Workshops 2019

Our health and well-being is underwritten by nature’s goods and services. From providing us oxygen, food, and building materials to regulating climate and nutrient cycles and enriching our culture and spirituality, nature has our backs covered. Urban open spaces, such as our backyards, public parks and right-of-ways offer a myriad of opportunities to create ecologically rich landscapes in both function and structure. Using examples from local individual and community projects, this workshop will shine light on different types of ecological gardens, including pollinator gardens, rain gardens and edible forest gardens. Grab a shovel and let’s turn London into an Ecological City!

Harmful algae has become a persistent problem in Lake Erie over the last decade, threatening drinking water, making wildlife and pets ill, and reducing our recreational opportunities by closing beaches and making the waters unpleasant to be in or around. With much of the algae-causing pollution coming from upstream in the watershed, caring for rivers such as the Thames, will not only improve water quality locally, but also in Lake Erie. Learn how the Lake Erie Guardians are creating a fun and caring community to tackle these challenges, and becoming champions for our watershed. You’ll want to join them!

Beavers are nature's ecosystem engineers, creating diverse habitat for many plant and animal species. However in urban areas beavers can be both beneficial and a nuisance. Beavers can dam up and block natural creeks and rivers, creating flooding and hazard tree concerns. Beavers also present a major challenge in stormwater management facilities by altering their capacity and ability to function as engineered. We have adopted techniques to maintain functionality of stormwater management facilities and prevent flooding along creeks, while maintaining beaver habitat.

Are you curious about Zero Waste and reducing your impact on our precious planet? Are you already trying to reduce waste - and finding many challenges along the way? Wherever you are on your zero waste journey, this workshop is for you!

In this unique 2 part workshop learn about opportunities to connect with Indigenous culture. In Part 1 learn about the rise and fall of the extinct Attawandarons and their political power as peacekeepers among the Nations of Southern Ontario. In Part 2 learn about Tow Row on the Grand. Two Row on the Grand is the opportunity to paddle with the Haudenosaunee Nation. This is a 9-day trip from Cambridge to Lake Erie on the Grand River. The goal is to re-polish the chain of friendship, learn about the culture of the Haudenosaunee Nation and have fun together! It is the 4th year for this unique experience.

Ben speaks about the practice and background of forest therapy. What really is it? Why do we need it? Do you really just go into the woods and hug a tree for 3 hours (not at all)? Where has it come from? Where is it going? Can you build a forest therapy or bathing garden at home? What does it mean to designate a trail for Forest therapy in Canada?

All of this and more will be answered in Ben's talk in addition to finding out where you can go to try a guide-lead forest therapy walk and how you can contribute to an exciting and rapidly expanding global movement. Excitedly, Forest bathing now has international headquarters right here in the Forest City, Ontario.

*Coming Soon*

Imagine a landscape that requires no fertilizer, irrigation, pesticides, fossil fuels or tractor cultivation, and produces wonderful savoury food using only hand tools.

The Living Centre Educational Centre grew and harvested over 300 kg of highly nutritious tasty food and medicines in 2018 - all from wild and native plants! There are over 2,000 species of edible plants in Carolinian Canada and 97% of these plants are safe and many are delicious and full of nutrients! Think wild mints, roots ... even flowers!

In this workshop learn: why native edible plants are essential, about the Living Centre experience and goals for native edible plants, and the Top 5 plants to consider.

The Indigenous Foods Garden at Conestoga College and land sustainability program will include dedicated outdoor learning spaces on Conestoga College Campus'. These spaces can accommodate the delivery of Indigenous land-based academic programming. In this presentation you will learn how land-based programming is being developed and delivered in the region as a method for thriving.

*Coming Soon*

Whether your garden is sunny, shady, or somewhere in-between, how can you design beautiful combinations of native plants to provide a succession of colourful blooms throughout the growing season? This talk will inspire you with garden possibilities!

Bats are a fascinating, yet often overlooked, part of our natural ecosystem. In this talk we will learn some surprising facts about bats, and dispel some of the myths and fears that surround them. We will also talk about the bats of Ontario, how they are at risk and what we can do to help them. Along with a picture packed presentation, there will be bat related children's crafts and games.

‘Travel’ to a wetland and learn about all the ‘toad-ally’ awesome reptiles and amphibians that live right in our own backyards! Learn how to identify frogs based on their calls, turtles by their shell, and the one venomous snake in Ontario. Become a citizen scientist in Ontario TurtleTally and Frog Watch Ontario programs. Meet a real-life zookeeper and hear about all the awesome conservation projects going on at the Toronto Zoo, and even take a ‘shell-fie’ with our amazing replica turtle, frog, and snake sets!