Want to grow-your-own food? Wish there was a better way?
Growing food CAN be easy, and doesn’t have to be high-maintenance, delicate, rows of vegetables! There is an easier, more productive, more resilient way to grow food, and it doesn’t have to look like a farm. The food forestry movement is taking root in landscapes all around the world, but the truth is that edible forest gardening is an ancient and widespread practice that is many thousands of years old.
Whether you're a wannabe grower, bold beginner, or you've tried and failed, this workshop will teach you to grow an abundance food that looks as beautiful as an ornamental landscape, but also provides a year-round harvest for you and your loved ones.
Learn how to design and install your own low-maintenance, high-production, edible forest garden at home, whether you have a tiny backyard or an acreage. Through the art and science of food forestry, you can feed your family, create an edible nature sanctuary, and be part of the change you'd like to see in the world!
This workshop might be for you if:
You have always WANTED to start growing your own food, but don't know where to start.
You have TRIED growing food, but were unsuccessful.
You are AFRAID to get started because you are worried about all the hard work, time, and expenses.
You are are ALREADY gardening, but are overwhelmed with all the work and want more from your landscape than just ornamentals.
You want growing food to be BEAUTIFUL, inspiring, and more like a healing nature sanctuary than a high-production farm.
You just moved to a new home and want to explore the DELICIOUS design opportunities.
You are ready to CONNECT with nature in a deeper way, be nourished by FOOD THAT IS MEDICINE, and create a BEAUTIFUL FUTURE for the next generations.
In this workshop, we will explore:
What is a Food Forest, aka Edible Forest Garden?
Why is it often called “Gardening for 1000 Years”?
The Layers of a Food Forest (Canopy, Understory, Shrubs, Herbaceous, Groundcovers, Roots, Vines, etc)
The Deliciousness of Diversity
Companion Planting & Guilds
Converting Lawns & Building Healthy Soil
Preventing Pests & Organic Solutions
DIY Design Process & Onsite Layout
Installing with Ease
Maintenance (Minimizing, Mulching, Pruning & More)
Food Forest Recipes (Enjoying Your Harvest)
Live Audience Q & A
About The Instructors @ Edible Landscapes Design Ltd:
We are a team of passionate professionals serving home-owners, businesses, farms, and diy-ers to design, install and maintain edible landscapes that nourish the body, feed the soul, and regenerate the land.
Based in Victoria, BC, our team leverages 25+ years of combined experience and education in design, organic horticulture, tree care, market gardening, farming, restoration ecology, water management, and urban development.
Our lead instructor, Joshua Clae Wagler, is a passionate and sought-after instructor, having offered his educational services to over 1100 students since co-founding Edible Landscapes Design in 2013. He helped developed the Food Forestry curriculum for the Growing Young Farmers Society, was a teacher at Pacific Rim College’s Permaculture & Resilient Ecosystems Program, and has been invited to speak at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, for the Victoria Hardy Plants Group, Victoria Seedy Saturday Speaker Series (2018, 2019, 2020), and the Victoria Master Gardeners Association.
Feedback from Past Workshops:
“The passion and authenticity of your content is outstanding. It was a pleasure to be in your company thus far and to learn from you.”
Deborah Wickins, Professor at University of Victoria
“Well organized, timely, and informative.”
Lynne Calliste
“Your company goals and the way you present information is very inspiring. It is clear in the way you talk that there is a lot of passion and positivity behind what you do and it’s really valuable to me to be a part of it. [...] I left with a lot of information that will be incredibly valuable moving forward.
Stephanie Jacobs ‘2019 Design to Harvest workshop series’
“I appreciated the "aha" moments and the awareness that others also believe and practice that this is truly so much more than gardening in a physical sense.”
Tania Stearns-Smith, Program Director and Co-Founder of Blossoming at the Farm Society
“I received more than what I was expecting. Exploring the "inner landscape" was a new concept for me, as were the zones. So inspiring.”
Dale Jarvis, retired Elementary School Principal
“I love the energy from the two of you: calm, inclusive, holistic. It's a lovely learning environment that you have created.”
Deborah Wickins, Professor at University of Victoria
About Our Location (Mary’s Farm & Sanctuary):
A community organization that offers healing, growth and learning through dynamic relationships between humans, animals and the land they share.
“We desperately need places where human-nature relationships that are synergistic, regenerative, and in sacred balance are protected and celebrated. Mary’s Farm is one such island in a vast sea of unsustatinable industrial growth. This sanctuary has been and continues to be a place of rich healing for both my clients and myself.” - David Segal MA (Registered Clinical Counsellor at Human Nature Counselling)
Your Mission (should you choose to accept it):
To transform your lawn and landscape into a edible ecosystem bursting with superfoods!
Workshop Summary:
6 Hour Live Workshop
Intimate Class Size (Max 22)
Focused & Applicable Content
Experienced Professional Instruction
Engaging & Entertaining Learning Environment
Holistic Approach with Attention to Detail
DIY Resources & Recipes
In-Class Q&A Session x 2
EARLY-BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE (REGISTER NOW TO SAVE YOUR SPOT):
EARLY-EARLY-BIRD: $45 + tax (Before March 21, 2020)
EARLY-BIRD: $55 + tax (Before April 4, 2020)
REGULAR ADMISSION: $75 + tax (Before April 25, 2020)
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” - Chinese Proverb