Composting for Gardeners - Composting Piles, Bins and Drums (Virtual)
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Toronto) | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The previous workshop provided information about the composting process. This workshop is more hands on and looks at various methods for completing both hot and cold composting. Hot composting is the traditional method using one or more bins. This is a great system that makes faster compost, but it is impractical for smaller gardens. Various plastic bins and drums are more suitable there. We’ll have a look at various commercial and DIY systems.
At the end of this course you will be able to select the right composting system that meets your requirements and you will know how to start the process, care for it, and what to do with the finished compost.
If you are going to take this course it is a good idea to also take Introduction to Composting for Gardeners.
Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person.

Virtual Bird Sounds Series
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-31 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Arboretum Centre, 200 Arboretum Rd, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada
Into birding but the songs have you stumped? Whether you are new to learning bird sounds or you want a good refresher, this course is for you. Join Chris Earley, Arboretum Interpretive Biologist and author of 5 bird field guides, for a series of eight virtual noon-hour lectures that cover over 150 bird species! We will focus on songs and some common, distinctive calls and will apply different methods to remember them. Each course will start with a short intro topic about birding by ear before we dive into the bird species. Learn how to make your own calls, read a sonogram, make up your own memorable bird song sayings, and more! Each class will finish with a 10-15 minute discussion period so you can ask all your bird-related questions. See the descriptions below to find out which bird groups are covered in each class. All eight programs cost of $70 (plus tax) – that’s less than $10 per program! This fund-raising initiative will help support other Arboretum educational programs.
Fee: $70.00 + H.S.T. This event will take place on Zoom. The list of topics with the presentation date is listed below. If you miss any of the programs, each one is recorded and the recording will be sent to you the next day. The recordings will be available for one month after the last program.
Mondays and Wednesdays, March 17, 19, 24, 26, 31, April 2, 7 and 9, 2025, Noon – 1 p.m.

Composting for Gardeners - Vermicomposting (Virtual)
2025-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Vermicomposting is a way of using earth worms to compost organic material. One benefit of this method is that it can be done in the home using special bins that require a very small space.
The course will introduce you to the equipment needed including some inexpensive DIY options. It will help you select the right kind of worms and show you how to maintain them to keep them healthy. We’ll review ways of harvesting the vermicasts – the worm poop – and explain how it should be treated for best results in the garden.
At the end of this course you will know the basics of taking care of your new pets and how to resolve any problems you might have.
If you are going to take this course it is a good idea to also take Introduction to Composting for Gardeners.
Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person.
