Growing through the seasons: A unique gardening course for the Kootenays
By Nelson Daily Editor
After holding successful courses for the past three years, Frank and Libby Ruljancich are offering the course again this year.
Come learn from our 35 years of experience as we plant, grow, harvest and store food from our sustainable, organic garden and orchard (located northwest of Castlegar near Lower Arrow Lake).
This unique course will span the entire growing season with monthly classes specifically tailored to the time of year.
Participants will learn the art and science of growing vegetables, grains, and fruits, using sustainable methods. Included will be topics such as:
Garden layout
Soils
Starting plants and transplanting
Early garden and season extension
Garden record keeping
Mulching
Small-scale grain, and legume growing and processing
Variety selection
Irrigation
Composting
Seed saving
Harvesting, storing and preserving (freezing, drying, canning) produce
Preparing the garden for winter
Pruning fruit trees
Grafting
Selection and planting of small fruits
Choosing fruit tree varieties and rootstocks
Fruit thinning
Pests and diseases
Irrigation
There are many other topics that will be addressed, as well as topics that arise from discussions with the participants. There will also be opportunities to conduct horticultural experiments.
Each month, in addition, we will be observing and talking about what is happening in our garden and orchard. This way, participants can see the progress and problems in the garden from planting to harvesting, and in the orchard from bare branches to blossoming to harvest time.
The course will begin on Sunday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then be on the third Sunday of each month thereafter, through October, (except for September, when the session will be held on Sunday, Sept. 11).
Enrollment is limited, so please register early to ensure a place. The cost for the eight-session course is $320.
To register, and insure a place in this course, please send a check or money order for $320 to:
Frank and Libby Ruljancich
7109 Broadwater Rd.
Castlegar, BC, V1N 4V8
If paying in full presents a hardship, we will accept the payment in several installments. We do require a minimum initial payment of $100 to reserve a space for this course.
If you would like to speak with someone who has already taken the course, let us know, and we will give you a contact number.
If you have any questions, call Frank or Libby at 250-304-2718. Because we do not have internet access at home, please call us instead of e-mailing us.
