Beginning March 15, a free film series on urban gardening, farming and food security will take place at North Island College.
The film series will include presentations from local speakers sharing their expertise on current issues around food and agriculture.
The films aim to spark dialogue and interest in the community about local food production and urban gardening opportunities.
“It is great timing for a local food focused program at North Island College,” says Councillor Mary Storry, liaison to the City’s Agriculture Steering Committee. “The City has recently completed an Agriculture Plan, and both the films and the upcoming gardening course will help to encourage community members to grow their own food and where possible, consider options for purchasing locally grown and raised produce, eggs and meat.”
Four films are scheduled for North Island College Theatre, with seats available on a first come basis.
- Film #1 – Food Security; It’s in Your Hands (Thursday, March 15, 7:45 p.m.)
- Film #2 – The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (Thursday, March 29, 7:45 p.m.)
- Film #3 – To Make a Farm (Thursday, April 12, 7:45 p.m.)
- Film #4 – The World According to Monsanto (Friday, April 20, 7:45 p.m.)
To complement the film series, from May 10-19, North Island College will offer a Backyard Gardening and Small-Scale Agriculture Course. The course aims to prepare participants for successfully developing their own garden or plot in a community garden.
"The course will teach the basics on how to grow a cornucopia of crops to save on your grocery bill, provide healthy food for your family, or to start a small scale farming operation. It’s a first step toward food security in our community," says course instructor Kira DeSorcy, who is a horticulture technician, permaculture designer and garden manager at Blue Jay Lake Farm on Cortes Island.
Participants will leave the course with new knowledge on how to grow their own organic food, which DeSorcy hopes will inspire healthy people and a healthy community.
The film series and urban gardening course are being hosted by North Island College, with support from the City of Campbell River.
“It is with great pleasure that North Island College collaborates with the City of Campbell River to launch a new programming series. We look forward to hearing from community, as to areas of interest and need, as we invest in the future of our Agricultural sector,” says Cheryl O’Connell, Director Continuing Education and Training, North Island College.
For more information or to register online for the urban gardening course, please visit www.nic.bc.ca/continuingeducation or for further information call 250-923-9750.