- Mentoring Community -

When you weave yourself into our culture, you'll gain...

CONNECTION… Tangibly, sensually and sensibly immersed in the natural world that is right in front of you - not far away on a farm, on vacation or in deep woods - right here in the city, accessible every day.

BELONGING… Community is at the centre of everything we do. Everyone here is valued for who they are and the special gift they bring.

KNOWLEDGE… You will really get to know your herbs, the cycles and processes of growth and support in an ecological context. The immersive hands-on process of learning encourages learning through all of your senses. We zoom into the micro while holding the whole picture.

EASE… Especially in your own body. Listening to yourself while in relationship with nature helps you discern what you need most and clears your plate. It is inevitable that as you take time to nurture yourself, you will make choices that will better support your vision for your best life.

RECIPROCITY… This is a place where we learn together and take care of one another. As we nurture all aspects of the garden everything - including the people - grow within it. This is not necessarily the case in traditional trainings or education systems and it’s not common in workplaces or nature/garden clubs.

Pathways

We offer multiple ways for you to experience in-person, hands-on mentoring through our season. There are three weekly meeting times for our 7 month season April - November.

Here is a highlight of the different options. For ALL the details go here:

Mentorship

If you want focused attention, and a deeper exploration into yourself and your growth.

Garden Weekly Meetups (min 4x/month)
One -on- One mentoring (30min, 2 x each month)
3 - 7 month commitment
$500 - 1100
15% off products
25% off workshops

Volunteer

If you looking for rich farm experience in a group setting while working with herbs.

Garden Weekly Meetups (min 3x/month)
Guidance from Garden Angels
3 - 7 month commitment
No Fee
10% off product & workshops

Garden Angel

For alumnis who have attended for a full season. They are integrated into the fabric of the garden.

Garden Weekly Meetups (min 2x/month)
Support volunteers
Full season commitment
$350
20% off products
50% off workshops

Here is what past (and present) participants have to say...

"I've learned a lot about gardening and even more importantly how to build community with a labour of love, generosity and acceptance."

- Meagan

Anchor 1

Mentoring Community

- all the details -

How does this work?

We learn together in three different ways: alongside Maria; independently with a specific task or objective; and almost always, with other members of the community.

Questions will naturally arise and be explored while working. Sometimes we may switch gears to investigate something we are curious about or to solve a problem that needs our attention.

Questions of timing:

This in-person, hands-on learning runs for 7 months from April and November.

Our first meeting day is April 23, 2024 and our last day is November 17, 2024.

There will be 3 work days a week. Each work day is 3 hours and it is where the bulk of learning happens. You can come to ANY or ALL of the ones that suit your schedule. There will be daytime, evening and weekend times available. We will keep the days and times consistent, though there are adjustments in the summer to accommodate heat extreme heat.

Tuesdays 3pm - 6pm (extreme heat 4pm - 7pm)
Thursdays 9am - 12pm (extreme heat 7:30am - 10:30am)
Sundays 10am - 1pm (extreme heat 9am - 12pm)

You are always welcome to come to more than one Weekly Meetup, however please note there are minimum monthly expectations, depending on what pathway you choose.

Mentoring - 4 x/ month
Volunteering - 3x/month
Garden Angel - 2x/month

What’s the investment?

Beyond the time you invest in yourself, our community and connecting to the learning ecosystem, there is a fee for the following:

Mentoring

$1100 for the full 7 month season

(payable in one sum at the beginning of our time, or in two payments of $600 by April 23, and second payment of $500 by July 1)

$500 for 3 months of mentoring

(payable in one sum at the beginning of our time)

and then $150/month each subsequent month

We want to offer this opportunity to anyone who wishes to participate where we mutually agree it is a good match. If finances are prohibiting you from applying OR you are in a position to offer MORE to contribute to a subsidy for members in need, PLEASE BE IN TOUCH.

Garden Angels

$350 for the entire 7 month season

(payable in one sum at the beginning of the season)

Garden Angels will be who volunteers go to when they have questions or need guidance - a great opportunity to reinforce your experiences, while sharing what you have learned.

Payment Options:

Payment can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque.

Some added perks:

Mentees receive 15% off products and 25% off workshops
Volunteers receive 10% off products and workshops
Garden Angels receive 20% off products and 50% off workshops
Invitation to special member only events - like fire circles and special guest presentations.

Things you may learn here:

Organic, biodynamic and permaculture methods and principles
Soil building, care and regeneration
Composting methods, active, passive and vermi piles
Starting seeds- indoor and out
Hardening off plants and transplanting seedlings
Plant care and pest/disease management
Harvest and processing techniques
Whole food cooking
Herbal Education- growing, care and preparation
Everything you ever wanted to know about herbal tisanes
Season extenders- Cold frames, greenhouses
Pollinating plants and cut flowers
Companion and rotation planting
All about mulch!
Garden planning and design/build techniques
Plant identification- fruit and vegetable plants, edible “weed” harvest, invasive species management, ornamental and native plants
How to be resourceful with everything you do
How to improvise in almost any situation
Living more with less
Our part in our micro ecosystem as well as the world
Syncing your rhythm to nature’s rhythm

Your guide, Maria Solakofski is a mentor of everything herbal, a guide for botanical wellness, organic gardening, nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices, community building, self-sufficiency and homesteading in the city.

Learn more about Maria here.