Seed Collecting: Native Plants Series

Resource person: learn@vandusen.org

Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden - Volunteer Lounge & Garden

Description:

Biodiversity thrives with native plants! Join this 5-session workshop presented by experienced members of the VanDusen Seed Collectors group. Learn proper techniques for harvesting the seeds from native plants found throughout the Lower Mainland and how to grow a square-meter meadow habitat that will promote and support biodiversity in your neighbourhood. Native plants sustain native species of birds, pollinating insects, butterflies and other equally threatened urban wildlife.     

This course will include two one-hour classroom sessions interspersed with three two-hour hands-on sessions outside in the VanDusen native plant collection. Participants will collect, dry and clean common seeds found throughout the Lower Mainland. More importantly, you will join the discussion about the importance of biodiversity in the community.   

If you are captivated by the topic, becoming part of one of the Garden's seed-collecting teams will be an option.   

Meetings will take place from May to September on the first Tuesday of each month:    

May 2: registrants will meet at Volunteer Lounge, 2 pm- 3 pm    

Overview of knowledge: the tools of the trade, basics of germination, the challenges of collecting, cleaning and preserving seeds, and a glimpse into native plants growing in the Lower Mainland.    

June 6, July 4 & Aug 1: Meet at Visitor Centre Foyer, 10 am - 12 pm    

Enter the Garden as a group. You will join VanDusen Seed Collectors with a focus on native plants. The outdoor sessions will follow the growing cycle of individual plants and participants will learn how to time the proper harvesting of seeds. Alternate sessions will be scheduled if it's raining on any date.    

Sept 5: Meet at Volunteer Lounge, 2 pm- 3 pm    

Clean and pack the seeds collected over the course for donation to specific groups. You will take some home too.    

About the presenters:    

The VanDusen Seed Collectors volunteer team harvests seeds of 300 species at VanDusen every year. One of their three groups is now devoted to native plants, focusing on harvesting seeds from 30 species annually. John Shinninck, Maryanne Brampton, Gwen Coleman and June da Silva will be the team members co-leading this workshop.    

Material:    

The recommended book: "Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Including Washington, Oregon & Alaska." By Pojar & Mackinnon. Revised, New Edition. Partners Publishing. Convenient for when you are out looking for plants.    

A notebook you can devote to seeds.  

Online pre-registration is required.    

Photo credit: Kate Miyamoto - USFWS

Available: Available

Price: $115.00 Taxes not included

Notes: Please note that registration will close at 4:00 p.m. PT, one business day before the event. Cancellation policy: No refunds will be given for education courses. A credit will be applied to your account for cancellations with one week's notice. With less than a week's notice, no credit will be given. No new credit will be issued if the cancelled course was purchased using prior credit. Program cancellation by the VBGA due to Public Health Restrictions will result in education program credit equivalent to the value lost. Credits must be used within one year from the date issued. Please notify us of your cancellation in writing to learn@vandusen.org

Prerequisites: Educational programs are available for both members and non-members. In order to register for a class, you first need to open an account with Amilia, our online registration portal. Note that your membership account does NOT give you this access. You must open a separate account in Amilia. Follow this link to create your account: https://www.amilia.com/en/Signup Please save your Amilia account username & password for registration in future classes.

More information: Instructors: John Shinninck, Maryanne Brampton, Gwen Coleman and June da Silva

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