Friday, May 31, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Led by Jackie Labonte and Marie Louise.

Join our Indigenous Knowledge Keepers as we open our Three Sisters Garden for the growing season. Together in ceremony, we will sow seeds and plant seedlings. Singing and drumming will take place also. All community members are welcome.

About Jackie

Jackie Labonte (tekaiatakwas) is self identified from the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Six Nations of Grand River Territory. She resides in the Niagara region, having worked with Native organizations for over thirty years providing services, sharing Traditional Teachings and serving as a Cultural Advisor.

About Marie Louise

Marie Louise is Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Mohawk of Kahnawake (Kah-nah-wag-ay). The Niagara Native community has been nurturing and guiding Marie for 25 years as she walks with the grandmothers and teachings of traditions. She is currently the Indigenous Graduation Coach for the Niagara Catholic District School Board, supporting youth as they work toward their career goals. She is also Board Secretary for the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, where she helped establish the Love Garden.

Saturday, June 28, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Led by Jackie Labonte and Marie Louise.

Join us for an engaging and educational workshop about traditional medicines, how to identify them, and understand their benefits. Part of the workshop will include a walk through Short Hills Provincial Park.

About Jackie

Jackie Labonte (tekaiatakwas) is self identified from the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Six Nations of Grand River Territory. She resides in the Niagara region, having worked with Native organizations for over thirty years providing services, sharing Traditional Teachings and serving as a Cultural Advisor.

About Marie Louise

Marie Louise is Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Mohawk of Kahnawake (Kah-nah-wag-ay). The Niagara Native community has been nurturing and guiding Marie for 25 years as she walks with the grandmothers and teachings of traditions. She is currently the Indigenous Graduation Coach for the Niagara Catholic District School Board, supporting youth as they work toward their career goals. She is also Board Secretary for the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, where she helped establish the Love Garden.

Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Led by Marcia Christie.

This workshop was so popular last year, we’re bringing it back twice!

Learn how to make your own probiotic-rich fermented cucumber pickles! Marcia will walk you through the steps to make your own crunchy, sour pickled cucumbers, from selecting the best produce, to washing and preparing, packing the jars, and making the brine. The fermenting process, best practices, and time frames will be discussed in detail. All of this will be summed up in a written guide for you to take home. 

What to Bring

All ingredients will be provided and we are asking for a small fee of $5 to offset costs.  We also ask that participants bring a few household cooking utensils:

• Large bowl

• Potato peeler

• Cutting board

• Paring knife

• Optional: apron
  

About Marcia

Marcia grew up on her parent’s Saskatchewan farm in the 60s and 70s. They were of Ukrainian heritage and food self-sufficient: foraging for wild plants, growing and raising any and every food that could be put away into storage.  From an early age Marcia learned how to grow, harvest, prepare and store fruits and vegetables, and milk and meat products.

Fermenting was a key method of extending the life and nutrient-richness of vegetables like cucumbers and cabbage into pickles and sauerkraut and milk products into sour cream and cottage cheese.  Foraging for wild berries like chokecherries and Saskatoon berries would turn into some nicely fermented wine.  And Marcia’s father, bless his soul, would ferment grain for home-brew!

Marcia continues many of the traditions lovingly handed down to her and is excited to share this heritage and nutrient-richness with anyone who is interested.

*$5 ingredients fee

Saturday, August 23, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Led by Carrissa Gracey.

Join us at The Brown Homestead for a collaborative Three Sisters Soup making workshop! Learn from Carrissa about about the importance of the three sisters in Haudenosaunee culture and all will work together in preparing the soup. Everyone will have a chance to enjoy a bowl of soup at the end of the workshop. 

What to Bring:

To help us keep this workshop free, we request guests bring a cutting board and knife if possible. Additionally, we request that you bring a bowl and spoon for enjoying the soup at the end of the workshop, to help us in reducing waste.

About Carrissa

Carrissa  grew up in the Niagara Region and resides there today with her family.  She is from the Mohawk Turtle Clan of Six Nations on her Mother's side.  Carrissa has a  background in Early Childhood Education  and is an Ontario Certified Teacher with the District School Board of Niagara as a recent graduate of the Waaban Indigenous Education Program at York University. She has a love for nature, gardening and enjoying the great outdoors!

Saturday, September 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Led by Linda Crago.

Discover the importance of heirloom varieties and seed saving! We’ll explore the basics of saving seeds from your own garden through hands-on learning.

About Linda

Linda Crago has run Tree and Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm for 27 years and is passionate about heirloom, open pollinated varieties of vegetables and organic growing. She currently manages the nonprofit Start Me Up Niagara 2 acre garden, growing food for the Region’s food banks and social service agencies, hoping to make a difference.

Saturday, October 11, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Led by Jackie Labonte and Marie Louise.

After what we hope to be a nourishing and rewarding growing season, join us in closing the Three Sisters Garden as a community. Together, we will offer our thanks and share in singing and drumming. All community members are welcome.

About Jackie

Jackie Labonte (tekaiatakwas) is self identified from the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Six Nations of Grand River Territory. She resides in the Niagara region, having worked with Native organizations for over thirty years providing services, sharing Traditional Teachings and serving as a Cultural Advisor.

About Marie Louise

Marie Louise is Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Mohawk of Kahnawake (Kah-nah-wag-ay). The Niagara Native community has been nurturing and guiding Marie for 25 years as she walks with the grandmothers and teachings of traditions. She is currently the Indigenous Graduation Coach for the Niagara Catholic District School Board, supporting youth as they work toward their career goals. She is also Board Secretary for the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, where she helped establish the Love Garden.

September to November 2025, calendar coming soon.

Discover the ways in which agricultural technology has revolutionized they way we grow, harvest, and sustain our food through the lens of:

• Indigenous Practices

• Early Niagara History

• Current Issues

• Arts & Literature

Stay tuned for our speaker announcement!