Speakers

When to Sow and How to Grow

April 19, 2022: Matt Johnson

From patio gardens to full sized farms, this presentation will give you the information you need to get the most out of your vegetable garden! Learn when to plant your favorite vegetables, how to care for them when the going gets rough, and how to maximize your harvest. And while this presentation is directed to vegetable gardeners, it also contains many useful tips for gardeners of all kinds and experience levels.

Matt Johnson is the Agricultural Program Coordinator at Earthwise Society, the non-profit organization in South Delta. Matt manages a 1.5 acre certified organic vegetable farm, a quarter-acre demonstration farm, and three satellite vegetable gardens throughout South Delta.

“My passion for gardening started when my grandmother would take me out to the garden to look into the compost bin, where I would see all the creepy crawlies doing their important work.”

Fast forward a bit and Matt has been growing food for over 10 years in small amounts; throughout the last two years he has expanded to larger scale vegetable farming. The majority of his experience has been focused on no-till, organic food production and he is a firm believer that the key to sustainable agriculture is local production done in healthy soil and with appropriate water usage.

Says Matt, “It is my goal to get more people involved with food production and to build a greater appreciation for the land we live on. I am always excited to talk about gardening and am looking forward to sharing my agricultural knowledge with the community!”

Out of the Ordinary Annuals & Perennials

May 17, 2022: Janis Matson

Janis will highlight some plants that she thinks are out of the ordinary – plants that could add a unique punch or diversify your garden. She will look at plant choices that are possibly new to you and spotlight some forgotten classics. She’ll discuss diverse possibilities with the emphasis on exposure, colour, texture, form and structure. Janis’ presentation will help you design a forgotten corner or fill a spot where you wanted something just a little different!

Janis graduated with a Diploma in Landscape Design and Horticulture, and later became an Arborist Risk Assessor. She furthered her education when she obtained her Floral Design Certificate, Arborist Certificate, Red Seal Journeyman ticket, Level 1 Irrigation Certificate, and the ICPI - Paver installation Certificate. Janis also earned the Provincial Instructors Diploma and has put it to good use over the years as a Faculty Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley with the Horticultural Diploma and Apprenticeship programs. She is also a Contract Faculty Instructor at Burnaby Community Education with the Horticultural Hardscape, Plant ID Certificate and Apprenticeship programs. In some of her spare time, Janis teaches in the Adult Education program at Van Dusen Botanical Garden and is a popular Guest Speaker at various garden clubs throughout the Lower Mainland.

Janis has made her career in the Horticultural industry for over 30 years beginning in 1988, when she worked for Murray Nurseries in southlands where she stayed for six years. She then put her enthusiasm, plant and design knowledge to work developing her own company, Shoreline Landscape Design Ltd and has been its Owner/Operator for over 25 years, enjoying the challenge of making garden spaces look and feel good.

Born in Burnaby, BC, Janis is known to be creative, enthusiastic and fun and enjoys to work with people. Beyond appreciating nature and plants, Janis makes time for photography and sports.