LAC LA BICHE - Gardening in extremely dry conditions can be challenging – and that is a likely scenario for green-thumb enthusiasts this growing season.
Two Lac La Biche County departments - Environmental Services and Parks and Open Spaces - are teaming up to host free workshops designed to teach those eager to get started on their seasonal gardens how to manage drought conditions.
The workshops take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Plamondon Festival Centre on Thursday, April 25 and on Tuesday, April 30 from 6-8 at the Rich Lake Agriplex small hall.
According to Julia Shapka, acting coordinator of Environmental Services, and Lindsay Kozakevich, a horticulture specialist with Parks and Open Spaces, participants will be taught about water conservation and capture, pests that thrive during drought conditions, along with ways to amend soil to help retain moisture.
Shapka stated that the workshops will also show how to identify drought stress on plants and trees, watering tips and techniques, as well as gravity fed irrigation (GFI) set-ups.
“There will be a demo GFI system and a draw for a DIY kit,” Shapka told Lakeland This Week. “This information has long-term benefits in not only self – sustainability, but also in building better soil and water capture techniques.”
Shapka said this is a new initiative that has been met with a positive response from community members. Feedback after workshops, she continued, is welcomed as that organizers can improve on presentations, knowledge is shared, and they can also see what kind of workshops the community would like to see happen.
“We aim to support the community through hosting these workshops, providing valuable tips and techniques to improve gardening success during drought periods,” she said. “The workshops are for anyone who is interested and are aimed at all ages, in all life stages.”
In addition to providing members of the community with valuable information about how to garden in drought conditions, Shapka said the workshops are also a great way for people to come together and socialize. Furthermore, she added, the principles taught are not just useful for hobby gardeners, but also for U-pick gardens, larger scale businesses and growing operations, and can be applied to large agricultural projects as well.
Shapka said another gardening workshop is being planned for May 16. This workshop will take place in the Community Garden, where participants will be able to see the GFI in action. Those interested in registering for an upcoming workshop can contact the municipality.
