Year-round veggie gardening

Photo of Kayla Siegfried. Image credit: Compost Education Centre

Having lived in Sooke for just over three years, it still surprises me that I can, if so inclined, grow vegetables all year round. Growing up on the prairies, it was never even thought of until after the May long weekend, and even then, there was a good chance of frost and snow. In April of my first spring in Sooke, I asked my brother who has lived in Victoria for 30 plus years, when to start my peas. “You haven’t planted your peas yet?” Apparently, it was already late.

I now marvel of my early lettuce, spinach, kale, pea starts, and put in a second sowing in June to keep veggies going until winter. Haven’t yet continued into the winter months, as I am not quite climatized with the rain and cold.

Kayla Siefried (she/her) is a settler in Lekwungen Territory who grew up in Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. As a steward of the Compost Education Centre demonstration gardens and the curator and main educator of the Adult Education Program. She can be found growing seedlings for plant sales, working with volunteers to help keep gardens healthy, flipping hot compost, arranging instructors to teach workshops, as well as being out in the community teaching soil health, organic gardening and Do-it-Yourself tasks that increase climate resilience.

With a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, she has continued with practical hands-on permaculture training, gardening and farming internships in various places on Turtle Island and beyond. Kayla’s presentation will show you how to plan to grow year-round, steward your soil, elevate temperatures in the shoulder season and so much more.

If you are a current Sooke Garden Club member, or would like to join, come to the meeting on Wednesday, May 12th at 7:00pm at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.