Growing herbs is one of the most delightful things about summer gardening, and is the perfect first experience.   Herbs are among the easiest plants to grow, usually very forgiving, pleasingly fragrant, lovely to use decoratively, and the majority can be used in the kitchen as well as around the home.   

We’ll be discussing: 
- what to grow, which plants are the easiest to grow & which herbs will come back next year 
- how to grow, how to care for your plans, how to harvest & how to use

- herbs that are easy to use in the kitchen with some recipes for cooking with garden herbs.  

This is a hands-on class using herbs, vegetable and fruits that are easily assessable in an average garden.   
If you enjoy flavoured vinegars that can be bought at specialty stores or restaurants, prepare to be amazed at how easy it is to infuse your own!  Fun to create, use and great gifts too!. 

In the world of scented candles, air fresheners, and plug in deodorizers, most of us have forgotten that there is another way of naturally freshening up one’s home year round, using flowers from your own garden.   Learning how to make potpourri is easy, the supplies are inexpensive, and it's a way to reuse and recycle, not only your garden flowers, but containers. Your potpourri can last for years, and can be refreshened from time to time to put new life into it.  

Planning your garden and starting your seeds, these two things should go hand in hand but for many of us they seldom do. We’ll discuss a few techniques for planning your garden then move into the how and when of starting your seeds indoors. We will do a brief overview of the following:

• Germination

• Timing 

• Growth Conditions 

• Growth medium

• Potting up

• Problem solving and pest control

• Seeds that should be directly sown

Sharing some similarities with Mediterranean cuisine, Chilean cooking stems mainly from a combination of Spanish and Indigenous influences. Olivia will teach us about foods that are typical in Chilean cooking, giving us tips and hints, as well as demonstrating Porotos, a family favourite stew that incorporates squash, potatoes and other vegetables with Romano beans (a substitute), and sopaipillas (a bread). We’ll sample it, and you’ll be able to go home and make this hearty and delicious winter soup for your family. 
 

About the instructor: Olivia is a 1st generation Canadian, her parents having immigrated as refugees from Chile during the political coup of the 1970’s. She grew up immersed in a fusion of Chilean and Canadian cultures, helping in the kitchen preparing traditional favourites.  With her husband Fidel, they incorporate Chilean dishes and flavours into their daily meals.

From schnitzel to spaetzle, German food is hearty and delicious. Uschi will teach us about foods that are common in German cooking, giving us tips and hints, as well as demonstrating pork schnitzel and spaetzle.  We’ll top the meal off with sautéed red cabbage, and poppyseed cake.  You can go home and make this typical German meal for your family. 

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About the Instructor:  Uschi and her husband Wolfgang moved to Canada from Germany in 2007 with 9 of their 12 children.  They came for work.  She loves to do family history work, is an active gramma in the lives of her 16 grandchildren, and loves to learn healthy new ways of being SELF RELIANT

Things can be tricky here in the spring when the sun is shining and you’re eager to get things in the ground. We will discuss the difference between cold and warm weather crops, companion and succession planting and what you can do to get your garden ready before you put things in the ground.

The second part of the evening we will talk about composting and recycling in our city and climate. And who knows we may have a little time for some scrappy cooking.

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Perennials are plants that come back year after year, building structure and interest all season long. There are many hardy perennials that are easy to grow in Alberta!  These staple plants will keep your garden lush and full for years.  Perennial plants are also great for the eco-systems of our gardens.  We’ll be discussing which plants are suitable for your yard / garden - in the sun spots as well as the shady areas. Where to find them. Where and how to plant them. How to care for them. What you can expect from them.   

This workshop may be in the garden – or in a local backyard, and will encourage sharing of plants. You’ll be informed of location about a week before the class.