcing bulbs” and then each participant (attendance limited to 25 people for the workshop) will plant three pots of Tulips, Narcissus or Amaryllis to bring home. The cost will be $10 per person for the bulbs and soil – we ask that each participant bring three plastic or terracotta pots, 6 inch in diameter and about 5 inches deep.

The Executive of GVG would like to recognize the wonderful support that the membership continues to provide on an ongoing basis, in terms of attendance at sessions, emails with positive comments and plant donations to the annual plant sale. As a token of our appreciation, we will cover $15 of the $25 fee for the holiday workshop. Therefore the cost to members will be only $10. Please register at the link below before Nov 21st and forward $10 by e-transfer to jardiniers.gvg@gmail.com.  The security answer to any security question you would like to ask is garden. 

It is still not too late to renew your membership for the year. Cost is $25 per person ($40/couple). The membership form is attached. You can bring it with payment to our first meeting, or you can e-transfer at jardiniers.gvg@gmail.com. E-transfers are preferred. In the message, please communicate who the membership is for. The security answer to any security question you wish to ask is garden.

We look forward to seeing you at the workshop!

Please note that this is a members’ only workshop, with no available drop-in spots. We will continue to require that masks be worn during the meeting.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12-Vs98nVBtk_m0wuaSh3E7K1eze_lk12SMB_JzX2Ag4/edit?usp=sharing

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Mon, Jan 23, 2023

Topic: Herbal Teas from your Garden – Health in a Cup

Speaker:  Jill Burns of Roish Botanicals

From spring tonics to calming fractious children and making the heart merry, herbal blends have been supporting health for centuries. Learn the essence of blending herbal teas, the basis of spring tonics and some simple perennials that every garden should have for household health.

Jill was born in Scotland, but found her way to beautiful Chelsea QC, where she continues to adjust to the Canadian growing seasons. Jill has a background in health care as a nurse, dietitian and herbalist, she owns her own tea company, Roish Botanicals, and is a regular vendor at the Chelsea Farmers’ Market.

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Mon, Feb 27, 2023

Topic:  Vermicomposting at Home  –  How to Compost with the help of red wiggler earthworms

Speaker:  Akil Mesiwala, founder of Box of Life

Akil will teach us how composting earthworms can help us convert food waste into healthy soil at home! The workshop will cover basic information about how to set up a worm farm, what and how to feed the wormies, and the benefits and uses of worm castings. He’ll be bringing along a worm farm to show participants what they can expect when they start.

 Akil is the founder of The Box Of Life, a social enterprise in Ottawa, and a climate advocate like many of you reading this. Anxious, frustrated, and saddened by the inaction of communities in fighting climate change, he decided to do something about it and created The Box of Life because he believes that the humble composting earthworm can reshape our relationship with food and rekindle our love for nature in the urban world.  Akil started composting with the intent of reducing his landfill contribution (organic matter rotting in landfills releases methane and contributes to 3% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions). Since then he has learnt that compost is also very important for soil health and when added to soil can sequester atmospheric CO2 and lock it beneath our feet. What started out as an at-home vermi-composting experiment a few years ago has now turned into a full time profession that he's really passionate about!

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Mon, March 27, 2023

Topic: Magnolias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons 

Speaker: Robert Glendinning of the Central Experimental Farm

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Mon, April 25, 2023

Topic: Made for Shade 

Speaker: Mary Sherman Reid owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre in Nepean

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May 2023 

Topic: AGM

 

Mon, June 5, 2023

Plant Sale – Our plant sale is back!  It will be part of the Anglican Church’s Tailgate Sale that takes place that day.  Plants donated by Club members are sold at very reasonable prices.  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. 

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Summer – June-July

 Garden tours outside the Chelsea area

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