Cowichan Green Community is bringing back its Edible Garden and Farm Tour this Saturday (August 15), which will open up nine gardens and farms to the public, including the Cowichan Lake Community Garden.
The annual self-guided tour takes place across the Cowichan Valley, from Yellowpoint to Shawnigan Lake, with stops in Duncan, Ladysmith and Westholme. Participants are taken on miniature tours by the owners of the farms and gardens, who share their techniques and the history of their gardens. The tour is also a learning experience, offering gardeners a chance to improve their own projects.
“The people who go on the tour can ask questions on how to grow certain plants or how to deal with problems like sandy, dry soil, for example,” Cowichan Green Community coordinator Alyssa Loucks said. “People leave the tour feeling inspired. They can take home some of those techniques and put them into practice in their own gardens.”
A large variety of gardens and farms are included on the tour, with stops ranging from large farms to “downtown gardens.”
“At one garden, they’ve grown all of the food in these big, huge containers — it’s a very interesting and helpful way to grow plants if you have a small front or backyard,” Loucks said.
Now entering its sixth year, the Edible Garden and Farm Tour has grown significantly over the years, with over 100 people attending last year’s tour.
The tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for Cowichan Green Community members, $20 for non-members, $30 for families and available at the Cowichan Green Community office at 360 Duncan Street in Duncan. Participants who visit five or more gardens on the tour will be entered into a draw to win a fruit tree donated by Binter Nursery in Cowichan Bay.
For more information, call Alyssa Loucks at 250-748-8506 or visit www.cowichangreencommunity.org.