What: Free public presentations hosted by UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Pollinator Pasture Project
When: February 29, March 3, March 7 and March 13
Where: Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, (1380 Ellis St) and Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre (969 Raymer Road)
Website and schedule: blogs.ubc.ca/theecoartincubator/the-pollinizing-sessions
Need help in the garden this summer?
UBC’s Public Art Pollinator Pasture Project and the Okanagan Regional Library have lined up a series of talks to help gardeners plot and plan their summer garden so it can be a local haven for pollinators. The series of talks will help both experienced and new gardeners learn how to create pollinator habitats to support the irreplaceable role played by bees and other pollinating insects, says UBC’s Nancy Holmes.
Monday, February 29: Brian Campbell, the seed master of West Coast Seeds of Delta B.C. hosts a talk titled: “The Relationship Between Bees and Plants: Stresses, Problems, and Solutions.” Campbell is a member of the Master Gardener Association of B.C., a Certified Bee Master, and has an International Certificate in Permaculture Design. He teaches traditional farm-based skills and sustainable garden design. Immensely knowledgeable about native pollinators, Campbell is passionate about sharing his knowledge and skills with others.
Thursday, March 3: Local gardener and xeriscape expert Gwen Steele hosts: “Tips and Plants for Creating a Water-Wise Pollinator Garden.” Steele, a lifelong Kelowna gardener, is co-founder and executive director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association and has studied, practised, and taught xeriscaping.
Monday, March 7: Tracey Kim Bonneau with Of the Land Productions, hosts: “Traditional Ecological Knowledge—Local Plant Foods and Bees.” Bonneau, a Syilx woman born and raised on the Penticton Indian Reserve, is on a pursuit to love and care for wild-food knowledge systems. Her vision to share stories came to fruition as a 13-part TV documentary series, Quest OutWest Wild Food which aired on prime-time on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network last fall.
And if that’s not enough inspiration for the upcoming spring, Brian Campbell will be back on Sunday, March 13 to hold an afternoon workshop on how to grow native plants. This workshop is at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre at 969 Raymer Road, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Other than Campbell’s second event, all the talks take place at 7 p.m. at the Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, at 1380 Ellis St. Admission is free and people are encouraged to pre-register at: blogs.ubc.ca/theecoartincubator/the-pollinizing-sessions
This series is part of The Pollinizing Sessions: A Series of Talks and Workshops to Learn About Pollinators in Our Community, a partnership with Okanagan Regional Library and UBC Okanagan’s research project, the Public Art Pollinator Pasture.
UBC Okanagan and Emily Carr University have teamed up for a three-year partnership project with the City of Kelowna and the City of Richmond to create community and public-art projects around bees. The Pollinizing Sessions will host a series of eight talks and three workshops in 2016. Find out more information by contacting Nancy Holmes at 250-764-9666.
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