Daily Archives: January 18, 2024


Saturday, January 27, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern – Edible Plants for Emergencies, Online

Are you concerned about food security and not sure where to get started? The past few years have highlighted the fragility of our food system, and many people are feeling urgency to take greater responsibility for their food and where it comes from. In light of drought and fires, supply chain challenges, the pandemic and lockdowns, unemployment, workforce limitations, and rising food costs, we are witnessing an unprecedented interest in food security, local supply chains, health & wellness, and immunity. People want to take action, but where to begin?!

This online workshop sponsored by Edible Landscapes Design based in Victoria, BC, focuses on edible plants that are particularly useful in the context of emergencies. We will focus on widely-available wild plants, nutrient-dense “weeds”, and fast-growing annual plants that ensure a quick and abundant harvest. Our lead instructor, Joshua Clae Wagler, is a passionate and sought-after instructor, having offered his educational services to over 2500 students since co-founding Edible Landscapes Design in 2013. He helped developed the Food Forestry curriculum for the Growing Young Farmers Society, 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), The Haven on Gabriola Island, and the Victoria Master Gardeners Association.

The workshop is on Zoom on January 27 at 1 pm Eastern, and is $25. Register through Eventbrite HERE

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 want fresh, nutrient-dense food, as quickly as possible

– You are looking for plants that are easy-to-grow and provide an abundant harvest

– You have no space or limited space for a garden, but still want to take responsibility for your food

– You want a personal food security plan that works in both urban/rural contexts

– You are interested in widely-available edible wild plants

– You are seeking a diverse approach to food security

– You want to deepen your connection to nature and engage your environment in a new way

– You want to feel more prepared and self-reliant in case of food shortages or supply-chain breakdowns

IN THIS WORKSHOP, WE WILL EXPLORE:

-Creating a food security strategy that integrates with your current lifestyle

– Psychological strategies for resilience

-Quick-turn-around crops

-Easy-to-grow edibles for bold beginners

-High-yield plants that produce throughout the season

-Resources for continued ongoing education

– Strategies for long-term food security

-Solutions for urban environments, including apartments and condos

– Growing food indoors and in small spaces

-Edible wild plants & weeds with recipes & resources


Sunday, January 28, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Growing Indoor Bulbs

Take deep breaths, slow down and leave your “to do” list behind.  Experience the therapeutic benefits of horticulture while planting bulbs which will bloom indoors with beautiful colors and fragrances during winter.  Feel calm and refreshed with positive energy by focusing on being in the moment and engaging your senses one at a time – sight, touch, sound, and smell – while interacting with sensory rich plant materials. 

Our New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill class on January 28 at 1 pm will include an overview of the therapeutic benefits and power of horticulture to understand why and how it can be used personally, and for people of all ages and abilities.  We will discuss the difference between therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy.  You will learn about benefits including increased relaxation, decreased anxiety, stress relief, sensory stimulation, hope, improved cognitive abilities, engagement in life, connectedness, and physical exercise.  It will be clear how plants and the natural world give you support when life gets overwhelmingly busy or stressful.   We will spend approximately 40 minutes delving into this.

You will spend approximately 80 minutes exploring and discovering the amazing world of bulbs.  We will learn together about what a bulb is, the richness of ones that flower and bulbs that provide us with food.  Have you ever seen paperwhites or Amaryllis?  Different varieties of these will be available for you to choose to plant.  You will take them home to grow and watch the progress as the leaves and flowers appear.  These flowering bulbs will look lovely on your kitchen or dining room table, in a family room, as a welcome by your front door or to give as a gift.  Join Deborah Krause, Horticultural Therapist, in these relaxing sessions where you may leave with a smile, feeling of calm and peace, and pride in your creation.

$85 for NEBG members, $100 for nonmembers. Register at www.nebg.org