Native Plant Producers Society of Alberta
Native Plant Producers Society of Alberta
Our urban areas can be dynamic, healthy spaces full of pollinators, birds and flowers. By shifting yard maintenance techniques, plant species and styles we can create eco-landscaping alternatives to conventional landscaping. Conventional landscaping and yard management minimizes natural biological diversity, has a huge environmental footprint, and requires a lot of work!
We are providing an introductory course in eco-landscaping with native plants. This is a hands-on interactive workshop, which delves into the benefits of native ecosystems verses conventional horticultural communities common in yards today. We will teach you to identify the major components of your yard, and how to create vibrant and low environmental impact native plant communities. To ensure you can implement your “Nativescape”, you will also receive up to 150 native plants, in early June 2010, as part of our course registration. The perfect time for planting.
Your instructors are Bruce Bashforth, co-owner of Bedrock Seed Bank, and Michael Rawson Clark, a Masters student in Plant Ecology at the University of Alberta. Bruce has been wild-crafting, growing and installing native plants for over 15 years. Michael has studied the impacts of bison, elk, deer and cattle on the prairie, plus climate change, invasive species and the behavioral changes required to shift to sustainable actions. Both bring extensive knowledge and practical skills to support you to incorporate “Nativescaping” principles in your yard!
Participants will receive extensive course material on all aspects plus receive
up to150 native plant plugs delivered to their location in June/July.
Retail value of the plant plugs is $337.00.
The Society is planning ten or more separate courses to be
held in the Edmonton area starting in early February 2010 and ending in early
May.
The plant plugs will be mixed native flowers and grasses in
flats of 72 or 96 plugs. Plant plugs containing mixed species were the most
popular, by far in 2009, plus this delivery method simplifies both the
production and implementation phases while maintaining ecological diversity.
To learn more about the plants
click here.
Maximum capacity for each
course will be 20-25 participants, with a minimum of 10.
Proceeds from this course will go to support the “Partners in Nativescaping” program.
We are looking to partner
with organizations and community groups to help us promote this course.
Due to the fantastic support received, we have booked our maximum number of
workshops for this year. There are 14 locations arranged for spring 2010.
If you would like to work with us to promote workshops for 2011, please call 780
916-8851.
Registration fee is $125.00 which includes G.S.T., for the course and up to 150
native plants for your project.
For participants taking the course, but no plants, the registration fee is
$80.00, which includes G.S.T. We ask all registrants to please bring
payment, in the form of a cheque or cash, with them and it will be collected at
the door on the day of the course. Sorry, we cannot accept any electronic
payment methods at this time.
Course dates, times and locations will be posted on this page as they are confirmed. Please include your telephone number on your email when you register.
West
Central Counties Area - Co-sponsored by the West Central Conservation
Group
Wednesday March 3rd 2010 Wildwood Hall, Wildwood 6:30
- 9:30 PM
Thursday March 4th 2010 Museum School Board Room, Onoway 6:30
- 9:30 PM
To pre-register please email
westcentralconservation@gmail.com
Strathcona County
Please note date changes from Tuesday April 27th to Thursday April 29th.
Sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused.
Wednesday April 28th 2010 Millennium Place 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Thursday April 29th 2010 Millennium Place 6:30 - 9:30 PM
To pre-register please email
nativescape@telus.net or call 780 916-8851
City of
Edmonton
Tuesday March 23rd 2010 Edmonton Public Library, Woodcroft Branch
13420 114 Ave. 6 - 9 PM
Wednesday April 7th 2010 Edmonton Public Library, Strathcona Branch 8331
104 Street 6 - 9 PM
To pre-register please email
nativescape@telus.net or call 780 916-8851
City of
Spruce Grove
Wednesday March 24th 2010 Spruce Grove Public Library Melcor
Cultural Centre #35 5th Ave.
6 -9 PM
To pre-register please email
nativescape@telus.net or call 780 916-8851
City of
Red Deer
Co-Sponsored by Rethink Red Deer
Tuesday April 13th 2010 Margaret Parsons Theatre Red Deer College
6:30 - 9:30 PM
To pre-register please email
nativescape@telus.net or call 780 916-8851
Parkland
Conservation Farm, Lamont County
Co-Sponsored by Communities in Bloom, Mundare and Kalyna Country
Ecomuseum.
Tuesday April 20th 2010 Parkland Conservation Farm 6 - 9 PM
To pre-register please contact Pamela 780 764-3927