2024 Red Deer EcoLiving Fair & Workshops
Saturday, March 23 from 10am to 5pm at Red Deer Polytechnic in the Cafeteria (1007) and the Energy Innovation Lab - Co-presented by ReThink Red Deer and Red Deer Polytechnic Green Campus
Repair Cafe and Seedy Saturday Seed Swap run from 10am to 5pm
Workshops run 12:30pm to 5pm and are "pay what you can" with all proceeds going towards volunteer appreciation (suggested ticket price $5 per workshop, or $10 for an afternoon pass)
NOTE: Workshops and Demos schedule are subject to change
| TIME | ROOM | WORKSHOP |
| 12:30pm - 2pm | 1007A | Worming Your Way to Healthy Soils and Plants with Rhonda Sherman, author of the Worm Farmer's Handbook |
| Learn how to successfully vermicompost and use the product to enrich your soil and increase plant growth and yields. In addition to vermicomposting household food scraps, you can do it on a larger scale with other organic materials. Large vermicomposting operations exist on every continent except Antarctica. One of the leading experts worldwide on vermicomposting, Rhonda Sherman was the director of the Compost Learning Lab at North Carolina State University for 30 years until she retired in 2023. The author of 65 publications, her latest book is The Worm Farmer's Handbook: Mid- to Large-Scale Vermicomposting for Farms, Businesses, Municipalities, Schools, and Institutions. Links to her videos and publications are at https://composting.ces.ncsu.edu/ | ||
| 2pm - 3pm | ||
| 1007A | Vermicomposting at Home with Rene Michalak, Common Ground Garden Project | |
| A merciless worm whisperer and / or aspiring emperor of Red Deer’s first “wormpire”, Rene will help you set up your first worm bin for at-home vermicomposting. Rene has killed more worms than most people have ever seen. Let his mistakes be your guide in making your own premium worm castings right in the comfort of your own home. Please, save your applause and do “the worm” instead! | ||
| Alt Energy Lab | Building an Ecosystem - 11 Years of Biodiversity on a Rooftop - Cynthia Pohl, Living Lands Landscape & Design | |
| Join Cynthia to learn about how we can address biodiversity loss, the need for energy efficient buildings, and how to have more livable and lovable cities. Cynthia will talk about her work with biodiverse green roofs and how a barren roof can be transformed into a thriving ecosystem. | ||
| 3pm - 4pm | ||
| 1007A | Cultivating Community - Jennica Taylor, Daisy & Dill with Meagan Ophus and Miranda Hawryliw | |
| Jennica Taylor is a local entrepreneur focusing on adding biodiversity to our urban ecosystem and building community along the way. In this workshop she will share stories from her community building experiences and some of the things she’s learned about gardening. You will learn about some of the community projects she’s been involved with at the local level as well as how to support some of the great initiatives and small farms in our area. You’ll come away feeling inspired for the growing season and with a new appreciation for community... maybe even some new gardening knowledge! BONUS: Jennica will be joined by Meagan and Miranda and each attendee gets a free packet of calendula seeds saved from her garden! | ||
| Alt Energy Lab | Basic Bike Repair - Red Deer Association of Bicycle Commuters (RDABC) | |
| RDABC volunteers will be set up at the Alternative Energy Lab with their bike repair stands, tools, and tales of the trails in Red Deer. Bring your bike for a quick spring tune-up and learn a thing or two to keep it in tip-top shape this riding season! | ||
| 4pm - 5pm | ||
| 1007A | RV Living Year-Round in Red Deer - Lindsay Beaulieu, i love microgreens Urban Farm | |
| Join Lindsay, experienced in year-round RV living in Red Deer for a workshop packed with practical tips. With two years of experience, Lindsay shares how to transform your RV into a cozy home for a family of four (plus cats!) all while surviving the four seasons. From maximizing space to weathering the elements, Lindsay's insights offer invaluable guidance for anyone considering the RV lifestyle. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from her first-hand experiences and make your RV living dream a reality, no matter the weather. | ||
| Alt Energy Lab | Magical Microbes (Soil Food Web) - Jennifer Neufeld, Flowing Springs Permaculture | |
| What is the “soil food web” and why is it so important? Join us to meet these magical microbes, learn some key soil health principles and discover how to determine if your soil is healthy! Jen Neufeld is an educator, permaculture designer, soil health advocate and community builder. She is passionate about faith, family, friends, flowers, farming, forests and food... and strives to live authentically in the time and place she has been planted. She currently lives on an urban farm in Strathmore where she experiments with cover crops, biological amendments, mason bees, vermicompost, and other permaculture techniques. She provides workshops for community groups and schools, permaculture consultations, garden plans, and yard designs for both urban and rural properties. |
2019 Workshop and Attraction Schedule
(subject to change)
There is no fee to attend the Fair but the Workshops are $5 each or $20 for an unlimited pass (per person) and can be purchased at the entrance / registration table on the day of the event.
Location: Red Deer College, Cenovus Learning Common (east Trades wing rm 2909)
Map of Red Deer College HERE
2018 Workshop and Attraction Schedule
2017 Workshop and Attraction Schedule
In 2017, the Workshops were proudly sponsored by Big 105 FM
1) Solar PV Tour with Sunfind Solar - Friday, March 24 - 11am to 4pm - hosted by Sunfind Solar Products - two urban and one rural installation - full details HERE
2) Repair Cafe - 10am to 6pm - bring broken items and learn how to fix them together with skilled volunteers
3) Seed Swap - 10am to 6pm - learn about seed saving and find locally-seasoned seeds for your garden with help from members of the Red Deer Garden Club
4) Electric Vehicle Showcase - 10am to 6pm - members of the Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta will have their electric vehicles on display to answer questions
5) Hourly Workshops:
- The Story of My Front Yard Garden - Even the tiniest space can be designed to be beautiful, sustainable, and highly productive. In this workshop, Jon tells the story of how he turned his front yard into a wonderful garden. He will talk about what he has learned about composting, seed saving, and ways to make your home more sustainable!
- Top Bar Hive Beekeeping - There are many ways to keep bees, each with its own particular tips and tricks. Charity has been beekeeping in a top bar hive since 2013 and has enjoyed the process of what many consider a more "natural" system. She will demonstrate some of the particulars and share some tips for success for others who may be interested in this method of beekeeping.
- Creating a Safe Sustainable Haven - In this workshop, you can learn how to create a more sustainable, chemical-free environment for your family and our planet. By making small, conscious choices, collectively we can work together to lessen the impact on our planet and leave a lasting positive legacy for future generations. Learn how to improve quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in your home!
- Is a Solar Energy System Feasible? - Ever wonder if a solar energy system can generate adequate energy in Alberta, or if there are any financial benefits to installing a solar system? Come find out what's required and what you need to know for a successful installation!
- Attracting Bees & Butterflies to Your Garden - In thinking of the future, we need to keep our pollinators to have successful vegetable gardens and crops. In this workshop, Christine will show you different perennials and annuals that will compliment your vegetable garden and improve your living space!
- DIY at Home with Essential Oils - Learn about the benefits of essential oils, safe usage guidelines, and how essential oils, when combined with other common household ingredients, can replace toxic staples in the cleaning cupboard, leaving the home and the environment healthier. You will also have the opportunity to make a product of your own to take home!
- Rainwater Harvesting - In this workshop, Andrea will share practical tips that every homeowner can use! She will walk you through the design of a rainwater harvesting system for an urban lot and home. Using existing design, you'll review all the parts of the system, as well as review the costs involved. Whether you want a simple rain barrel or a more complicated system, this workshop has something for everyone!
- Sustainable School Projects from a Student's Perspective - This workshop highlights many of the green school projects from Lacombe Composite High School such as BEE WISE, pollinator gardens, aquaponics, and the Little Green Thumbs Earthbox gardens. Participants will be encouraged to think of ways they can support local school and community projects by volunteering, giving advice, or providing resources. Students will also have samples of their produce!
- Sweet Dreams - Stella will share how her determination for a better life for herself and her family inspired her to recreate a new one using the resources she had. She will show you how to create your own natural perfume while helping you stay focused in creating the vision you see for yourself and your life. In this workshop, you will blend your own unique scent and dream out loud!
- Passive House Fundamentals - Passive House buildings achieve a high level of indoor air quality and obtain substantial reduction in space heating requirements compared to the standard building practice in Alberta. This presentation is aimed at all those with an interest in low energy design and construction and it will provide participants with the concepts, challenges, and recent developments for high performance design and construction for the local conditions.
- Preservation - Come learn how easy it is to preserve your garden bounty for the winter! This workshop will be a hands-on audience participation jam-making session. There will also be a discussion on how to pickle and make cooked jam. Of course, the workshop ends with a taste test of homemade jam!
- Intro to Fermentation - Fermenting food and beverages has been part of human history for thousands of years and for many of those years, the primary means of food preservation. What we haven't realized until more recent times, was that naturally fermented foods are integral to a healthy immune system and as an important systemic anti-inflammatory. In this workshop, you will explore the basics of fermentation to understand how safe, easy, and inexpensive they are to produce at home for a boost of live beneficial probiotics. Learn more about kombucha, sauerkraut, and more!
- Holistic Farm Design - Grounded in the principles of permaculture design and holistic management, this workshop will identify the four ecosystem processes present on all farms and provide some tools to help landowners harness nature's productive potential. Come learn how to design for healthier land, more prosperity, and the time to enjoy it!
- Holistic Home Design & Renovation - This workshop is all about making a home resilient, adaptable, and healthy. It will help those who are thinking of building or renovating their home in applying sustainability principles to their project. Learn how inhabitants can maximize a home's resilience, adaptability, and their own well-being by considering the "house as a system" and keeping sustainability in mind. This approach can address immediate concerns related to budget, energy efficiency, health, and other factors, as well as meet the changing needs of the inhabitants for the future! The workshop provides a roadmap to making home improvements or building from scratch, while considering different future scenarios influenced by cost, climate, and the occupant behaviours within the home.
- Seed Saving Basics - Learn the nuts and bolts of small scale seed saving for your own backyard! In the home-gardener focused workshop, horticulturalist Daniel will show you what you need to do to save your own vegetable seeds year to year! He will cover how growing vegetables for seed differs from growing to eat, how to maintain seed purity, and collection methods.
- Ecological Landscaping: Designing for Yourself + Beyond - Landscape design is an art that ideally works with nature, supporting all organisms that live on and in the land. Building healthy relationships between all communities, plant, animal, insect, and human is an important component in creating a healthy landscape. Learn about how to design a landscape that fulfills your needs as well as the local birds and bees!
- Starting Seeds Indoors - Ever wonder when to start your seeds inside, and the best way to do so? This workshop will cover the basics of starting seeds indoors in Alberta and having success. Denise will review what you need to know to get started. From the importance of understanding your local hardiness zone, to the quality of seeds & materials, you'll learn the process involved to set yourself up for a successful growing season.
- Praise the Lard! - This non-denominational workshop covers how to welcome lard back into your life. Come find out how new science is validating your Grandmother's secret ingredient. It will cover the "how-to's" of rendering and use of lard in everything from pie to polish. You will also get a chance to try out some samples of the lard based body butters, lip chaps, and beard rubs.
- Fruit Trees on the Prairies - Fruit on the prairies is everyone's dream. In this workshop, you'll talk about the dream and the reality. Learn what we can grow locally in terms of apples, plums, pears, and cherries. Sherwood will review different options for bush fruit. How much work is it, and what are the downsides? Learn how you can site trees to optimize your chances of success!
2016 topics included:
- Seed Saving for High Quality Seeds
- Solar Power and Wood Heating
- Solar Energy Technology for Urban and Rural Properties
- Composting in the 21st Century (Jora Canada)
- Composting with Worms (Vermicomposting)
- Zero Waste Cooking
- Making Bone Broth from Scratch
- Remineralizing Soil for Home Garden and Farm
- Rainwater Harvesting in Alberta
- 4-Season Indoor Growing
- Urban Lumber Recycling (demo)
- Knife and Tool Sharpening
- Gardening with Livestock
- Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives
- Keeping Urban Hens
- Timber Frame Construction
- Green Cleaning
- Pollinator Hotels
- Urban Ag Summit
- Repair Cafe (all weekend - 2nd floor)
- Seed Swap (all weekend - 2nd floor)
- Electric Vehicle Showcase (all weekend on the main level)
- MakerSpace Tour (TBA)
Full 2016 workshop descriptions via Facebook event page HERE