By Linda Gilkeson, and the Orcas Island Garden Club

Please join us on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when the Orcas Island Garden Club welcomes Linda Gilkeson. Global insect populations have crashed over the last couple of decades. Learn why this matters for our food supply, for a healthy environment and the future of wildlife. Find out the latest research into the many factors contributing to the widespread decline and how gardeners can help to reduce the harm from some of these factors by improving insect habitat in their yards.

Gilkeson earned a Ph.D. in entomology from McGill University. She has extensive experience as an entomologist, including working for the provincial government of British Columbia promoting programs to reduce and eliminate pesticide use and as executive director of the Salt Spring Island Conservancy. Gilkeson now devotes her time to writing, teaching and consulting. Gilkeson will present to us via Zoom but we welcome you to join us to view the presentation and then enjoy social time at the Orcas Center.

Gilkeson’s comprehensive gardening book, “Backyard Bounty: The Complete Guide to year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest,” is a BC bestseller. She has just published a newly revised and expanded third edition of her comprehensive pest management guide, “West Coast Gardening: Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control.” She now focuses on publishing books for local gardeners. Gilkeson is a regular instructor in the Master Gardener programs in British Columbia and is busy year around giving workshops on pest management and organic gardening.

Gilkeson has served as president of the Entomological Society of Canada, the Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia, the Entomological Society of British Columbia and the Salt Spring Island Garden Club. She was awarded a Queen’s Jubilee medal in 2003 and an outstanding achievement award from the Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia in 2005.

The presentation begins at 10 a.m. via Zoom. For a link to the live Zoom presentation, go to the Orcas Island Garden Club website (https://www.orcasislandgardenclub.org/) and click the link below the list of presentations. The presentation will be recorded and available to view for four weeks after it is posted. To watch the recorded presentation, go to the link ‘recorded presentations’ under ‘events’ on the club website. Garden club presentations are free and open to the public.