Members of the North Thompson Valley Garden Club say they are planning on having a number of great talks, outings, and activities throughout 2011.
In February, Steve White spoke to the group with enthusiasm about his love for gardening.
At the upcoming Sunday, March 20, meeting there will be a 2 p.m. presentation on drip irrigation – a greener way of watering your garden, as less water is used than with conventional sprinklers.
The presenter will be Tanya Ridge from Delta Irrigation Ltd. in Kamloops.
Ridge completed the Horticulture program at UCC in 2001 and from there completed her practicum at Delta Irrigation.
“I have been with Delta ever since,” says Ridge, “I am a loyal person and when you find a good employer you stick with them. My duties are to help customers with what ever they need, be it sizing of pumps, wire, water filtration or pressure tanks. I also do all residential and commercial irrigation design and/or water budget plans. Pricing and purchasing quotes for specialty items.”
“I believe that we all need to start growing our own fruits and vegetables so that we are not so dependent on grocery stores. I have two small children and think it is important for them to learn where food comes from. I teach them water conservation, planting and composting. It is good family time in the garden, and what little boy doesn’t like playing in dirt.”
Susan Garland, program committee coordinator for the NT Garden Club says, “I think we all recognize that water will become an increasingly important topic and we appreciate Tanya agreeing to come and increase our knowledge about options that are available to not only save energy but also use our supply more wisely.”
Other Garden Club activities scheduled for 2011 include;
• On May 7 the club will hold their annual Plant Sale;
• On May 15 members will car pool from the community garden to Laughing Swan Garden East of Kamloops.
* On June 19 there will be a strawberry social at the community garden.
• On Sept. 11 the annual Harvest Festival will take place at the community garden in Barriere.
The Garden Club meets on the third Sunday of each month, during the winter at the NT Volunteer Centre in the Ridge, and during the summer at the community garden.
Garden plots at the community garden are still available. For more information, come to the next meeting on March 20, 1 p.m. at the NT Volunteer Centre - all are welcome.