Marty Gibb, manager of engineering and utility services, makes opening remarks at the inaugural Learning Local Landscapes workshop. Photo by Jason McLeod.
A new gardening club has sprung to life on campus.
The club has organized a series of five Learning Local Landscapes workshops hosted by community experts and UBC Okanagan faculty members. The workshops began in August and are continuing throughout September and October.
Okanagan Xeriscape Association founder Gwen Steele gives her Introduction to Xeriscaping presentation at the inaugural Learning Local Landscapes workshop. Photo by Jason McLeod.
On August 25 over 25 staff and faculty members gathered for the inaugural Gardening Club workshop: Okanagan Xeriscape Association founder Gwen Steele’s Introduction to Xeriscaping. Xeriscape is a sustainable method of landscaping that can produce beautiful low-maintenance Okanagan gardens in almost any style and Steele’s workshop covered everything from planning and design to planting and maintenance.
Participants will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty again when the club reconvenes on September 15 to plant a xeriscape garden in front of the Engineering Management and Education building.
The club has also announced its final workshop for this year. Ken Salvail of Ken’s Horticultural Services will join the club on October 20 to wrap up the series and help participants get their gardens ready for winter.
Open to all faculty and staff at no charge, these workshops are organized by Facilities Management and will provide gardening tools and everything that’s needed to participate.
A full list of upcoming workshops is available at https://news.ok.ubc.ca/finance-operations/2016/08/23/ubco-gardening-club-presents-learning-local-landscapes-workshops/
Drop-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is requested. To RSVP or find out more, contact Natalie Ingram at natalie.ingram@ubc.ca.
Facilities Management gratefully acknowledges the support of Healthy Workplace Initiatives Funding in kick-starting this initiative.
