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It’s been a big week for us and we’re happy to announce a bunch of exciting gardening workshops coming up in February and March.

First, don’t forget our Fruit Tree Pruning workshop with Connie Kuramoto, Feb 6th or 8th from 1 pm to 2:30 at the Arrowsmith Lodge Heritage Orchard. Connie is a fantastic presenter and has offered this class for us the past number of years, it’s a proven winner. Click here for Friday or here for Sunday‘s class

Next will be a Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop Feb 28th at 1 pm, with Katie Janeway from Denman Island Heritage Apples. Katie is a regional orchard expert and she’ll teach us proper fruit tree grafting tools and methods in a small class setting. There will be hands-on training showing various techniques, with plenty of practice material on-hand. Tickets are $35. plus Eventbrite fees. Click here for registration.

After that will be Soil Building 101, on March 5 from 6:30-8:00, a new workshop developed for us by Al Chomica, local soil guru and whisperer. He’s going to explore soil health and soil building techniques and concepts, including composting, bokashi, humus, living microbes biochar and much more. Intended for beginner and intermediate soil stewards, Al puts on a fantastic workshop, and will fill you with knowledge you can put into practice in your garden. Click here for the class registration.

Finally, Michalina Hunter from Cicada Seeds is back with her Perennial Vegetables Workshop, March 12 from 6:30-8:00 Michalina is a local Errington seed saver, grower and distributor, and she’ll explore the how, why and which of incorporating perennial vegetables into your garden. Perennial vegetable advantages include: less work, more resilient, store more carbon, fill the early spring Hunger Gap, preserve soil health, and then some. Go here for your tickets.

There’s no question that growing and accessing local food will be more important than ever in 2026, and we’re preparing to do our part

Starting with our first workshops of the season

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop, Friday Feb 6 or Sunday Feb 8, 1:00 pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980280690854?aff=oddtdtcreator

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980282916511?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join Master Gardener and educator Connie Kuramoto at the Arrowsmith Lodge Heritage Orchard. You’ll learn about proper tools and techniques to help maintain and maximize the health and yields of your fruit trees. Choose either Friday Feb 6th or Sunday Feb 8th at 1 pm. Tickets are $25, follow the Eventbrite links to reserve your spot.

Note, we always retain a couple workshops admissions for anyone limited by funds, please just send us a dm so we can accommodate you.

What name best represents our values and mission for the future? 

Welcome to the Pumpkin Carving Party! Join us for a spooktacular time at 133 McMillan St. in the MAC Community Garden. Bring your creativity and carving skills to create the most boo-tiful pumpkin masterpiece. Whether you’re a carving pro or a first-timer, this event is perfect for everyone. Pumpkins will be provided as supplies last. If you can, please donate by purchasing a ticket. Let’s get into the Halloween spirit together. See you there!

We’re deep into fruit picking season right now, but we still have time to organize fun social and educational events.

First off, September 20 will see our annual Apple Festival and Harvest Swap. We’ll have our own hot apple cider on tap, apple desserts, an Apple Pie contest and a live piano players. It’s a celebration of a wonderful growing season. We encourage gardeners and farmers to bring their excess produce to share and trade with others. Saturday Sept 20 at the MAC Community Garden, 3:30-7:30 pm

This is the busiest time of the year in the garden and in life, but we realize it’s been 3 months since our last update. Unfortunately, Facebook is still the quickest, easiest way to keep updated.

We are deep into fruit picking and processing season. As of today, Sept 2, we’ve picked and shared 2450 pounds of local fruit.

Other upcoming events to watch out for

Apple Festival Sept 20

Ghost Stories in the Garden Oct 3

Orchard Maintenance Workshop Oct 4

Pumpkin Carve-Out Oct 25

Just to keep you up to date on the Community Garden as of June 3, 2025.

We’re picking food and giving away food every day, mostly lettuce, kale, chard, green onions and herbs. The peas are in flower. Lots of bees in the raspberries. Tomatoes and squash are still in the greenhouse, thanks to a cool and damp spring. Our permaculture food forest is establishing itself nicely. Other fruit trees are also getting used to their new homes after we planted them early this spring.

The garden piano has been moved outside for the season, and we’re gearing up for a Strawberry Social and Piano Party on June 10th, from 11 am – 1 pm.

Enjoy this gallery of photos, which should take the place of 1000s of words. Better yet, come for a visit, we’re at 133 McMillan St. in Parksville, BC.

We received a great show of support and a welcome cash infusion from Parksville Rotary this weekend. This $5000 grant will help us grow and distribute more fresh, healthy food directly from our downtown Parksville location. We’re already crushing last year’s totals and we’ve barely begun the growing season.

Did you know that Parksville’s Rotary Club mobilizes 30 volunteers per week, and processes about 25,000 recyclable bottles and cans. That’s amazing!

‘Produce food and give it away’: Parksville gardeners start unique project