June 15, 2026
Grow Citrus and Avocados in Canada? Why not!
– with Jane Squier
Jane Squier has over 40 years of hands-on experience operating successful small- and medium-sized greenhouse businesses and market gardens. She has operated both organic and hydroponic systems in tropical, Mediterranean and cold (Zone 3) climates. She worked for two years as a District Horticulturist in Papua New Guinea.
Jane is constantly working to refine the choice of plant material, growing methods and technologies to grow nutrient-dense food and to create efficient, sustainable and economically viable lifestyle businesses. She shares her experiences and knowledge through on-farm weekend workshops, her website and YouTube channel.
Jane studied horticulture and agroecology at Olds College and UBC.
Recently attended courses include Soil Food Web Foundation, Regenerative Agriculture with the Soil Health Academy, and Integrity Soils. Jane is a certified Soil Food Web lab-tech and uses her skills to assess soil health. In 2020, Jane received funding from Innovations Agriculture Canada for a year-long study to assess the use of leaf sap analysis for the management of cold-hardy citrus and avocado production.
Beyond being the farm owner/operator of The Garden on Salt Spring Island, Jane’s involvement in community development is extensive and ranges from establishing the Salt Spring Film Festival in 1999 to involvement with local governance in the areas of land use, water supply, organic waste management and transportation. She was the technical partner in the design and establishment of the award-winning GISS Farm-to-Cafeteria Program.
Her philosophy centers on the belief that trees and people do better when treated with respect, and she aims to help clients balance short-term concerns with long-term sustainability.
Jane is known for growing over 35 varieties of citrus and four varieties of avocados in a high-tech greenhouse — remarkable given BC’s climate. Her passion was sparked by the 2015 ripening of her first avocado.
This will be a ‘hybrid’ in-person and Zoom meeting:
- All ZOOM meetings will begin at 7:00 pm.
- All IN-PERSON meetings: doors will open at 6:30 pm, and meetings start at 7:15 pm.
- In-person meetings (presentation-only) may also be accessible by Zoom from your home.
HOW TO ATTEND:
All current CVHS members will receive a Zoom invitation before this meeting.
NOT A MEMBER?
If you are not a CVHS member and would like to join us, please CLICK HERE to purchase a guest pass by Friday, June 12, no later than 5:00 pm, for $5.50. Processing takes 2 days.
Please join us!
