City of Victoria
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Community Education


The Compost Centre is pleased to offer a broad range of workshops on composting, organic gardening, and environmental topics every year.

Composting Basics **FREE**

Saturdays, once per month 10am to 12pm

Please pre-register: space is limited

(Feb 4, Mar 3, Apr 14, May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug 11, Sept 8, Oct 13 & Nov 17)

Advanced Composting **FREE**

Saturday, 10am to 12pm

Must have completed Composting Basics Workshop

Please pre-register: space is limited

(Mar 24, July 21 & Oct 27)

Worm Composting **FREE**

Saturday, 10am to 12pm

Please pre-register: space is limited

(Mar 17, Jun 16 & Oct 20)

Intro to Permaculture

This 2-day workshop introduces the basic principles and practices of permaculture, an appraoch to designing human environments that mimics nature. We will focus on how to apply permaculture to your own home garden and neighbourhood and sessions will include theory, hands-on projects, guest presenters and a tour of permaculture projects in the city.


Offered twice annually: June 23-24 and September 22-23

Cost: $110 (Email sitemgr@compost.bc.ca for more details and to register)


Sustainable Home and Garden Series 2012




Compost Club Members: 2 FREE workshops with annual membership! (Additional workshops $10)

Non-members: $15


Please pre-register as space is limited. Email office@compost.bc.ca or call (250)-386-9676 to register. Payment for workshops preferred in advance to secure place and ensure full attendance.


Please note: 48 hours cancellation notice is required for all workshops. If you do not cancel within that time and do not show up for the workshop, it will be counted as one of your free membership workshops.


Here's the schedule for 2012!


All the workshops listed below take place from 2-4pm at the Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street.


Jan 28: Winter Pruning
Feb 11: Planning Your Year Round Veggie Garden
Feb 25: Mason Bees (Part 1)
Mar 3: Mason Bees (Part 1)
Mar 24: Spring Planting
Apr 14: Build the Best Soil
Apr 28: Native Plant Gardening
May 5: Grow the Best Tomatoes
May 26: Winter Veggie Gardening
June 2: Weed Management
June 23: Pest and Disease Management
July 7: Rain Gardens
July 28: Chickens in the City
Aug 11: Natural Beekeeping
Sept 8: Seed Saving
Sept 29: Backyard Food Forests
Oct 13: Grow the Best Garlic
Nov 17: Plant Propagation
Nov 24: Mason Bees (Part 2)

2012 Workshop Descriptions and Instructor Bios coming soon!

Group Workshops

Interactive Sustainability Tour

Come to our demonstration site and learn about different conservation, gardening, and composting techniques.  Minimum 10 people.  Cost: $90-100.

Composting Basics

Be the change you want to see in the world - learn how to compost! This exciting workshop is a comprehensive exploration of the basics of home composting - including vermicomposting, composting meat scraps, hot composting, and speeding up your backyard bin. This is a 1-2 hour workshop and can be delivered for your group here at our demonstration site or at a location of your choice. For cost and booking, contact Nashira at outreach(at)compost.bc.ca or (250)386-WORM (9676). Minimum 10 people.

Compost for Climate and Community

Have you been looking for an opportunity to get your group involved in composting? Are you interested in having an impact on climate change? Then this program is for you! Did you know that composting is one way to reduce climate change?


We are pleased to offer this program to make composting more accessible for community organizations and school groups! For $45, program involvement includes:

  • A composting and climate change workshop- This 2 hour workshop will explain basic composting techniques, outline how composting can reduce climate change, and work with your group to develop a composting system that works for you!
  • Access to subsidized composting supplies-Once your group has had the workshop and determined which composting system works best for your situation, you can purchase supplies at a subsidized cost (for a limited time).
  • Follow-up composting support- Program participants will receive follow-up support in the form of compost troubleshooting, use of the composting supplies, and informational materials.

To be eligible to participate in this program, your organization must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a school group, a registered charity, a non-profit, a cooperative, community centre, or community group (for e.g. a church group, boys and girls club, neighbourhood association, etc.)
  • Have a minimum of 5 members
  • Have been in existence for at least one year
  • Be located within the Capital Regional District (CRD)
  • Have demonstrated interest and dedication to continue composting over the long-term.

If you are interested in participating, please contact us for an application form at (250)-386-9676(WORM) or education(at)compost.bc.ca.


Thank you to our project sponsors for making this program possible:


VanCity Environment Canada CRD