Knowing how to troubleshoot common problems can make all the difference in your garden. 

Length of party:

2 hrs

Full Menu Items:

• None

Taster Menu Items:

• Beneficial Insects
• Composting
• Fertilising
• Garden Soils
• Pest & Disease Management
• Soil Improvement
• Plant Selection

Outcome:

How to troubleshoot most common garden problems.

Host Gift:

• Garden Remedy Kit
  • Microbe kit
  • Kelp
  • Molasses
  • Sprays
  • Soil conditioner
  • Epsom salts
  • Minerals
• DVD
• Good bug mix

• Notes Pack
• pH strips
• Good bug mix
• Soil improvement kit - Soil conditioner, organic Xtra, NatraMin

Cost: $35 per person

• Minimum 9 people required
• Early bird specials apply

Full menu items:

Attracting beneficial insects into your garden.

• Introduction to beneficial insects
• The role of beneficial insects in an organic garden
• How to attract and keep beneficial insects in your garden
• Identifying common beneficial insects in an edible garden
• Resources for bug ID

Practical

• Identifying insects in the garden with magnifying glass
• Planting Good Bug Mix

Composting made easy.

• Why compost?
• What is compost?
• The role of compost in an organic garden
• The life in compost
• What goes in, what stays out - ingredients
• Building, maintaining, harvesting, using and storing your perfect compost
• Troubleshooting common problems (vermin, odours etc) & easy remedies

Practical

• Selecting and preparing the site
• Selecting & preparing the materials including compost starters
• Build a small compost heap to manage kitchen scraps and provide soil for your garden
• Bokashi system

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

All good edible gardens start with the soil - learn how to create and care for healthy soil.

Theory

• Understanding soil and its relationship with plants; importance of humus
• Soil testing
• Getting your soil ready to grow food
• Ways to improve soil
• How to care for your soil to keep it healthy in the first year
• Strategies for healthy soil; compost, worm castings, green manure cropping, mulching

Practical

• pH testing
• Looking at compost and worm castings
• Soil ribbon test

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'

Strategies for improving the health of your soil.

Theory:

• Why we need to continually improve our soil and how to do it
• Organic inputs
• Building Humus
• Changing pH balance
• Increasing moisture holding capacity
• Mineral Balance
• Green Manure Crops
• The benefits of compost, worm farms and mulching
• What is Crop Rotation?

Practical:

• Plant out a green manure crop
• Looking at different soil improvers - touch and smell

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