CSWM Shape your Future Guide

APRIL - NOVEMBER 2012 COMPOSTING & GARDENING | NATURE WORKS | SPECIAL EVENTS & DATES

SHAPE YOUR FUTURE WORKSHOP & EVENT LISTINGS

EDUCATING ALL AGES

For more information about composting visit: www.cswm.ca/composting

Follow comoxvalleyrd

Ask

A Compost

Educator

Q.

I have tried composting with very little success.

- What strategies do you suggest to help our family make nutrient-rich soil?

A. There are some easy steps to successful backyard composting.

• The right green-brown mix, roughly equal amounts.

Nitrogen-rich greens (grass clippings, plant trimmings, and vegetable scraps) Carbon-rich browns (dry leaves, straw, shredded newspaper) • The right amount of air and water keeps the biological process working.

Regularly aerate the compost and ensure pile is moist but not soggy.

• Heat--the higher the heat the faster your compost will “cook”. In cooler weather, the process will slow and may limit how much material you add.

Elaine Jansen

Patty Rose

Patty Rose and Elaine Jansen are compost educators for the Comox Strathcona waste management (CSWM) service. Elaine works out of the compost education centre located at 228 South Dogwood Street (across from Strathcona Gardens in Campbell River) and Patty Rose works out of the Comox Valley compost education centre located at 4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay.

Drop by the centres for a facility tour and get all of your composting, organic gardening and conservation questions answered.

Do you have a question that you want answered?

Email your question to compost@comoxvalleyrd.ca

For more information about composting visit: www.cswm.ca/composting

Follow comoxvalleyrd

Campbell River Compost Education Centre The Comox Strathcona waste management’s (CSWM) compost education centres in Campbell River (CR) and in the Comox Valley (CV) will open on Thursday, April 12th, 2012. Our on-site compost educators Elaine Jansen (CR) and Patty Rose (CV) will give you a facility tour and answer any of your composting, organic gardening and conservation questions. Elementary, middle and high schools, preschools, clubs and summer groups are encouraged to make arrangements with our educators to bring their students for an environmentally-focused and interactive session.

Locations and hours of the education centres: Comox Valley Compost Education Centre 4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay BC Thursday, Friday, Sunday – 12- 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Tel: 250-898-1086 Campbell River Compost Education Centre 228 South Dogwood Street (across from Strathcona Gardens recreation complex), Campbell River BC Wednesday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Tel: 250-287-1625

Purchase a Backyard Composter

Drop by the compost education centre to purchase your “Earth Machine” composters ($65.00 taxes included) and aerators ($15.00 taxes included). Our on-site educators will assist you in turning your yard waste and kitchen scraps into something useful this year – rich composted material for your garden.

‘Power of R’ Education Programs

The ‘Power of R’ is an educational program that focuses on waste reduction (rethink, refuse, reuse, reduce and recycle) and water conservation. ‘Power of R’ is a program of the Comox Strathcona waste management (CSWM) service which is a function of the Comox Valley Regional District(CVRD).

Our enthusiastic CSWM educators are experienced at tailoring their presentations to the age and knowledge level of participants. These presentations are offered free of charge, to classrooms of all ages or community groups in both the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). For more information on the ‘Power of R’ program visit www.cswm.ca/powerofr.

3

SECTIONS

PAGE

COMPOSTING / GARDENING

6

NATURE WORKS

12

SPECIAL EVENTS / DATES

14

SNAPSHOT 2012 - WHAT’S HAPPENING APRIL 12 14 19 22 21 28 28 28

Opening Day at the Compost Education Centres Spring Composter Sales On Location at the Earth Week Film Festival (CR) Earth Day All about Mason Bees (CR) Amending your Soil Organically (CV) Wake Up Your Composter (CR) Household Hazardous Waste Clean Up Event – Zeballos ball field

MAY 5 5 6-12 12 12 17 19 20 26

St. Peter’s Plant Sale (CR) Explore the Possibilities of a Green Food Digester (CV) International Composting Awareness Week Master Gardeners and Plant-a-Row Grow-a-Row seed pick up (CV) Mother’s Day Workshop for Kids (CR) Adult Gardening Series (CV) Container Gardens & Great Compost Pumpkin Seed Pick Up (CV) We Can Grow – Family Drop-In Gardening Classes (runs for 6 Sundays) (CV) Attracting Good Pollinators and Buggy Basics (CV)

4

JUNE 2 2 2 3-9 9 9 10 16 23&24

On Location at Oceans Day (CR) Help! Bambi Ate My Plants (CV) Power of R: Rethink & Reuse - On and Outside the Box (CR) Canadian Environment Week Bag the Bad Guys – Alternative Methods for Disease and Insect Control (CV) Household Hazardous Waste Clean Up Event – Hornby Island Transfer Station Household Hazardous Waste Clean Up Event – Denman Island Marcus Isbister Old School Centre On Location at the Diversity Fair (CR) On Location at the Quadra Island Quilt and Garden Tour

JULY 1 7&8 14 21 21 26 28

Happy Canada Day - CV education centre closed Campbell River Art Gallery Garden Tour (CR) Ladybug Release (CR) Medicinal Plant Walk (CV) Straw Bale Gardening (CR) BC Used Oil Summer Ambassadors on location (CV) Stuff Busters (CV)

AUGUST 11 Worm Bin Workshop (CR) 11 Organic Waste Collection (CV) 18 Worm Bin Workshop (CV) 25 It’s All About Compost (CV) 25 Ladybug Release (CR) SEPTEMBER 6 Master Composter Course (CV) - Also on September 13, 20, 27 8 Gardeners Roundtable Discussion (CR) 9 On Location at Pier St. Market (CR) 15 Saving Seeds for the Future (CV/CR) 22 Putting your Garden to Bed (CV) 29 Pruning for Production and Disease Control (CV) 29 Putting Your Garden to Bed (CR) OCTOBER 7 Thanksgiving Sunday – CV education centre closed 13 Growing Winter Crops (CR) 15-21 Waste Reduction Week 28 Great Pumpkin Weigh-In (CV) NOVEMBER 2&5 Campbell River Pumpkin Smash 3&4 Comox Valley Pumpkin Smash

All workshops and events are FREE and open to the public. Workshops and events related to pesticide alternatives have also been included as part of the Comoxv Valley pesticide awareness program.

5

Adult Gardening Series - 6pm-7pm May 17, 24, 31 and June 7, 14, 21

Composting and Gardening Wake Up Your Composter Spring composting is here! Learn how to divert 30 per cent of your household waste from the landfill by creating fabulous nutrients for your plants and gardens through composting. This interactive workshop demonstrates the basics including a variety of composting techniques. The compost diva, Elaine Jansen, will have recipes to troubleshoot your composting questions.

Date: April 28 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 10 - 11:00 a.m.

Adult Gardening Series Ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but did not know how to start. Sign up and enjoy this hands-on gardening course. Space is limited. For more information and to register call CSWM compost educator, Patty Rose 250-898-1086.

Dates: Thursdays May 17, 24,31 and June 7, 14, 21 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 6–7 p.m.

6

COMPOSTING GARDENING

Container Gardens & Great Compost Pumpkin Seed Pick Up The master gardeners will be on site to answer all your questions on growing in small spaces. They will also provide an overview on container gardening and edible plants in flower beds. Remember today is the day to pick up your great compost pumpkin seed for an opportunity to be weighed in for prizes in October.

Date: May 19 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

We Can Grow - Family Gardening Classes (Drop In) Drop in to the compost education centre on Sundays and let Patty Rose help you and your family figure out how to start or expand your own edible landscape.

Drop-In Dates: May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 24 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

HELP! Bambi Ate My Plants Oh Deer! Join master gardener, Dennis Ponto, for this informative talk on deer resistant plants and strategies. Dennis will be available to answer your gardening questions until 12:30 p.m.

Date: June 2 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Bag the Bad Guys Join master gardener Joan Wyden, as she answers all your questions on alternative methods for disease and insect control. If you’re bringing in samples of your plants please seal them in a zip lock bag for identification.

Date: June 9 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

COMPOSTIING GARDENING

7

Straw Bale Gardening - July 21 Straw Bale Gardening Would you like to have a raised garden in your backyard without all the back-breaking work of a permanent raised garden bed? As an urban gardener you can create a biodegradable equivalent of a raised bed. This is an opportunity to prepare for the 2013 straw bale garden season. Please dress appropriately as this is an outdoor workshop.

Date: July 21 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 10 -11 a.m.

From Salad and Veggies to Soil How are we going to achieve 30 per cent organics diversion? Let our educators assist you in implementing a successful organics recycling program, whether that’s through the use of a backyard composter, Green Cone food digester, vermicomposting, or some other collection programs.

Date: August 11 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

8

COMPOSTING GARDENING

Master Composters Course - September 6,13,20,27 Master Composters Course Master composters are people that encourage people in their community to start composting, and offer support to people who are already backyard composting and may be having difficulties or need encouragement. They will also be an essential part of the region’s solid waste management plan to reduce the amount waste going into the landfill.

What’s in it for me? ·

raise awareness of the benefits of composting

·

to encourage more people to compost at home

·

to support those already composting to ensure they are successful in maintaining their composting activities.

If you’re enthusiastic about achieving these goals then the master composter course right for you.

To register or for more information on this training, including a copy of the course outline, please contact Patty Rose 250-898-1086.

Date: September 6, 13, 20, 27.

Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 6 - 7pm COMPOSTIING GARDENING

9

Saving Seeds for the Future - September 15 Worm Composting What has no eyes and no lungs, but is one of our waste diversion hero’s?

The Red Wiggler worm! Learn all the wonderful wiggly worms can do to reduce organic waste and turn it into rich soil.

Date: August 11 Location: Campbell River compost education centre

Time: 10 a.m.

Date: August 18 Location: Comox Valley education centre

Time: 10 a.m.

It’s All about Compost Build it HOT and build it PASSIVE, learn how to get the most out of your organic waste by composting successfully in this presentation by CSWM compost educator, Patty Rose.

Date: August 25 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10:00 a.m.

10

COMPOSTING GARDENING

Gardeners Roundtable Discussion Drop by the Campbell River compost education centre and meet new people, share your stories, experiences with other enthusiasts. This is an opportunity to learn new techniques and offer tips and tricks to assist other passionate gardeners.

Dates: September 8 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 10 – 11 a.m.

Saving Seeds for the Future Join us as we welcome Lucie Desjarlais of Stotan Farm and also of the Comox Valley Seed Growers and Savers as she shows us how rewarding it is to save our own heritage seeds for sharing and for future crops.

Date: September 15 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Saving Seeds for the Future Join Elaine Jansen for an informative workshop about saving seed from your flower and vegetable garden.

Date: September 15 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Putting your Garden to Bed – (two different sessions) CSWM educator, Patty Rose gives an information lecture on “Putting your gardens to bed organically”. Reward your garden for the bounty it’s given by tucking it in for the winter and preparing it for next season’s crop.

Date: September 22 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Learn different techniques on putting your garden to bed at the Campbell River workshop.

Please dress appropriately as this is an outdoor workshop.

Date: September 29 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 11 a.m. - noon Growing Winter Crops Learn how to extend your harvest into the winter. Let Kira DeSorcy guide you through what can be grown successfully during the cool months of the year.

Dates: October 13 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time: 10 – 11a.m.

COMPOSTIING GARDENING

11

Ladybug Release - July 14 & August 25

Nature Works - Organic Gardening Good Pollinators and Predators and Buggy Basics Tyler Johns, a local guru, presents and informative talk on good bugs verses bad bugs. Learn to combate bad bugs and encourage good bugs without the use of pesticides through the CVRD’s NatureWorks public education program.

Date: May 26 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Ladybug Release We will be welcoming thousands of ladybugs to our organic gardens to get rid of the common pests without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Join us for some fun in the gardens and remember to bring your camera!

Date: July 14 & August 25 Location: Campbell River compost education Centre Time: 10 a.m.

12

NATURE WORKS

Mason Bees Learn about one of nature’s great pollinators. Join the CSWM compost education centre and the City of Campbell River to learn how you can have mason bees in your own backyard.

Our guest speaker: AL MORTON will cover topics such as: - The life cycle of our native mason bees and the importance of pollination - How, when, and where to start your bee colony - Building bee houses, nesting boxes and nesting tubes Date: April 21 Location: CR Community Centre 401 -11th Ave Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Pruning for Production and Disease Control Learn how to properly prune fruit bearing trees!

Join Patty Rose, CSWM educator, as she teaches us the importance of training fruit trees to grow with proper branch spacing allowing for maximum fruit production and reducing the likelihood of disease on the fruit.

Date: September 29 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

“Nature Works” is an education and awareness program developed by the Comox Valley Regional District that encourages the use of pesticide alternatives for municipalities with pesticide bylaws, and other areas that simply want to know more about creating pesticide-free lawns and gardens For more information on pesticide alternatives visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/pesticidealternatives

Nature Works Residents of the Comox Valley: the Village of Cumberland, the Town of Comox and the City of Courtenay, cannot use chemical-based pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) on residential lawns or gardens.

The bylaws for these areas prohibits non-essential use of pesticides and anyone using pesticides can be issued a ticket and fined by a bylaw enforcement officer.

The CVRD Nature Works display will be set up this summer season at various community events.

This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and pick up tips for a healthier garden without the use of chemicals and for the children to get to know a little more about “Ardy’s” contributions to the environment. To request the set up of the Nature Works display or presentation at a community event or place of business call Patty Rose, CVRD contract educator at 250-898-1086.

NATURE WORKS

13

Household Hazardous Waste clean-up - Zeballos, Hornby and Denman Islands

Special Events and Dates St. Peter’s Anglican Church Plant Sale Bring your wheelbarrow for your plants and your garden questions to our tent where the master gardeners will be on hand to assist you with your plant choices. Visit our display to explore the possibilities of a Green Cone food digester.

Date: May 5 Location: St. Peter’s Church and CSWM education centre (CR) Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Canadian Environment Week - June 3 - 9 Household Hazardous Waste clean-up The Comox Strathcona waste management (CSWM) service is hosting a household hazardous waste clean -up. Clean up and be safe. Check your garage, attic, garden shed and under the sink. Bring chemicals, pesticides, batteries, cleaners, fertilizers, gasoline and other unidentified hazardous waste to the household hazardous waste clean-up.

Date: June 10 Date: April 28 Location: Denman Island Marcus Location: Zeballos ball field Isbister Old School Centre Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

5901 Denman Road, Denman Island Date: June 9 Time: 9a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location: Hornby Island Transfer Station 3600 Central Road, Hornby Island, BC Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

14

SPECIAL EVENTS

Power of R: Mother’s Day Workshop for Kids This will be an informative fun event with CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates. After learning about the ‘Power of R’ – (rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle), participants will have the opportunity to create an outdoor garden (or indoor plant) ornament with reused materials, for gifting on Mother’s Day. Please bring reusable plastic bottles or items you want to see reused in a fun way.

Date: May 12 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time:10 – 11 a.m.

Power of R: Rethink & Reuse – In and Outside the Box CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates, will be on site for a ‘make it and take it’ workshop.

While discussing the power of rethinking, participants will be reusing materials to create a personalized keeper box for themselves or as a gift. Please bring a shoe box and your imagination!

Best for participants 4 - 11 years of age. Please call 250 287 1625 to reserve a spot.

Date: June 2 Location: Campbell River compost education centre Time:10 – 11 a.m.

Campbell River’s Art Gallery Garden Tour Join us at the centre as we host our 1st “Recycled Art” display in the gardens. The world is embracing environmentally friendly products and designs, and we have created and gathered an inspiring display of possibilities for your home and gardens. Tour the compost education centre’s demonstration gardens and talk with master composter Elaine Jansen. The master gardeners will be on site to answer the many questions that the tour evokes – How do they get such blooms?

Could I plant one of those in the shade? What was that?

Date: July 7 & 8 Location: Campbell River’s compost education centre Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Stuff Busters Find out creative ways to repurpose your stuff with CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates.

Discover new ways that you can rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle to limit the amount of trash that ends up in the landfill.

Date: July 28 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10 a.m.

Medicinal Plant Walk with Chanchal Cabrera MSc. of Innisfree Farm in Royston Join a professional medical herbalist to explore the medicinal uses of wild weeds like dandelion and burdock of familiar vegetables like artichoke, asparagus and tomato. Chanchal holds the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster. She is a certified Master Gardener and a certified Horticulture Therapist and she is author of the book Fibromyalgia – A Journey Toward Healing. For more information on classes and consultations go to www.chanchalcabrera.com Date: July 21 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 10:00 a.m.

On Location at the Pier Street Market Drop by and check out the innovative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle! Elaine Jansen and Gayle Bates, CSWM contract educators will show you easy-do-it yourself projects. Keep waste out of the landfill and money in your pocket.

Date: September 9 Location: Campbell River’s Pier Street Market Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

15

The Great Pumpkin Weight-In - October 27 CV October - The Great Pumpkin Weigh-In The great pumpkin weigh-in is back! Bring your BIGGEST pumpkins to be weighed for prizes and refreshments at the Comox Valley compost education centre. There will be adult and children categories for prizing and bragging rights. All competing pumpkins must be grown in compost without artificial fertilizers to qualify for prizes.

Date: October 28 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 2 - 4 p.m.

Comox Valley Pumpkin Smash Help keep over a tonne of organic waste out of the landfill by having a smashing good time on November 3 & 4 from 12:00pm - 5:00 p.m. at the Comox Valley Education Centre. Enter to win great prizes, enjoy refreshments and smash your jack-o-lantern. These pumpkins will be turned into rich compost instead of becoming a ghoulish waste.

Date: November 3 &4 Location: Comox Valley compost education centre Time: 12-5 p.m.

Campbell River’s Pumpkin Smash Join Elaine and the Carihi Green Team to keep tons of organic waste out of our “local” landfill by having a smashing good time! This is a fun event for the whole family, enter to win prizes, enjoy refreshments and “SMASH” your jack-o-lantern. These pumpkins will be turned into rich compost instead of becoming a ghoulish waste.

Date: November 2 & 5 Location: parking lot of Strathcona Gardens recreation complex Time: 12 – 5 p.m.

16

SPECIAL EVENTS

Pumpkin Smash - Comox Valley Nov 3, 4, Campbell River Nov 2, 5 SPECIAL EVENTS

17

THINK DIFFERENTLY.

WHAT CAN WASTE REDUCTION MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE?

October 15 - 21, 2012

Waste Reduction Week RETHINK, REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE (AND COMPOST) are aimed to inspire people to make choices and take actions that will lead to reducing the waste created in our community!

Did you know that more than 70 per cent of waste in landfills could have been recycled? By reducing and minimizing the waste we create, we prolong the life of our landfills. Diversion of items from the landfill saves energy and recycles material into new products. This is the kind of

legacy that benefits our children’s future.

For more information visit www.cswm.ca