Orchard Workshops & Consultations

Ever wanted to have an orchard, but don’t know where to start? Join us for an orchard workshop to learn everything you need for success with your trees!

Workshops

"Flavors of the Farm" celebrates the culinary traditions and cultural heritage of our community through a series of monthly gatherings and collaborations with a Horticulturalist and Farmer, an Indigenous Storyteller, and an Expert Pickler, Jammer and Tincture Maker.

Consultations

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Growing Things! A Beginner’s Guide to Orchards

Learn from one of our orchard guides as they unveil the inner-workings of our orchards and answer your burning questions about pruning, variety selection, pollination partners, and more!

This workshop is recommend for folks who are just starting out with an orchard or growing fruit trees and want to get started on the right foot.

What's Included?

The First Step – Learn How to Choose a Site
Information on hardiness zone and pollination requirements.
Opportunity to ask as many questions as you like!
Take-Home Guide: The essentials for success with fruit trees and shrubs.

Season Available?

Our Beginner's Orchard Workshops are available February - May at the farm.

Growing Things! A Beginner’s Guide to Strawberries

Did you know strawberries are one of the fastest-fruiting plants you can grow in Alberta? Of course, everyone is familiar with that juicy oh-so-sweet bite a ripe berry gives you in the summer. Not only are strawberries fast producing and absolutely delicious, but they’re also good for you! Strawberries are a source of potassium, folate and vitamin C (all heart-friendly nutrients), they’re low in calories, and they help slow down the digestion of glucose.

Given all the good strawberries can do, they’re a must have for any home gardener or fruit enthusiast! Prairie Gardens has been growing u-pick strawberries (between 2-12 acres a year) every year since 1988. We understand the ins and outs to success with strawberries and want to make sure you get started on the right foot.

What's Included?

The Fundamentals for Success with Strawberries
- Site Selection and Soil Considerations
- Crop Rotation Strategies
- How to Care for Young Plants
- How to Maximize Yields on Older Plants
- How to Correctly Set Runners
- Pollination Requirements
- New Cultivars
- Differences between Everbearing and Junebearing
- Irrigation Requirements
- Pre Winter Care & Fall Mulching
How to Grow Strawberries in Raised Beds, Planters, & Hanging Baskets
Take-Home Cheat Sheet – the Tips & Tricks you Need to Know
Includes 5 Bare Root Strawberries
- Choose from 10 varieties, including Alberta classics and new introductions
- Hands On Planting Demonstration
- Soil & Containers – You will plant your bare root strawberries after picking the varieties you want in order to learn proper technique!
Bring-a-Buddy. Bring a pal, a partner, or one of your kiddos to attend the workshop with you for free! Please note: the take-home strawberries are only included for the paying participant.

Growing Things! A Beginner’s Guide to Pruning

Want to properly prune and care for your trees, but don’t know where to start? Then this workshop is for you! Learn from one of our pruning experts as they demonstrate how.

What's Included?

Pruning Demonstration by one of our pruning experts
Hands-On Instruction – you will learn how to correctly prune a fruit tree – and then actually practice your pruning skills on our trees
Information on different pruning techniques
Everything you need to know about fruit pruning
Disease prevention protocols when pruning

Season Available?

Pruning workshops are available March - April while the trees are still dormant!

Grafting & Growing Fruit Workshop with Dr. Ieuan Evans

Join us for an lunch and learn afternoon with world renowned plant breeder and grafting expert, Dr. Ieuan Evans, of the Evans Sour Cherry tree!

Dr. Evans, retired after a distinguished 35-year career with Alberta Agriculture as Provincial Plant Pathologist and is noted world-wide for his research on dozens hardy fruit trees for the Canadian Prairies. He is truly the “Johnny Appleseed” Plant Breeder of Alberta, and is focused on extreme cold hardy and disease resistant edible fruiting trees and shrubs.

Dr. Evans has two current passions, edible fruiting trees & shrubs & Martagon Lilies. He has also done years of research on Fire blight in fruit trees. He is also widely known for his very hardy Evans Sour Cherry which has sold in the millions in Canada and the U.S.

Dr. Evans lives in near Devon, Alberta where he breeds Martagon lilies and continues research on edible fruiting trees and shrubs.

What's Included?

Farm-to-Table Light Lunch (Soup, Salad & Dessert)
Tips, Myths and Truths about Gardening in Alberta
How to graft (take home a grafted tree you will learn how to do at the workshop)
Best hardy fruit trees for the Canadian Prairies
Bonus Martagon Lily discussion

Growing Things! Tomato Patio Planter Workshop

Hands-On Gardening Workshop with take-home herb and tomato planter. Get a head start on your gardening season and get growing for your kitchen!

What's Included?

Choice of 1 tomato plant, 2 herbs, and 2 edible flowers.
Container, soil, and fertilizer
Hands-on instruction and tips for success through the season
Bring-a-Buddy. Bring a pal, a partner, or one of your kiddos to attend the workshop with you for free! Please note: the take-home patio planter is only included for the paying participant.

Flavours of the Farm Workshop Series: Berry Pickers Jammers

This hands-on session offers a unique opportunity to experience the joy of a traditional berry picking family outing, sharing the flavours made from ingredients found on the farm and forest natural areas. Explore the art of jamming.

This session will introduce participants to various methods of making strawberry jam, and wildflower jellies. An excellent way to preserve the harvest while enhancing flavors. Attendees will learn how to prepare their own jars of jams or jellies to take home. This hands-on workshop is ideal for discovering the vibrant tastes and health benefits that pickling can offer.

What's Included?

Knowledge from Horticulturalist, Tam Andersen and Indigenous Storyteller, Bill Bertschy
Hands On Learning & Experience
Take-Home (related to the specific theme of each workshop)
Light Farm Lunch & Mocktail

Season Available?

This workshop is available in July! Although Flavours of the Farm is a connected workshop series, each workshop is self-contained and can be taken independently from one another.