Growing Vegetables, From A-Z: The Basics of Vegetable Growing

Leaside Garden Society – Speaker Series presents:

Speaker: Desré Kramer

Topic: Growing Vegetables, From A-Z: The Basics of Vegetable Growing

Date: Thursday April 10th 2025

Time: 7:00 pm (refreshments at 6:30 pm)

Location: The Leaside Library (165 McRae Drive)

I’m a gardener, re-greener, scientist and plant lover. Although I’ll try growing almost

anything for fun my core interest is using gardens, parks, and other public spaces to re-

green the ecology of where we live. I’m the author of “How to Make a Pollinator

Garden”, and practice what I preach, having helped create many pollinator gardens in

front yards, city parks, and roadsides.

I have a particular interest in what it takes to make grassroots re-greening initiatives

successful. I was on the Advisory Board of the City of Toronto’s Pollinator Protection

program, and I do workshops with groups wanting to create green oases in their

neighbourhoods.

I study insects – their behaviour, their genetics, and the “big-data” area called

genomics. Among the insects, bees are a special focus.

I’ve been a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (honeybee

professionals) and I received the Canadian Pollinator Advocate award for 2011 from the

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. I’m an adjunct professor at York

University and VP of the Horticultural Societies of Parkdale & Toronto. I helped found

the Parkdale society in 1987 and Project Swallowtail in 201

Presentation: Growing Vegetables, From A-Z: The Basics of Vegetable Growing

Growing (and eating) your own vegetables has so many benefits! Come and discover the joy of growing your own food. You can’t beat the taste, and you save money while doing it. We’ll cover all the bases including planning new garden beds, the importance of soil, starting seeds indoors, crop rotation, caring for your plants, feeding/fertilizing and maximizing productivity by extending the growing season.

Speaker:  Desré Kramer is a sociologist at Toronto Metropolitan University who studies workplace stress. But more importantly, she is a Toronto Master Gardener who has been gardening for herself and others for more than four decades — going back to her 20s, when she and eight other families grew all their own vegetables in the Forks of the Credit area. Desre is passionate about growing vegetables in small and large spaces. She will share with you the secrets of how to create an organic vegetable garden that will bring infinite joy and good food to you and your family.

Guests are welcome! Contact leaside@gardenontario.org for more information