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Past Events

Organic garden workshop informs new and experienced gardeners

Master Gardener Beth Austin discusses the joys and challenges of gardening, with those who attended the London Community Resource Centre Community Gardens Program's Organic Gardening Workshop held at the Loblaws on Wonderland Road South, April 23.

By Ross McDermott, LCRC Staff

The Organic Garden Workshop hosted by the London Community Resource Centre’s Community Garden

Program, April 23 at 7 p.m., provided valuable gardening tips and information to both the experienced

green thumbs and new gardeners alike.   (Organic Gardening Tips From Master Gardener Beth Austin)

The workshop, facilitated by Master Gardener Beth Austin, was held at the Loblaws store on Wonderland

Road South, and saw 46 people attend the informational event.

In defining an organic garden, Beth told those in attendance there are many aspects to consider.

"It isn't black and white -- it's a continuum. There are levels of adherence, but basically and most simply it means no man-made

pesticides or fertilizers, and that's what we're looking for in community gardening."

Other things to consider with an organic garden: were purchased plants and seeds produced locally?; and the lenght of time a plot of

land has to be cultivated organically. 

"One source I found said the land has to be worked five years free of chemicals before it can be considered an organic plot,"

Beth said. 

The workshop covered numerous topics: prepping the soil; planning the layout of the plot; choosing your

crops; moving plants from indoors to the outdoor garden environment; weed and pest management; feeding

your garden; and watering.

A similar workshop was held at the Middlesex-London Health Unit, May 5, specifically for London’s Spanish

community.

Approximately 35 people turned out and once again Master Gardener Beth Austin, with the help of a translator, conveyed valuable

information to those in attendance.

More LCRC workshops dealing with a variety of topics – from gardening to food handling and preparation – are presently in the planning

stages.

Dates, times and venues are yet to be determined.