Grow your own organic food at home.

Feed yourselves and sell the surplus at a farmers market or to a local box scheme.

Help save money and the planet

In these hard times of water and resource shortages combined with a probable reduction in cash flow in the household, growing your own food makes good sense both environmentally and economically, It is easy and enjoyable once you know the basic rules, so we will cover the tricks used to make it productive and profitable. The topics are:

Soils- improving or build your own.

Where else could you start? Modern agriculture tries to control this and reduces it to a “Growing medium” supplying doses of chemical fertilizers and water as we deem the plants need it. Chris Alinson showed me how wrong this all was and introduced me to “SPAM”, it makes logical scientific sense to feed the soil and let plants do what they have evolved to do over millennia. The simply use of natural systems such as compost not only feed plants the 22 nutrients they need to grow in “Balance” (as BD calls it) it also improves the structure, water holding capabilities and future increased yields that this medium can provide to any plant.

We can repair farms or even make our own soil on concrete & contaminated sites quite easily and cheaply.

Remember we grow this stuff to EAT ourselves or feed the animals we eat.

Water- how to conserve water and grow food- legally

While laws are years behind the needs of community in growing it’s own food locally to reduce transport waste, don’t despair its simple to provide most of the needs on your own place and you can still abide by the archaic water restriction laws.

Organic, Bio Dynamic or Permaculture- what’s the difference?

Lots of misinformation and urban legends have grown with these disciplines, we will discuss each and look at what’s best for you and the planet.

Feeding the soil- Worm-farms, Hot Compost & No-dig beds.

What’s the science, how’s it work and how simple is it to do at your home, you will be surprised.

Propagating- seeds, seedlings, cuttings & grafting.

Basic skills that can save time, money, biodiversity and have fun as well, this was a part of all gardeners toolbag in “the Old days” lets look at some simple tricks to improve your success.

Fruit trees- Dwarf vars look good, save space and produce fruit earlier.

You can be eating healthy food from your garden this winter in just 6 weeks.

6 sessions of 6hrs, bring lunch with you to share.

Starts Tuesdays  27th October 2009  for 6 weeks 9.00-3pm finishing on Dec 15th course will run onsite @ Arribri Community house in North Bayswater in the Nursery site with its own class room and may include one session at Telopea Mtn In Monbulk.

Cost is only $119.00 including a Basic Materials fee of $33.80 per student.

To Book ring Jackie Warren @ Arribri House on 9294 7537 www.arribri.com
Ring Peter to book direct 0418 665 880 or email telopeamtn@bigpond.com