Composting and pruning with the Master Gardeners

By Angela Hoy

Vancouver Master Gardeners held a workshop for Project Coordinators at RPCG on March 10, 2024. It was a cold and blustery day, but thank goodness, it did not rain or snow!

Sixteen Master Gardeners attended, and after an introductory meet and greet, were split into two groups headed by Alex Kaiser (fruit tree and bush pruning) and Angela Hoy (composting). 

Alex described and demonstrated the main aims of pruning fruit trees and bushes, pointed out some of the diseases that can afflict them, and advised the best time of year to do this work. 

Angela provided a hands-on composting practical, with the MGs shovelling and sifting three barrowloads of finished compost for adding to a prepared vegetable bed, after which the groups swopped over and the remaining MGs then turned the contents of Bin 2 into Bin 3, and Bin 1 into Bin 2. A very successful couple of hours!

The work party concluded with some snacks and drinks provided by MG organizers, and the distribution of Mason Bee cocoons from the RPCG stock prepared by Helen Shim. The MGs were also invited to take home surplus seeds from the RPCG stocks for their own projects.