Gardens, Chickens -- Home-Grown Food!
By rachael roussin
Concerned about California’s drought and its effect on food quality, availability and prices? Grow your own — it’s fun! And there are lots of resources in Rossland to get you started, to exchange ideas, or just to keep you company. Read on!
2015 Spring Garden, Market & REAL Food Events in Rossland:
1. Annual Backyard Chicken Crawl – part of Rossland’s Earth Day Celebrations
Saturday, April 18, 9:30am – 11:30am
Rossland REAL Food’s 7th annual backyard chicken crawl! Learn about backyard chickens on this self- guided tour of Rossland’s backyard chicken coops. No registration necessary. Maps available at www.rosslandfood.com
2. Gardening Workshop: “What to grow in Rossland and When to Plant”
Sunday, May 3, 10:00am – 11:00am @ the Rossland Community Garden
Learn what grows best in Rossland, when to plant and how to extend the season. Hosted by Rossland REAL Food and presented by Rachael Roussin. No registration necessary. Cost: $2
3. Community Garden Spring Work Parties
Come and get your fingers in the soil and learn about gardening at these casual community garden parties! Spring tasks include weeding, tidying and garden planning. Info about the Community Garden can be found at Rossland REAL Food’s website: www.rosslandfood.com. Garden contact: Kathleen Hill (250-231-9502).
Sundays: May 3 & May 24(9:00am – Noon) & Thursdays: May 7 & May 28 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
4. Rossland Plant Exchange & Sale
Saturday, May 9, 2:00pm – 6:00pm @ the courtyard beside Mountain Nugget Chocolate
Dividing perennials? Have extra seedlings? Want to share? Participate in the 1st Rossland Plant Exchange & Sale!
Exchange:For every plant you bring, you receive a token. Trade your tokens for plants brought in by fellow community gardeners. Extra plants, perennials and beautiful cut flowers for Mothers’ Day will be for sale!
5. Spring Garden Festival & Outdoor Rossland Mountain market
Thursday, May 14, 3:00pm – 6:00pm @ Queen Street and Columbia Avenue (beside NDCU)
First outdoor market of the 2015 market season! One stop shop for everything you need for another successful year of growing food! All the bedding plants you need, plus soil experts to help you address nutrient deficiencies and boost your soil!! More information available at: www.rosslandmountainmarket.com
6. Seed Saving Workshop Series presented by Rossland REAL Food
· Saturday, May 16, 9:00am – 11:00am (classroom theory)
· Saturday, June 27, 9:00am – 11:00am (in the garden – “how to select your plants for seeds”)
· Saturday, September 19, 9:00am – 11:00am (in the garden – “how to harvest your seeds”)
Saving your own seeds adapts fruit and vegetables to our mountain environment and also ensures seed diversity into the future. Learn from experienced seed saver Sarah Flood who is also a member of Seeds of Diversity, a national seed initiative. Cost: $40 for the three sessions. Registration via Rossland Recreation: 250-362-7396.
More Gardening classes and workshops
Keep your eyes peeled for foodie classes and events presented by local organizations including:
“Organic Gardening and Soil Workshop” with Gill Eames (April 15, $25) – Register with Rossland Recreation.
“Three-day Permaculture Design Course” with Andrew Bennett (May 8 – 10) – Register with the Monashee Institute.
