Sustainable Gardening program

The Sustainable Gardening program has been developed to appeal to those who wish to master the skills required to create a garden that provides for your needs while staying true to the natural conditions of the site. Thirty sessions will teach you current and reliable information. In keeping with the philosophy of the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, the emphasis is on responsible gardening practices.

The Sustainable Gardening Program focuses on an environmentally responsible approach and reflects the underlying philosophy of the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific- that we are stewards, not owners, of the land and that we only work with nature, not control it; that we will lead, enrich and educate our community in sustainable horticulture.

The Sustainable Gardening Program curriculum will be a combination of classroom instruction and field trips and will be augmented by home study and assignments. Local experts will add their particular knowledge with in-class lectures. The program texts are Sustainable Gardening and West Coast: Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control.

The instruction is relevant and up-to-date and covers all the gardening basics.

• Botany- including plant structure and physiology
• Soils - including texture, structure, fertility, pH, amendments and cultural practices
• Plant Health
• Site-specific plant identification
• Pruning
• Turf Management
• Berries & Orchards
• Vegetables
• Weed identification and control
• Plant pests and diseases- causes, identification and control
• Design your own site using the principles of sustainable gardening
• The use of ornamentals in the landscape
• Propagation- including cuttings and seed cultivation
• Landscape installation
• Container gardening
• Xeriscaping
• Use of native plants in the landscape

As the course progresses field trips are arranged to study practical applications of the principles studied.

This course is designed both for beginners and for those wishing to increase their existing knowledge. It will appeal to anyone with a keen interest and will be of particular use to anyone new to the Pacific Northwest and its unique gardening challenges.

Check back in the fall for dates and times.