A message from the instructor

Heide Hermary

• Master's degree in Sustainable Agriculture
• Diploma in Horticulture (Landscape Design, Installation & Maintenance)
• Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture
• SOUL Certified Organic Land Care Professional
• CNLA Certified Horticultural Technician
• ISA Certified Arborist
• IIABC Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor
• Landscape Inspection Certificate
• Provincial Instructor Diploma with Post-Secondary Endorsement
• BC Landscape & Nursery Association Educator of the Year, 2007
• Master Gardener
• Master Woodland Manager
• Naturescape Ambassador
• Author of
  Working with Nature - Shifting Paradigms (book)
  The Essence of Organic Gardening - Seeing and Doing Things Differently (book)
  What pesticides really do in your garden (DVD)

"Organic Land Care - Working with Nature" is the synthesis of information from many different specialties, and the knowledge gained through years of practice and careful observation. It is an introduction into the science of holistic horticulture, and how it applies to our everyday work. As far as I know this is the first comprehensive program in purely organic ornamental land care in North America.

This program is geared towards professionals and others who are serious about organic land care practices. It will challenge you. You are the pioneers, the leaders of the organic horticulture movement, examples to future generations of gardeners. You need to be able to stand up to skeptics, naysayers, and fear mongers: you need to know this stuff.

It is my hope that this program will also lead to long term relationships, so that we can all continue to share experiences and learn from each other as we embark on our new adventures in many different parts of this beautiful planet.

Here is some information about myself:

As a self employed organic landscaper living on Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada, I have a diverse practice in Landscape Design, Installation, Consultation, Maintenance and Education.

In my landscape practice I design and install gardens as small as postage stamp sized urban backyards and as big as 10 acre rural estates. Two of "my" gardens were featured on the CBC "Canadian Gardener" television show with David Tarrant (a Canadian gardening celebrity). I also advise homeowners and private and public organizations on plant and landscape health issues.

As an educator I have developed and teach seminars, short courses, and comprehensive professional development programs in all aspects of horticulture. My audience includes landscape professionals and arborists from the private and public sector, horticulture students, master gardeners, high school students, and the general public. I continue to work with the Burnaby School Board, Royal Roads University, the Capital Regional District of Victoria, and many other municipalities and organizations.

I am one of the founders and past chair of the Society of Organic Urban Land Care Professionals
(SOUL), and currently serve as chair of the education committee.

The landscape industry is entering a period of intense change as we adapt our practices to new pesticide legislation. My challenge and passion as an educator is to provide the educational support to enable landscapers to meet the future with confidence and professionalism.