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).
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.
Introduction to Food Preservation: Methods & Storage for Edmonton Gardeners
A hands-on overview workshop for Edmonton gardeners who want to stop losing their harvest and start building a pantry that feeds them through winter.
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.
Permaculture Design Certificate Course 2026: Learn to Design Food-Producing Landscapes
A 10-day, on-site permaculture design certificate course in Alberta for anyone who wants to grow more food, lower grocery costs, and build lasting resilience in their yard or community.
Beginner Jam Making Workshop in Edmonton 2026
Learn how to make jam in this beginner-friendly canning class. Preserve summer fruits, gain safe food preservation skills, and take home a pint of homemade jam you made yourself!
Tomato Preservation Class. One Evening, a Winter’s Worth of Tomatoes.
Learn how to preserve the taste and nutrition of your tomato harvest through freezing, dehydrating, ripening tips, and more—just in time for Alberta’s first frost.
Capilano Apple Cider Event: Press Fresh Cider in Edmonton’s River Valley
Kick off the 2026 Apple Cider Celebration on the grounds of Capilano Community League, with pedal-powered apple pressing, an orchard blessing, and fresh local cider for the whole family.
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.
