Highfield Farm is located on 15 acres in the heart of an industrial community in the city of Calgary. 

In partnership with the Compost Council of Canada and the City of Calgary, we are transforming this vacant property into a vibrant and productive urban farm through soil revitalization, food production, and community programming. The Highfield Farm urban agriculture project will produce locally-grown food, raise general awareness of urban agriculture, generate entrepreneurial opportunities, and strengthen our communities.  

Join Highfield Staff Jeremy Zoller and Mike Dorion for an exclusive members-only tour of the site including the following: 

• 1/4 acres of market garden with over 50 varieties of plants 
• compost inoculation creation 
• active apiary with 10 hives (MOB Honey) 
• wildflower germination trials (Earthmasters) 
• tree planting technology trials (Global Tree Gro) 
• forest school fun (Common Digs) 

Guide: Jeremy Zoller, Mike Dorion and Highfield volunteers

Note: Members may book two tickets when completing their registration, so bring a friend!
Registration closes on Tuesday, August 10.

If you are a Society member, you can participate in Conversations in the Garden using the meeting link posted on the Conversations in the Garden page in the Members Only section of the website. If you are not a member, visit our Facebook page at the scheduled time to watch the live session.

We're past mid-season in the garden. Have you noticed differences this year from previous years? Conversation topics for August:

• How has the heat affected your garden? Are some crops ready for picking earlier than expected? Did blooms fade quickly?
• When should garlic be harvested?
• When should potatoes be harvested?
• What is your plan if frost is predicted?
• Which plants do you harvest the whole plant? For example, do you cook with carrot tops as well as their roots?
• Are you watering your trees?

The goal of this course is to allow students to learn the basics of Latin nomenclature of plants, learn descriptive terminology to help with plant ID, and learn to identify 27 species of trees and shrubs planted and growing in and around the Calgary area. The class will also cover some of the details about the plant families the specimens are part of, as well as briefly discuss plant uses and maintenance concerns.

Classes will include a classroom time as well as plant walks (in small groups) around the neighbourhood. Students should be prepared to be outdoors for at least an hour per class.

The classes will focus on the following:

Day 1: Morphology

• Value of using Latin for naming plants
• Basic Latin vocabulary
• Terminology to describe plant parts for the purpose of plant identification
• Practice using terminology by describing specimens

Day 2-4: Common garden and boulevard trees and shrubs of Calgary and area

• Observe key identifying features of a selection of common trees and shrubs (9 specimens per day) that are found planted or naturalized around Calgary and area
• Briefly discuss their uses in the landscape and any maintenance concerns

Day 5:  Students will test their learning by identifying 20 specimens (live, photos or pressed) from the course. Following the test, students will be able to review their answers and the plants involved.

In addition to the formal class time, this course includes optional (but highly recommended) plant walks in various areas of the city. Exact days and time for these walks will be determined during the class based on student and volunteer availability.

Instructor: Michelle Edworthy
Registration closes on Thursday, September 2.
This course is a recommended prerequiste for the Master Gardener Program, but is open to anyone.

Not sure what to do with your new yard? Need to reimagine your mature yard? Learn how to create a well-thought-out, functional yard in this multi-day workshop. Homeowners will work on scale layouts of their own properties and complete step-by-step tasks to create a design that meets their needs.

Two people residing at the same address may attend this workshop at no additional charge, with the requirement that they work on ONE yard plan together. Names of both participants must be provided at the time of registration.

Participants will learn how to:

• work through the process to develop a yard design
• apply basic design principles and techniques for creating a beautiful, environmentally responsible, functional yard
• calculate volumes of soil and mulch and access available resources in the community (such as free compost from the City)
• irrigate their yard
• select plants at a garden centre to fulfill their design's requirements 

• property dimensions - Real Property Report (RPR)
• graph paper, ruler, pencil, and eraser
• wish-list requirements
• photos from your wish list

This workshop is sponsored by the
City of Calgary



Instructors: Susan Blackwood and
Verne Williams 
Registration closes on Wednesday,
September 15.

Come and explore native plants on the grounds of Fort Calgary with Julie Walker, owner of Full Circle Adventures.  Learn more about the gifts that plants offered in traditional teachings and how people currently utilize plants for food and healing. The relationships between plants and their environment are part of plant health and food quality. Gain a deeper sense of connection to Calgary's natural history and learn cool facts that you can share with friends and family as you explore the city's natural areas and nearby hikes.

After the walk, enjoy the museum, which will be open for your viewing pleasure until 4:00 pm. The price of museum entry is included in your ticket.

• We will meet at the front doors.
• Plant walk will be from 12:30 to 2:00 pm
• Museum visit from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

(Museum visit is optional, but is included in the registration fee.)

Guide: Julie Walker
Registration closes on Thursday, August 12.

There are many ways to preserve the beautiful herbs that grow in abundance in the summer months.

This workshop focuses on the properties of herbs, how to propagate common and unusual herbs from seed and other methods, ways to care for herbs in the garden for optimum results, and how to bring in herbs for the winter months.

Workshop attendees will learn :

• definitions and properties of herbs
• how to grow and care for herbs over the seasons
• how to bring herbs inside for the winter
• harvesting techniques and tips
• storing, preserving, and ways to use herbs.

Participants will have the opportunity to make up bundles of freshly harvested herbs for drying, as well as learning methods to freeze herbs. They will also get to try some other methods of preservation such as making butters, oils, vinegars, teas, and salves. All supplies are included.

This workshop will take place outside in the garden (Awaken Garden Collective) at the church. Please dress for the weather. In the event of rain, we will move inside the church. 

Instructor: Janet Melrose
Registration closes on Tuesday, August 17.

This year, we’ve taken Garden Coaching back to the garden! Join us virtually in the garden as we coach you through the practical gardening tasks during the growing season. (We’re growing our program delivery knowledge as we help you grow your gardening knowledge, so please be patient if we encounter challenges offering “from the garden” broadcasting.)

Watch a live feed of some garden tasks as they are performed and discussed. Share your ideas and ask your questions by participating in the program using Zoom.

Topics for August may include:

• making fall and future plans for the garden
• dividing/moving alliums
• moving/dividing peony
• harvesting beans, cabbage, broccoli
• seed saving
• watering your trees for winter
• amending soil with compost

Join Kara Matthews, head gardener, for a tour of the gardens of the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage. With 18+ perennial and annual gardens there is lots to see and talk about as you explore the heritage of this 100+ year old property.  

Learn more about the gardens at: Coutts Centre Gardens 

Note: There is no entry fee for the site so you may arrive whenever you like. The group will be meeting at the bandstand (behind the North Barn), which is shaded, but please bring water and hats if the weather is hot. 

Wearing masks is encouraged but not required. 

Donations to the Coutts Centre will be gladly accepted.

Guide: Kara Matthews, head gardener

Note: Members may book two tickets when completing their registration, so bring a friend!
Registration closes on Wednesday, August 25.