It’s that time of year! Let the Public Art Pollinator Pasture Project at UBC and the Okanagan Regional Library help you plot and plan your garden so that it is a local haven for pollinators. A trio of talks will be held on Monday February 29, Thursday March 3, and Monday March 7 to help both experienced and new gardeners learn how to create pollinator habitats to support the irreplaceable role played by bees and other pollinating insects.
Brian Campbell, seeding
On February 29th, Brian Campbell, the seed master of West Coast Seeds of Delta BC will talk about “The Relationship Between Bees and Plants: Stresses, Problems, and Solutions.” Campbell is a member of the Master Gardener Association of BC, a Certified Bee Master, and has an International Certificate in Permaculture Design. He teaches traditional farm-based skills and sustainable garden design. Immensely knowledgeable about native pollinators, Brian is passionate about sharing his knowledge and skills with others.
Gwen Steele
On March 3rd, local gardener and xeriscape expert Gwen Steele will talk about “Tips and Plants for Creating a Water-Wise Pollinator Garden.” Steele, a life-long Kelowna gardener, is co-founder and executive director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association (OXA). For over 20 years she has studied, practiced and taught xeriscaping. She was instrumental in the creation of the UnH2O Demonstration Garden on Gordon Road.
Tracey Kim Bonneau
On March 7th, Tracey Kim Bonneau, President of Of the Land Productions Inc., will give a talk called “Traditional Ecological Knowledge – Local Plant Foods and Bees.” Bonneau, a Syilx woman born and raised on the Penticton Indian Reserve, is on a pursuit to love and care for wild food knowledge systems. Her vision to share stories came to fruition as a 13-part television documentary series, Quest OutWest Wild Food which aired on prime-time on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network in the fall of 2015.
And if that’s not enough inspiration for the upcoming spring, Brian Campbell will be back on Sunday March 13th to hold an afternoon workshop on how to grow native plants. This workshop will be held at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre. All the other talks take place at 7 PM at the downtown Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, 1380 Ellis St. Kelowna. Admission is free but people are encouraged to pre-register. Go onto this website to register: blogs.ubc.ca/theecoartincubator/the-pollinizing-sessions/
This series is part of “The Pollinizing Sessions: A Series of Talks and Workshops to Learn About Pollinators in Our Community.” The Pollinizing Sessions is a partnership with Okanagan Regional Library and UBC Okanagan’s research project, the Public Art Pollinator Pasture. UBC Okanagan and Emily Carr University have teamed up for a three-year partnership project with the City of Kelowna and the City Richmond to create community and public art projects around bees. The Pollinizing Sessions will host a series of eight talks and three workshops in 2016. Find out more information by contacting Nancy Holmes at 250-764-9666.