Workshops Build Food Security and Community Resilience in Sooke

This fall, the District of Sooke in partnership with the Sooke Library and the Compost Education Centre is inviting residents to gather, learn, and connect through a free series of practical workshops. Funded by the Local Government Climate Action Program, these sessions focus on food security and community resilience, offering tools that help households grow and share more of their own food.

Workshop Schedule (all sessions start at 10:30 a.m. at the Sooke Library):

• September 11: Advanced Composting
• October 8: Indoor Sprouts and Microgreens
• November 13: Yard-Free Composting
• December 11: Planning Your Year-Round Veggie Garden

Beyond learning new skills, participants will have the chance to meet neighbours who share a passion for sustainability and local food. Each session includes a draw for a gift basket featuring local products, offered as a thank you for attending and for contributing to Sooke’s collective resiliency.

“Food connects us,” says Kayla Siefried, Instructor and Education Director at the Compost Education Centre. “By building composting and gardening skills, we’re not just reducing waste or growing vegetables - we’re strengthening local food systems, supporting each other, and building a community that can thrive together.”

The Compost Education Centre has been delivering hands-on environmental education across the region for more than 30 years. “When we come together in spaces like this,” adds Siefried, “we create opportunities for knowledge-sharing, neighbour-to-neighbour connections, and the kind of resilience that makes communities strong.”

Registration:

Workshops are free, and space is limited. Register through the Sooke Library.