This 6 hour main course will have you growing veggies in no time.

Length of party:

6 hrs plus breaks

Full Menu Items:

• No-Dig Gardening
• Planting Seedlings
• Fertilising
• Plant Selection

• Permaculture
• Garden Design
• Irrigation
• Seasons
• Worm Farms
• Pest & Disease Management

Outcome:

Creating and planting an edible garden from scratch.

Host Gift:

• Small tank garden used in no-dig demonstration.
• Garden planted out with either pizza garden or stir fry garden.
• DVD

• Notes Pack
• No-dig recipe - laminated
• DVD

Cost: $95 per person

• Minimum 12 people required
• Early bird specials apply

Full menu items:

An instant garden - build a no-dig garden in no time at all.

Theory

• What is a no dig garden and why to build one
• The origins
• How to build one
• No Dig recipe
• The benefits and outcomes
• Where to build a no-dig garden
• Different ways of creating no-dig gardens
• How to plant in the garden
• Ongoing maintenance
• Installing a worm farm in a no-dig garden

Practical

• Building no-dig garden

Making and using organic fertilisers.

Theory:

• Types of fertilisers - organic vs synthetic
• Methods and timing of applications
• Benefits of using the correct fertilisers
• Nutrient deficient and plant language
• Green manure crops
• Selecting eco-friendly fertilisers
• Make your own fertilisers
• The use of slow release fertilisers

Practical:

• Make a bucket of comfrey tea
• Apply worm juice and other liquid fertilisers

Knowing how to handle, plant and maintain seedlings.

Theory

• Where to get seedlings (buying them or grow your own)
• What type of seedlings to buy
• What to look for when buying seedlings
• Prepare the soil
• How to handle seedlings
• Planting them
• Caring for them
• Avoiding transplant shock

Practical

• Handling, separating and planting out seedlings

Knowing what, when and where to plant.

Theory:

• Nomenclature - the naming systems of plants
• Growth habits
• Identify the conditions for plant growth
• Pollination
• Types of crops for your needs
• Water, sun, soil and fertiliser requirements
• Annuals & perennials - growing food throughout the year
• Sub Tropical foods

Practical:

• Looking at examples of different plant species

An introduction to permaculture ethics and principles.

Theory:

• The history of Permaculture - the beginnings and the name
• Design ethics and principles
• The importance of this for the future
• How to incorporate this into our daily lives

Practical:

• Activitiy to familiarise everyone with Permaculture

One hour of clever design can save ten hours of hard work.

Theory:

• Elements of a design
• Sectors and Zones
• Positioning the garden
• How to design a garden
• Why good planning saves time and improves productivity
• The needs of the client/school
• Materials required

Practical:

• Walk around a garden area for observation
• Note services and other elements
• Draw a quick mud map of property / school

Be waterwise.

Theory:

• Different methods of irrigating and how to apply them
• Your plants' water needs
• Designing your garden to save water
• When to water and how
• Storing and using water for irrigation
• Irrigation systems and watering options
• Water saving techniques
• Sources of water

Practical:

• Create an irrigation system in easy steps

An introduction to seasonal planning for a subtropical edible garden.

Theory

• Mapping sun and shade patterns throughout the year
• Understanding orientation
• Growing in the subtropics (specific issues)
• Planning your garden for a year of food (this steps into garden design)
• Seasonal jobs - busy times, quiet times
• When to plant, when to harvest
• Annuals & perennials - growing food throughout the year
• Understanding the subtropical climate and how it affects backyard food production

Practical

• Using a compass, finding orientation
• Using sun map for our region

You'll have an army of workers in your garden busy working while you sleep.

Theory:

• Elements of a design
• Sectors and Zones
• Positioning the garden
• How to design a garden
• Why good planning saves time and improves productivity
• The needs of the client/school
• Materials required

Practical:

• Set up a worm farm
• Feed a worm farm
• Handle worms and castings - mmm
  

How to manage common pests and diseases in an organic garden.

• Understanding who's who in the garden
• The important role insects play
• Making peace with the pests
• Integrated pest management strategies
• The role of good garden design
• Attracting beneficial insects to your garden/companion planting
• Common diseases in the subtropical garden
• Organic solutions to common problems (recipes for common pests and diseases)

Practical

• Identifying insects in the garden
• Planting out some Good Bug Mix
• Identifying healthy/sick plants - understanding plant ‘language'

Herbs for human and garden health.

Theory:

• Looking at different varieties
• Their many uses
• Growing needs
• Designing herbs into gardens
• Growth habits
• Container growing
• Harvesting and using

Practical:

• Looking at and tasting a variety of herbs
• Creating natural remedies from herbs