Music In the Garden- Family Day, August 14th

MusicFest Vancouver: Music in the Garden: BMO Family Day: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the Great Lawn, presented by Music Fest Vancouver. BMO Family Day is back with even more to entertain children, parents, and even grandparents that love music and nature. Surrounding the Great Lawn you'll find a craft tent, an interactive drumming circle lead by Groove Masters Percussion, and the very popular Tom Lee Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids young and old can get their hands on an array of musical instruments.  MusicFest Stage Performance Schedule: 11:30 a.m. Bobs & LoLo; 12:45 p.m. Will Stroet and the Backyard Band; 2 p.m. Bobs & LoLo. Regular Garden admission charges apply. Children under age two are free. Tickets only available at the gate on the day of the event. For more information contact MusicFest Vancouver www.musicfestvancouver.ca

Orchid Society Orchid and Companion Plant Sale, August 13th

Vancouver Orchid Society Orchid and Companion Plant Sale,Floral Hall, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Information: Wayne Riggs 604.597.5709riggskw@interchange.ubc.ca

Zimsculpt

Zimsculpt - Zimsculpt returns to VanDusen for its third and final year bringing stunning stone sculpture from Zimbabwe. More than 300 pieces by several Zimbabwean sculptors are artistically displayed throughout the Garden. Two artists from Zimbabwe, Passmore Mupindiko and Patrick Sephani, will be in attendance throughout the exhibition and carving on site daily. All pieces are for sale with partial proceeds going to support the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association. This will be your last chance to see and purchase these stunning sculptures.www.zimsculpt.com

Poetry In A Chinese Garden, August 11th

Cedar Lecture: Poetry in a Chinese Garden, with noted Sinologist Dr. Jan Walls and calligrapher Yim Tse. Floral Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s presentation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; the only full-size classical Ming Dynasty Chinese garden outside of China. Dr. Jan Walls explores how poetry is used in classical Chinese gardens to examine nature and garden elements. Dr. Walls’ presentation is followed by a demonstration of the Chinese art of calligraphy by Yim Tse. Tickets: in advance from the Administration Office or, subject to availability, at the door on the night of the lecture. Individual tickets: Members $10 and non-members $15. Trio Pack: includes three tickets which can be used on any three lectures in 2011 - Members: $25 (for 3), Non-members: $40 (for 3). Information: educate@vandusen.org

Urban Permaculture Design Course

Urban Permaculture Design Course

With Erin Innes and Grant Watson 

Dates: Sep 9 - Oct 28, 2011 (Wednesdays 10 to 5:30 plus a weekend retreat Sep 30-Oct 2)
Registration: call Langara College at 604 323 5322 - course # 70849

Creating abundant urban communities that don't just sustain themselves, but heal the ecology around them and the people who live in them, is the frontline of sustainability activism; Permaculture gives us the tools to do it. Through 72 hours of experiential learning, earn your internationally recognized Permaculture Designer Certificate and learn what sustainable living really looks like in both urban and rural settings, as well as how they interact and support each other. Growing food in the city, ecological restoration and remediation, green building, community leadership, and sustainable settlement design are just some of the skills you'll learn in this demanding and inspiring course which will take you from urban farms and community gardens to the Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast, and your own backyard.

In the field: A portion of course material will be delivered onsite at the following locations and will include hands-on activities:

• Langara Community Garden
• Farmers on 57^th, George Pearson Hospital, Vancouver
• Glen Valley Organic Farm, Abbotsford
• Rolling Earth Farm, Roberts Creek
• Deer Crossing at the Art Farm, Gibsons
• Other venues may be added

For more information contact Leslie Kemp at Langara College: 604 323 5981

Course fee: $1100 (additional cost for weekend field trip, approximately $150). Some scholarships may be available; Langara college credits applicable.

Trafalgar School Garden Work Party

What: Trafalgar School Garden Work Party part 2
When: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1:00 PM

Where: Trafalgar Elementary School
4170 Trafalgar Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 0A1

C ome and help the teachers, parents and other volunteers at Trafalgar Elementary School to implement the second phase of their permaculture school garden.  We will be sheet mulching and planting a cover crop around the 11 subirrigated planters that were built during the first work party (the green and pink areas in the diagram).  These areas will eventually become fertility beds (green) and host a wide diversity of nectary plants to attract and keep beneficial insects in the garden (pink).

The sheet mulch will be used as a soil remediation technique (the garden is being planted on a gravel field) in combination with soil loosening and ground cover planting.

The work party will be from 1pm to 5pm at the school.  Stay as long or short as you like.

We are also looking for the following tools and materials to build the sheet mulch and condition the soil.  If you have a tool or materials from the list below and would like to come help out, please bring it along!

Tools/Materials we need to build the sheet mulch:

- cardboard (especially from large boxes)

- newspaper

- utility knives

- garden forks

- work gloves 

Hastings Sunrise Garden Tou

*2011 Garden Tour*

The Summer of Sustainability Garden Tour
Date: July 23rd
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Location: All over Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood!

http://sunrisecommons.org/garden-tour/

ALSO

Also, an article about US farm subsidies that may provide some clarity as to why agriculture has been going the way it has may be of interest...

http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2011/06/top-10-things-you-should-know-about-the-farm-bill/?utm_source=foodweek3b&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=farm