The ground is thawing and soon it’ll be time to start working the soil again.
Whether you’re a long-time gardener or brand new to growing your own food, the Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks have got you covered this spring. Join an upcoming workshop to learn skills on early spring planting, growing Japanese vegetables, making the most of patios or small garden spaces, how to manage pests, and more.
There are also opportunities across the city to learn new skills, meet other gardeners, and volunteer in your community.
Read on to learn more.
March 16, 2019 // Garden Work Party & Early Spring Planting workshop
50 East 30th Avenue from 12:00-2:00 PM
Riley Park Community Garden
Join Riley Park gardeners to prepare the orchard area and for an Early Spring Planting workshop led by Chris Billion of One Love Farm (starts at 1pm). Gardeners will be planting the bed for the new residents of the Modular Housing unit at 37th/ Main. This will be the first of three seed planting workshops this year with Chris to demonstrate year-round tips to grow vegetables.
For more info contact info@rileyparkgarden.org.
Mar 17, 2019 // Community Potluck, Seed Library & Workshop – West End
870 Denman Street from 1:00-2:30PM
West End Community Centre, Barclay Room
Join West End Neighbourhood Food Network and Village Vancouver at their monthly family friendly gatherings. Bring something yummy, share some good food and conversation with neighbours. Each month they present a mini-workshop on a different food and/or gardening related topic. The topic for March is amendments and fertilizers for patio and balcony gardeners.
Register online or by calling 604-257-8333, reference activity #199941
March 17, 2019 // West End Urban Garden Club meeting
870 Denman Street from 2:30-3:30PM
West End Community Centre, Barclay Room
The featured activity at this March meeting will be making seed packets. Organized by West End Neighbourhood Food Network, a group which shares information, organizes food and gardening workshops, saves and distributes seed, explores possibilities for creating more gardening spaces in the West End, and engages in other food and gardening related activities.
Register online or by calling 604-257-8333, reference activity #199951
March 19, 2019 // Community Gardens Networking and Meetup
3981 Main Street, Vancouver from 6:30-8:30 PM
Little Mountain Neighbourhood House
Community garden organizers and members from across Vancouver are invited to get together, share experiences and learn from one other. Join Riley Park Community Garden and Vancouver Parks Board (VPB) to share successes on how to engage community, what is working in your garden, common challenges, and how to work together.
Reserve your spot here. For more info, contact Joanne at joanne_mackinnon@lmnhs.bc.ca.
March 21, 2019 // Seed Swap – Collingwood
5288 Joyce Street from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Join us for our first seed swap of the year to trade or purchase new seeds and get your garden ready for the spring season! We will accept cash or swaps of seeds from your own garden in exchange for seeds from our collection. Find Renfrew-Collingwood Food Security Institute in the main entrance lobby of Collingwood Neighbourhood House.
March 21, 2019 // Garden Volunteer Meeting – West End
1019 Broughton Street at 6:00 PM
Gordon Neighbourhood House
The sun’s out and temperatures are warming up, which means the growing season is just around the corner! Interested in getting involved in the gardens at Gordon Neighbourhood House this spring and summer? Come learn about our garden programs at this garden volunteer meeting.
For more information, email joey@gordonhouse.org
March 21, 2019 // Start Your Own Seedlings Workshop
5288 Joyce Street from 6:00-8:00PM
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Save money, and grow a wider variety of garden veggies by starting your own seedlings! This workshop will go over everything you need to know to start your own vegetable seedlings: From what soil to use, to moisture and light requirements, to troubleshooting, and building your own DIY seedling setup.
Workshop is by Donation $5-$20 – no one turned away for lack of funds. RSVP to foodsecurity@cnh.bc.ca OR 604-435-0323 x. 237
March 23, 2019 // Seed Library Pop-up – Grandview-Woodland
1661 Napier Street from 2:00-4:00PM
Britannia Branch, Vancouver Public Library
Get your garden going with seeds for vegetables, herbs, and more. Browse the Grandview Woodland Community Seed Library collection, borrow seeds, and check out the library’s resources on seed saving and gardening. Explore their seasonal goodies and discover new seed varieties! Pick up kale, tomato, and other seeds to start this month and next.
Seed quantities limited; please RSVP to gwcseedlibrary@gmail.com
March 23, 2019 // Introduction to Organic Gardening workshop
2929 E. 22nd Ave from 10:00AM-12:00PM
Renfrew Park Community Centre
Village Vancouver presents this workshop covering the basics of planning, preparing and starting a food garden. You’ll learn some simple techniques from Rhiannon Johnson for starting plants indoors and in the garden. Be rewarded with the taste of freshly grown veggies this season!
Register online or by calling 604-257-8388, reference activity #196424
March 24, 2019 // Introduction to Early Spring Japanese Vegetables workshop
2690 Larch Street from 1:00-3:00PM
Kitsilano Community Centre
Start the gardening season by growing these early spring Japanese vegetables. Easy to grow, nutritionally dense, yet not readily available, make the most of your garden by growing these wonderful veggies. This hands-on Westside Neighbourhood Food Network workshop led by Tonari Gumi Garden Club will focus on five early spring vegetables. Participants will be offered additional seeds and plant starts, along with a sampling of these vegetables in delicious, yet simple Japanese dishes.
Register online or by calling 604-257-6980, reference activity #200630
March 26, 2019 // Pests! Who’s Eating My Lettuce & What To Do About It
870 Denman Street from 6:30-8:30PM
West End Community Centre, Bidwell Room
As anyone who’s ever gardened before knows, pests can sometimes be a real problem in the garden (and can be particularly discourging if you’re a new gardener). This Village Vancouver/West End Neighbourhood Food Network Urban Garden Club workshop will be led by Karen Ageson from Farmers on 57th. Participants will learn various ecologically sound techniques for minimizing damage and disappointment caused by pests in your garden.
Cost is $13. Register online or by calling 604-257-8333, reference activity #199953
March 27, 2019 // Gardening and Pizza Lunch
3096 E. Hastings from 1:00-2:00PM
Hastings Community Centre
Come together with Hastings-Sunrise gardeners Lauren and Shayna to work in the veggie garden and make pizza with the harvested ingredients. Enjoy healthy snacks created from the abundance of our community garden while chatting about healthy cooking, eating, and gardening.
Register online or by calling (604) 718-6222, reference activity #204668.
March 28, 2019 // Growing Plenty of Potatoes
6810 Main St from 6:30-8:30PM
Sunset Community Centre
Learn how and when to plant, grow, harvest, and store potatoes in this Village Vancouver workshop with Rhiannon Johnson. We’ll discuss the best varieties for our area, preparation for planting, feeding, preventing problems, and much more for growing tasty potatoes! Each participant will take potato ‘seed’ home with them.
Register online or by calling 604-718-6505, reference activity #202822
March 30, 2019 // Introduction to Organic Gardening workshop
1318 Cartwright Street from 10:00AM-12:00PM
False Creek Community Centre
Village Vancouver presents this workshop covering the basics of planning, preparing and starting a food garden. You’ll learn some simple techniques from Rhiannon Johnson for starting plants indoors and in the garden. Be rewarded with the taste of freshly grown veggies this season!
Register online or by calling 604-257-8195, reference activity #192441
April 4 to September 5, 2019 // Gardening Course: Grow Your Own Food
700 West 57th Ave from 6:30-8:00pm, every 2nd Thursday
The Farmers on 57th at George Pearson Centre
Come experience the joy of growing your favourite vegetables under the guidance of professional gardeners and educators, Karen Ageson and Jess Henry. The learning will be hands-on: you will plan, plant and tend your own garden plot, with instruction and support throughout the growing season. Along the way, you’ll learn about garden planning, soil health, seed starting, transplanting, weeding, watering and organic pest control.
$300 for 12 instructional sessions, supplies and use of a garden plot approx. 4’ x 8.′ We encourage you to garden with your family—registration cost is per plot, not per person. All supplies are included (except gardening gloves) and the food you grow is yours to enjoy.
Register online to reserve your spot in the course. If you have any questions or concerns, contact karen@farmerson57th.ca or 778-997-3609.
April 6, 2019 // West End Food Series: Growing Japanese Vegetables Workshop
1019 Broughton Street from 1:00-3:00pm
Gordon Neighbourhood House
Come learn how to grow and cook delicious Japanese vegetables. In this hands-on workshop, Makiko from Tonari Gumi will show us how to grow and cook simple recipes featuring five popular Japanese vegetables and herbs.
Free to attend. Register online. For more info, contact foodseries@gordonhouse.org or call 604-683-2554.
April 16, 2019 // Veggie Gardening for Beginners Workshop
5288 Joyce Street from 6:00-8:00pm
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Always wanted to learn how to grow your food but don’t know where to start? Have you tried but been met with frustration? This beginners-level gardening workshop will go over all the basics you need to know to start growing your own vegetables: Soil health basics, planting (from seed and transplanting), watering, fertility, harvesting, plant health, and troubleshooting. Learn about the most common vegetable plant families and what they need to thrive!
Free or by donation. RSVP to foodsecurity@cnh.bc.ca to reserve your spot. For more information, call 604 435 0323.
April 27, 2019 // Seed Library Pop Up
1661 Napier Street from 2:00-4:00pm
Britannia Branch, Vancouver Public Library
Get your garden going with seeds to grow vegetables, herbs, and more with a collection of seasonal goodies and new varieties! At this Grandview Woodland Community Seed Library event, sign up as a seed library member, browse the collection, and borrow seeds. Pick up bean, cucumber, and other seeds to start this and next month.
Seed quantities limited; please RSVP to gwcseedlibrary@gmail.com or through the Facebook event.
May 9, 2019 // Indigenous Plant Walk on Wild & Native Medicinals
1661 Napier Street from 6:30-8:30pm
Britannia Community Centre, meet in the school garden at the far west end of the parking lot and skateboard courts.
Lori Snyder is an Indigenous Herbalist, educator, storyteller, artist and Mother. Lori hosts workshops teaching about our living world, how to access its wisdom and to remember our stewardship. Come out and discover how to identify, when best to harvest & sample products in this interactive workshop. Meet in the Britannia school garden, far west end of the parking lot and skateboard courts.
Cost is $25. Register by calling 604-718-5800.
May 22, 2019 // Apothecary Garden Plants for Your Well-being workshop
1661 Napier Street from 6:00-9:00pm
Britannia Community Centre, Youth room
Explore the exciting world of the Apothecary Garden and learn about the many herbs and their power to cure, legends and fairy tales to discover; the science of remedies preparation, and administration routes. Participants will have an opportunity to taste herbal teas and make a take-home remedy with medicinal and cosmetic properties to heal minor skin wounds, cuts and burns, sunburn, red and inflamed skin, and dry winter skin!
Cost is $20. Register online or by calling 604-718-5800.
June 6, 2019 // Building Healthy Soil workshop
870 Denman Street from 6:30-8:30pm
West End Community Centre
Learn some rudimentary soil biology and the importance of feeding your soil in building a healthy garden with Karen Ageson from Farmers on 57th. You’ll walk away with some basic techniques, and the know how to help your garden thrive.
$13. Register online or by calling (604) 257-8333, reference activity #213177.
