Community Events for Sustainability and Food Security in Edmonton
OFRE events
At Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton, we believe in growing food skills that last a lifetime. Our events bring Edmontonians together to reduce food waste, build food security, and share the joy of local harvests. From orchard care to preserving the fall bounty, every workshop connects community with sustainability.
Upcoming Events
workshops and classes
Learn how to can tomatoes, ferment kraut, bake sourdough, or press apples into cider. Our hands-on homesteading classes turn seasonal chaos into pantry calm (and sometimes jam).
Green Drinks Edmonton February 2026
Join Green Drinks Edmonton this February to hear from climate advocates on senior activism, environmental education, and university climate politics. Connect with sustainability advocates, discover local initiatives, and be part of Edmonton's growing environmental movement.
Passive Solar Greenhouse Workshop
Learn how to build a passive solar greenhouse that grows food even in Edmonton winters, without fossil fuels or sky-high heating bills.
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Part 1
Discover the essential techniques of winter pruning in this online workshop. Gain the knowledge to keep your fruit trees and shrubs healthy, productive, and thriving.
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Part 2
Get hands-on with winter pruning! Learn and practice under expert guidance, to cut with confidence, while connecting with Edmonton’s fruit-growing community.
Starting Seeds Indoors: Grow Healthy Transplants for Your Edmonton Garden
A hands-on workshop teaching you how to start seeds indoors, time your plantings for Edmonton's climate, and grow strong seedlings ready for transplant.
Edmonton Seedy Sunday 2026: Celebrate Our Community Gardening Spirit
Seedy Sunday is Edmonton’s premier event for gardeners, seed enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about local food and sustainability. Join us to exchange seeds, learn new gardening techniques, and become part of a vibrant community movement!
Control Apple Maggots in Edmonton: Time to Act
Apple maggots are Edmonton’s top apple tree pest—but you can stop them. Learn how to spot, manage, and prevent infestations in this expert-led, $10 virtual training. Perfect for backyard growers and urban orchardists across Alberta and beyond.
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Fruit-Bearing Bushes and Trees in Edmonton
Discover how to plant, grow, and care for fruit-bearing trees and bushes that thrive in Edmonton's unique Zone 3 climate. This hands-on event delivers practical tips, local insight, and the confidence to build your own backyard food supply.
OFRE Annual General Meeting (AGM)
OFRE’s Annual General Meeting is your chance to shape the future of food rescue, preservation, and community in Edmonton. Join us in May for updates, elections, and a salad potluck full of fresh ideas and good company.
Hands-On Homesteading Classes in the Heart of Edmonton
Discover the Joy of Seasonal Skill-Building
At Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE), our events invite you to reconnect with the time-tested skills that turn backyard harvests into pantry staples. If you're wrangling crabapples, eyeing your neighbour’s rhubarb jungle, or wondering what to do with six zucchinis the size of baseball bats—we've got a workshop for that.
From fermentation adventures to zero-waste preserving techniques, every OFRE event is built on hands-on learning, community connection, and the power of local abundance.
Grow, Harvest, Preserve: What to Expect
Our workshops cover the full cycle of seasonal food resilience:
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Urban homesteading basics like water bath canning, root cellaring, and dehydration for long-term storage
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Food preservation for all skill levels—from jams and jellies to fermented foods for gut health
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Garden-to-jar solutions for zero-waste cooking, including creative ways to use scraps, gluts, and gleaned produce
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Backyard fruit tree care and seasonal orchard maintenance (yes, we’ll help you tackle that apple maggot situation!)
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Family-friendly and beginner-welcoming sessions taught by local food leaders and preservation pros
Empowering Edmontonians Through Food Literacy
We believe food security starts with food knowledge. That’s why OFRE events blend practical skills with community-building:
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Affordable, accessible workshops designed for busy urban dwellers
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Classes tailored to Edmonton’s climate and Zone 3 harvest rhythms
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A warm, welcoming space to learn, share, and grow—no pressure, just pickles
Whether you’re preserving your garden’s bounty, rescuing fruit from a neighbour’s tree, or learning to stretch your food dollars, you’ll leave each event with new skills and deeper roots in Edmonton’s food community.
Stay in the Loop
New workshops are added seasonally—some sell out fast! Be sure to join our newsletter and be a part of the action.