WORKSHOP: The Berkeley Composting Method – Building the Ingredients of Good Soil … Fast!; Wednesday, 2012 April 18 @ 7pm, UofL AH116

Typically, it takes approximately 1 year to turn kitchen scraps to "black gold".  Interested in creating garden-ready compost in just 2-3 weeks?!  Thought so …

In this workshop, Julia Mitchell and Jason Baranec of Southern Alberta Permaculture, will introduce you to a rapid composting method developed by Robert D. Raabe, Professor of Plant Pathology, Berkeley appropriately called (you guessed it!) the “Berkeley Method" of composting.

WARNING: This workshop will be hands-on as we will show you step-by-step how to create your own Berkeley Compost pile. Please come dressed to get a little dirty! It is recommended you bring work gloves.

Date: Wednesday, 2012 April 18
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: University of Lethbridge, Anderson Hall Room #116 (print a campus map)
Cost: Free to CRCGA members; $3 for non-members

Presenters: Julia Mitchell and Jason Baranec of Southern Alberta Permaculture

Based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Southern Alberta Permaculture (SAP) designs sustainable human habitat that is founded on working with nature. A sustainable system is one that maintains itself or produces a surplus. SAP incorporates ecological design solutions that seek to produce more than they consume. SAP encourages individuals and families to spend more time in their garden and less in their grocery. A renewed focus on improving our surrounding ecologies and benefiting from natural resources could have a very positive impact on present and future generations.

GARDENER ORIENTATION: Wednesday, 2012 April 11 @ 7pm in UofL PE264

The orientation for both new and returning gardeners will be held on Wednesday, April 11 in room PE264 (across from Tim Horton’s in the Wellness Centre) starting at 7pm. This meeting is mandatory for all gardeners.  It is very important that all gardeners attend.

The agenda (in no particular order!) will include:

·         Meet and greet  -- know who you are gardening with!

·         Orientation to the Garden’s regulations and gardener etiquette and rules

·         Completion of gardening agreements and distribution of keys

·         SEED EXCHANGE!  -- We always buy more seed than can be used in our respective gardens so bring along the extras and swap them with others!