Workshops
Fruit Tree Management and Pruning
Course ID: HGGP 001
Would you like to be able to confidently prune your own fruit trees? Join Bernie Dinter to gain a basic understanding of how to manage and prune fruit trees to keep them healthy and productive for many years. This workshop will include a presentation in the classroom (St. Ann's building) and a demonstration in the orchard at Providence Farm.
Guest Instructor: Bernie Dinter
February 23 | 1:30 to 4 pm.
Fee: $35 + GST
Register for Fruit Tree Management and Pruning
How to Prevent and Prepare for Fires on your Farm
Course ID: BAYF 001
Join a local farmer and representatives from the FireSmart Program at Emergency Management Cowichan (CVRD) to learn how to apply FireSmart principles to farm properties. Proactive planning and implementation of FireSmart activities is proven to increase the resiliency of farms to wildfire and other hazards. It will also improved human and livestock safety. This half-day workshop will be held at a working farm to examine typical at-risk structures and landscapes in detail.
After a short presentation on the program and services available specifically for farmers, there will be an outdoor workshop with a number of themed stations:
farm house hazard mitigation
outbuilding hazard mitigation
landscape management
forest edge fuel reduction.
In addition to planning and mitigation, the workshop will also address other topics such as response, evacuation and recovery.
This workshop will be held at Soggy Bottom Farm in Ladysmith.
March 9 | 1 to 4 pm.
Fee: $15 + GST
Register for How to Prevent and Prepare for Fires on your Farm
Basic Maintenance and Operation of Farm Equipment
Course ID: SWIC 011
Would you like to increase productivity, decrease machine down time, and limit costly repairs? This course will review practices used in the maintenance, preventative maintenance, and operation of farm equipment.
John Spencer will discuss the engine cooling system, engine lubrication system, engine fuel system, engine air system, electrical system, transmission and hydraulic systems, tires and ballasting, proper attachment of towed implements, implement drive lines (PTO), fuels, oils and lubricants, blade sharpening and more.
Session 1 will focus on lawn mowers, weedwhackers, chainsaws and other small equipment
Session 2 will focus on large equipment
Register for one or both sessions. This workshop will be held at Providence Farm.
March 23 + 30 | 1 to 4 pm.
Fee: $60 + GST/session
Register for Basic Maintenance and Operation of Farm Equipment
Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping
Course ID: HGBK 001
Are you interested in becoming a beekeeper, or are you new to raising bees? In this course, you will learn about tools and equipment, pests and diseases of the honeybee, and other essentials for the first years of beekeeping. In addition, this workshop will explore the top pollinator plants that you could establish to provide forage for honeybees and other native pollinators. This workshop will be held at the Cowichan campus in the Lecture Theatre (room 140).
Guest Instructor: Gordon MacKay
April 12, 19, 26 | 1 to 3 pm.
Fee: $95 + GST
Register for Backyard Beekeeping
Backyard Chickens – How to Have a Healthy Flock
Course ID: HGCE 001
Would you like to learn more about keeping your backyard chickens happy and healthy? Join James Lockwood of Lockwood Farms for an introduction to breed selection, housing, protection from predators, feed requirements, health concerns, biosecurity and more. This workshop will be held at the Cowichan campus in the Lecture Theatre (room 140).
March 29 | 1 to 3pm & April 5 | 1 to 4 pm.
Fee: $75 + GST
Questions?
For questions about any of these workshops, email PDTCowichan@viu.ca.
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