We are happy to still be offering classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, though there may be some adjustments to keep us aligned with public health recommendations and keep participants and instructors safe. With this in mind, it is possible that your in-person class may be switched to an online format, postponed, or cancelled depending on Provincial Health Orders. Registered participants will be notified via email if this happens and will have the option to stay registered or opt out. Please check out our new online classes so you can keep learning no matter what! If you have any questions, please email our community education coordinator Cheri at communityed@hcp.ca.
Cannabis for the Home Grower
Learn the basics of growing cannabis for personal use with Pacific Horticulture College instructor Jo Wyld. This workshop will cover cannabis species and strains, how cannabis is used, starting from seed or clone, considerations and methods for growing outdoors or indoors, common pests and disease, harvesting and relevant legislation. Masks required.
Instructor: Jo Wyld
Dates: Tuesdays, February 23 or March 9
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $60 / Non-Members $70
Register: Online (click here for Feb 23 or here for Mar 9) or phone (250) 479-6162
Watercolours with Richard Wong - Seahorse (ONLINE)
Relax, paint and connect. Enjoy a lovely learning experience online via Zoom. You can relax, have fun, paint and connect with others while learning how to create beautiful watercolours on Japanese art paper. No painting experience required. This class is an introduction to watercolour, suitable for those just starting out or are thinking about trying watercolour for the first time. Adults and families with children are encouraged to participate. Families with younger children should have a parent present to guide them. More information is available on our website when you click the registration link below.
Instructor: Richard Wong
Date: Thursday, February 25
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Fee: $20 per screen
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Ethics of Wild Harvesting (ONLINE)
Wild harvesting of plant material for food, medicine or craft can be a great way to interact with nature. However, care must be taken to ensure plants are harvested in a sustainable way that promotes continued survival of wild populations. Through the lens of 5 commonly available wild plants, this class will discuss plant usage and sustainable harvesting methodologies. We will also consider locations for harvesting, invasive species and ecological impacts of human disturbance. Resources to support an ethical wild harvesting practice will be provided.
Instructor: Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed
Date: Tuesday, February 23
Time: 6:30 - 8:00pm
Fee: $25 per screen
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
The Backyard Orchard
This workshop is for those serious about cultivating fruit and nuts in an urban space. Ryan Senechal will cover: selection of cultivars, planting, staking and training, soil, nutrients and watering, pruning, plant health and cultural controls, grafting and propagation. The focus will be on apple, cherry, pear, plum, peach, kiwi, Carpathian walnut, butternut, hazelnut, fig, blueberry and raspberry. This course will be outside, please dress accordingly. Masks required.
Instructor: Ryan Senechal
Dates: Saturdays, March 6 and March 13
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $90 / Non-Members $110
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Watercolours with Richard Wong - Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day (ONLINE)
Relax, paint and connect. Enjoy a lovely learning experience online via Zoom. You can relax, have fun, paint and connect with others while learning how to create beautiful watercolours on Japanese art paper. No painting experience required. This class is an introduction to watercolour, suitable for those just starting out or are thinking about trying watercolour for the first time. Adults and families with children are encouraged to participate. Families with younger children should have a parent present to guide them. More information is available on our website when you click the registration link below.
Instructor: Richard Wong
Date: Saturday, March 6
Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm
Fee: $20 per screen
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Watercolours with Richard Wong - Arbutus Trees (ONLINE)
Relax, paint and connect. Enjoy a lovely learning experience online via Zoom. You can relax, have fun, paint and connect with others while learning how to create beautiful watercolours on Japanese art paper. No painting experience required. This class is an introduction to watercolour, suitable for those just starting out or are thinking about trying watercolour for the first time. Adults and families with children are encouraged to participate. Families with younger children should have a parent present to guide them. More information is available on our website when you click the registration link below.
Instructor: Richard Wong
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Fee: $20 per screen
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Advanced Pruning
If you are a hands-on gardener hesitant to prune small trees and shrubs for fear of injuring or undesirably altering the appearance, this course with certified arborist Ryan Senechal is designed to give you the skill you need. In two sessions, basic pruning techniques will be reviewed and applied to advanced pruning strategies to encourage desirable structure, reduced maintenance and long-term plant health. Your confidence and comfort will grow as you observe and practice field examples of pruning successes and common mistakes. This course will be outdoors. Bring your secateurs. Class size is limited to ensure individual instruction. Masks required.
Instructor: Ryan Senechal
Dates: Saturdays, March 20 and March 27
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
HCP Members $90 / Non-Members $110
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Forest Therapy Walks
Join Kelly Kiss, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide, to discover “Forest Bathing”, what it is, along with its health and wellness benefits. Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing. Shinrin-Yoku means to “bathe in the atmosphere of the forest”. If practiced regularly, “forest bathing” may improve your health, wellness and happiness! Moving slowly over a gentle landscape, the practice of forest therapy is accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities. Please bring a mask and dress for the weather.
Instructor: Kelly Kiss
Dates: Sunday, March 21, Saturdays, April 10, May 15, June 19
Time: 1:30 - 4:00pm
Fee: $45
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Introduction to Bookbinding - Cute Lil’ Notebook (ONLINE)
In this online workshop, you will make and embellish a notebook with local artist Angelique Bulosan. You will learn foundational concepts of bookbinding using bookbinding tools and alternate tools you may already have on hand. This notebook is highly customizable with stamps, stickers, decorative inserts and a centrefold pocket. An ideal place to journal about your garden! This workshop will be online via Zoom. Please visit our website to see the materials list and for more information and inspiration.
Instructor: Angelique Bulosan
Date: Thursday, March 25
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Fee: $50
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Mason Bees for Beginners
Steve Scanlan from Long Live Bees is committed to raising awareness of the importance of pollinators to our long-term survival. This course on mason beekeeping gives a thorough introduction to raising these friendly and easy-to-keep bees on your own property, whether large or small, and for young or old. Learn how to raise mason bees from cocoons throughout their lifecycle and reap the rewards with increased yields of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Masks required.
Instructor: Steve Scanlan
Date: Sunday, March 28
Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $20 / Non-Members $25
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Willow Chair Workshop
Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full-day workshop. In one day, with Andrew Kent’s expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow Rustic Chair. This is a great introduction to rustic building techniques. Learn how to make a square frame from pieces of alder and work with different sizes of willow to create your chair. Please bring a helper from your household/bubble. All tools will be provided. This class is outdoors and masks are required.
Instructor: Andrew Kent
Dates: Tuesday, March 30 or Sunday, April 11
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $250 / Non-Members $275 (price is per chair)
Register: Online (click here for Mar 30 or here for Apr 11) or phone (250) 479-6162
The Art of Bonsai
Learn the art of bonsai with Mark Paterson, President of the Vancouver Island Bonsai Society. This is the first of a three-part series. In Part One, Mark will teach you how to apply bonsai techniques to a gallon-sized plant that you get to take home with you. You will learn bonsai history, design and care. The class will also cover how to choose potential bonsai stock and how to use plant training to increase aesthetic and monetary value for your new plant. Part Two will cover root cutting and Part Three will cover later season and winter care. This class is indoors and masks are required.
Instructor: Mark Paterson
Dates/Times:
Saturday April 3, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Thursday May 20, 6:00 - 9:00pm
Sunday September 26, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $145 / Non-Members $175
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162
Floral Design Program Coming This Spring!
Join floral designer Linda Rambaud to learn industry-level floral design skills. This is the first of a three-part series, and participants who complete all three parts will receive a certificate of completion. Part One consists of 3 x 3 hour sessions in class and one field trip or speaker event, for a total of 15 hours. This course is designed for those who want to create their own arrangements or join the floral industry. You will develop creativity, techniques and learn to care for fresh arrangements. All flowers are included in the course fees. This class is indoors and masks are required.
Instructor: Linda Rambaud
Dates: Tuesday evenings in March/April (exact dates TBA)
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Fee: HCP Members $450 / Non-Members $495
Register: Click here for the interest list and we will contact you when registration opens.
Backyard Beekeeping
This is a four-part series for the beginner beekeeper, instructed by experienced beekeeper Gordon Mackay. If you are new to keeping bees or thinking about starting a hive, this series will give you the practical information you need to start your journey. Beekeepers never stop learning! The series will have three classroom sessions and one practical session where you will get to view a hive in person. This series will focus on the most common hive system called the Langstroth. Participants will learn about equipment, how to locate and set up a hive, purchasing and installing bees, bee castes, common issues like swarming, integrated pest management, products from the hive, winterizing and more. There will be a short open-book test at the end and you will receive a certificate of completion. There will be opportunities to ask questions and meet the other "newbees" in the class. This class is indoors and masks are required.
Instructor: Gordon Mackay
Dates/Times:
Wednesdays April 14, April 21, April 28 6:00 - 8:30pm
Saturday May 1 or 8 (TBA), 9:00am - 12:00pm (field trip, weather dependent)
Fee: HCP Members $190 / Non-Members $220
Register: Online or phone (250) 479-6162