Beginner-Intermediate Level
Lecture or Hands-On Workshop
45-90 minutes

Participants will learn the basics when it comes to setting up and managing a backyard outdoor composter or indoor worm compost system. At the end of the session, participants will understand the differences between aerobic and anaerobic composting, balancing carbon-rich (brown) and nitrogen rich (green) materials, and how to build a low-cost setup with easily accessible materials. Common troubleshooting tips, composting best practices, and differences between other composting styles are also addressed. A copy of our e-book “Worm Composting – A Practical Guide by Young Urban Farmers” can also be arranged for participants.

Beginner-Intermediate Level
Lecture or Hands-On Workshop
45-90 minutes

Participants will learn how to select the appropriate seeds for their garden, understand the differences between heirloom, hybrid, and GMO seeds, what varieties to direct seed or start in advance, when to start seeds, creating or purchasing the right soil mix, choosing supplementary lighting, and troubleshooting common seed starting challenges. Participants will learn how to create a seed-starting calendar, how to read various seed catalogs, and why they should start their own seeds. Take home seed packets and hands on planting of various seeds can also be arranged at an additional cost.

Intermediate Level
Lecture OR Hands-On Workshop
45-90 minutes

Participants will learn how to grow delicious edibles all year round with season extension techniques. As part of the workshop, participants will create their own cold frame using materials locally-available, from found materials, and from commercial designs. Season extension logistics, timing of the extension crops, and weather considerations will be covered in this workshop. Perfect for community gardens, gardening groups, and school groups as participants can learn and build hoop houses, and row tunnels to install directly into their garden.

Beginner-Intermediate
Hands-On Workshop
60-120 minutes
Participants will experience hands on how to cook and prepare a variety of lacto-fermented products including yogurt, sauerkraut and lacto-fermented sodas. Other forms of fermentation such as kimchi, sourdough break, kombucha, and yeast fermentation for wine and beer can also be covered. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to to take home recipes from the course and sample jars of fermented products created during the workshop.

Beginner-Intermediate
Lecture or Hands-On Workshop
45-60 minutes
Growing edibles in containers can be both highly rewarding and aesthetically pleasing. This workshop covers the basics of setting up a container including choosing the right materials, selecting the appropriate size of container, the type of soil mix to be using, and what types of plants and plant combinations work best. This is one of our most popular workshops especially for those who live in condos and apartments and have limited growing areas. Take home transplants can also be arranged as part of the workshop at an additional cost.

Beginner-Intermediate Level
Lecture or Hands-On Workshop
60-90 minutes
Learn how to successfully grow a variety of edibles indoors all year round. This topic will cover the basics of sprouting, growing microgreens, choosing growing lights, overwintering plants, growing herbs indoors, and practical tips on how to get the most of limited time, space, and budget. This is a popular fall and winter workshop and can be tailored for large and small groups.

Beginner
Lecture/Presentation
45-60 minutes

This introductory lecture provides an overview of the current trends in urban agriculture both in the GTA and internationally. Various gardening methods including vegetable gardens, forest gardens, urban foraging, bee keeping, and livestock will be covered. Many photos and real world examples both locally and internationally will round out the conversation. Depending on time, maximizing yields, companion planting, controlling pests and insects, soil health, and our list of top 10 easy to grow plants provide practical tips and encouragement for participants to get growing after the workshop.

Beginner-Intermediate
Presentation/Lecture
60-90 minutes

This talk covers the basics of growing edible plants including fruit, vegetables, and herbs in an urban environment. There are many unique challenges and opportunities urban gardens provide, and this lecture will cover some of the differences when growing with in-ground gardens, raised beds, container gardens and vertical gardens. Discussions on other types of urban farming including hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, urban beekeeping, mushroom growing, foraging, can also be covered along with urban beekeeping, mushroom growing, raising chickens, foraging and the international urban farming projects happening in other cities around the world.

Beginner-Intermediate
Lecture or Hands-On Workshop
60-90 minutes

This hands delves into the world of natural pest control. Starting from the basics, it will cover cultural, physical, and biological controls, and then move into a discussion on organic sprays and remedies that can be purchased commercially or made at home with common household ingredients. Pests come in a variety of forms including insects, animals, and diseases. A discussion of these pests, their natural habitats, characteristics and feeding patterns will also be discussed to give participants a better understanding of the role different organisms play in the garden and how different pests can serve as early warning signals to soil nutrition, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental circumstances in the environment.