cswm comox valley compost education centre 2013 calendar of events

APRIL

April 11th Compost education centre opens for the season.

April 18th YOUTH MASTER COMPOSTER COURSE Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pmDate: April 18, 25 and May 2, 9 + 5 volunteer hoursLocation: Comox Valley compost education centre Youth master composters are people between the ages of 13 and 17 that encourage people in their community to start composting, and offer support to people who are already backyard composting and may be having difficulties or need encouragement. They will also be an essential part of the region’s solid waste management plan to reduce the amount waste going into the landfill. What’s in it for me?· raise awareness of the benefits of composting· to encourage more people to compost at home· to support those already composting to ensure they are successful in maintaining their composting activities. If you’re enthusiastic about achieving these goals then the master composter course right for you. To register or for more information on this training, including a copy of the course outline, please contact Patty Rose 250-898-1086.

April 20th Earth Day at the compost education centreTime: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Come visit the compost education centre on Earth Day. Learn more about waste diversion programs and other conversation programs.

MAY

May 4th USE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH SMART CONTROLS Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am The Comox Valley Regional District will soon be launching an outdoor irrigation rebate program which will be available to homeowners connected to the Comox Valley local water service area. Residents are encouraged to attend a pre-launch event that will explain how much smart controls can significantly reduce your outdoor water use while maintaining a healthy lawn and garden. Get the insider scoop on how to qualify for a $300 rebate and have your technical questions answered by a professional irrigation designer.Location: Banquet room at the Comox Valley Curling Club 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay

May 5th – May 11th International Composting Awareness Week

May 11thPOWER OF R - RE-PURPOSING SOMETHING FOR MOM WITH GAYLE BATESTime: 10:00 am There’ll be lots of ideas about how to create a gift that is wonderful for both your Mother and the Earth, but also some hands on crafting with CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates. This is a great opportunity for parents and kids 6 – 12 to work together on an original gift of love. Come with your creativity and any crafting items you’d like to share. (No glitter, please.)

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PHOTO: Youth master composter course runs on April 18th, 25th and May 2nd,9th.

2013 Calendar of EventsComox Valley Compost Education Centre

CENTRE HOURS: THURS FRI SUN: 12 AM – 5 PM SAT: 8 AM – 1 PM CONTRACT EDUCATOR: Patty Rose TEL: 250 898-1086

LOCATION: 4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay BC

The Comox Strathcona waste managment service supports waste reduction education and offers workshops to assist with waste diversion and conservation free of charge.

May 16th 6-WEEK GARDENING SERIES Dates: May 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 22 Times: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but did not know how to start. Sign up and enjoy this hands-on gardening course. Space is limited. For more information and to register call CSWM compost educator, Patty Rose 250-898-1086.

May 18th - 19th Victoria Day – no events centre open regular scheduled hours

May 25thZERO WASTE FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONSTime: 10:00 am Hosting a family reunion, graduation party, team celebration or wedding in the near future? This idea packed presentation by CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates, will offer suggestions for reducing waste and cost through creative planning, how to shop, what to share and crafty creations. Come with your own great ideas to share on how to make these events more wonderful than wasteful!

JUNE

June 1st KITCHEN WASTE PICK-UP WITH GAYLE BATES Time: 10:00 amAs Comox Strathcona waste management service organic collection pilot project launches for Cumberland and Comox, there may be questions, not only within those communities, but for Valley residents in general.What goes in there? What does not? How do I fold that spiffy newspaper liner for my counter top composter? CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates, will be here to answer questions and demonstrate some tips and tricks for organic diversion success.

June 8thEXPLORE OUTDOOR IRRIGATION OPPORTUNITIES Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 amJoin us at the Comox Valley compost education centre as we host Kevin Luterbach of Iritex Pumps and Irrigation Inc. for a hands-on demonstration of water efficient outdoor irrigation equipment. This workshop is for those residents who are interested in the CVRD’s irrigation rebate program or simply want to know more about ways to reduce their outdoor water consumption. June 15th LADYBUG RELEASETime: 10:00 am We will be welcoming thousands of ladybugs to our organic gardens to get rid of the common pests without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Join us for some fun in the gardens and remember to bring your camera!

PHOTO: Don’t miss the ladybug release event for all ages on June 15th.

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JULY

July 6th TIPS ON PESTICIDE FREE SOLUTIONS Time: 10:00 am Join local bug guru, Tyler Johns, as he shares safe and effective ways to understand habitat, identifying problem pests and eliminate bad bugs with natural solutions. This pesticide free session is part of the CVRD’s Nature Works public education program

July 12th - 13th No events - open regular scheduled hours

July 14thCompost education centre closed (Vancouver Island MusicFest)

July 20thPESTICIDE AWARENESS - BUGGY POLLINATORS Time: 10:00 am Tyler Johns, a local bug guru, presents and informative talk on good bugs verses bad bugs. Learn to combat bad bugs and encourage good bugs without the use of pesticides through the CVRD’s Nature Works public education program.

July 27th ALL ABOUT COMPOST Time: 10:00 am Build it HOT and build it PASSIVE, learn how to get the most out of your organic waste by composting successfully in this presentation by CSWM compost educator, Patty Rose.

AUGUST

August 4th - 5th BC Day weekend – no event open regular scheduled hours

August 17th POWER OF R - GEAR UP FOR A WASTE FREE SCHOOL YEAR WITH GAYLE BATES Time: 10:00 amWhat!?! We’re not talking about back to school already? Yes, because now is when families are planning and shopping for the coming school year. CSWM waste reduction educator, Gayle Bates, will be looking at how you can reduce some of the costs and waste of going to school – whether it is daycare or college, or anything in between. August 24th - 25th Comox Valley Exhibition – no event Open regular scheduled hours

August 31th - September 1st Labour Day weekend – no eventOpen regular scheduled hours

PHOTO: Gear up for a waste free school year with Gayle Bates on August 17th.

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SEPTEMBER

September 5th MASTER COMPOSTER COURSE Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Master composters are people that encourage people in their community to start composting, and offer support to people who are already backyard composting and may be having difficulties or need encouragement. They will also be an essential part of the region’s solid waste management plan to reduce the amount waste going into the landfill. What’s in it for me?· raise awareness of the benefits of composting· to encourage more people to compost at home· to support those already composting to ensure they are successful in maintaining their composting activities. If you’re enthusiastic about achieving these goals then the master composter course right for you. To register or for more information on this training, including a copy of the course outline, please contact Patty Rose 250-898-1086.Dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26. + 5 volunteer hours

September 7th WORM COMPOSTINGTime: 10:00 am What has no eyes and no lungs, but is one of our waste diversion hero’s? The Red Wiggler worm! Learn all the wonderful wiggly worms can do to reduce organic waste and turn it into rich soil.

September 14th ON LOCATION AT THE BLACK CREEK FALL FAIR WITH GAYLE BATESTime: 9:30 am - 3:30 am

September 15th ON LOCATION AT THE FLAVOUR GOURMET PICNIC WITH GAYLE BATES

September 21st PUTTING YOUR GARDENS TO BED Time: 10:00 am Leslie Cox, the Dutches of Dirt, gives an information lecture on “Putting your gardens to bed organically”. Reward your garden for the bounty it’s given by tucking it in for the winter and preparing it for next season’s crop.

September 28th No events - open regular scheduled hours

OCTOBER

October 5th FRUIT TREE PRUNING FOR PRODUCTION AND DISEASE CONTROL Time: 10:00 amLearn how to properly prune fruit bearing trees!Join Patty Rose, CSWM educator, as she teaches us the importance of training fruit trees to grow with proper branch spacing allowing for maximum fruit production and reducing the likelihood of disease on the fruit.

PHOTO: Learn about fruit tree pruning for production and disease control on October 5th.

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October 14th - 20th WASTE REDUCTION WEEK

October 12th Thanksgiving Weekend - open regular scheduled hours

October 13th Compost education centre closed for Thanksgiving

October 27th GREAT COMPOST PUMPKIN WEIGH-IN Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm The great pumpkin weigh-in is back! Bring your BIGGEST pumpkins to be weighed for prizes and refreshments at the Comox Valley compost education centre. There will be adult and children categories for prizing and bragging rights. All competing pumpkins must be grown in compost without artificial fertilizers to qualify for prizes. Location: Comox Valley compost education centre

NOVEMBER

November 2nd & 3rdPUMPKIN SMASH Time: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Join us to keep tons of organic waste out of our “local” landfill by having a smashing good time! This is a fun event for the whole family, enter to win prizes, enjoy refreshments and “SMASH” your jack-o-lantern. These pumpkins will be turned into rich compost instead of becoming a ghoulish waste.

November 4th Compost education centre closed for the season

For more information about composting visit: www.cswm.ca/composting

Comox Valley Compost Education Centre4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay BC

Hours of operationThursday, Friday, Sunday: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Saturday - 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Contract educator: Patty Rose Contact: 250-898-1086

PHOTO: The annual Pumpkin Smash event is being held on November 2-3rd.

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cswm comox valley compost education centre 2013 calendar of events

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