Details

This class will give you all the skills you need to create an abundant urban paradise. You can grow all the delicious produce your family can pick, eat and preserve, without using chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Brian will cover all the principles and techniques you need to understand, including companion planting and taking advantage of beneficial predators.
 
‘Good start for a beginner to understand different aspects to start a garden.’
 
‘The class was just what I wanted to participate in.  It provided plenty of practical information and the opportunity to participate in soil testing and compost creating. I really benefitted from the section that provided information about crop rotation too.’

Brian Hosking established Bendigo’s first community garden, Gravel Hill Gardens, where he worked for five years teaching permaculture. Brian established a local seed bank, a nursery and a community-supported agriculture system on the two-acre site. Since 2007 Brian has been working as a Garden Specialist at two schools, including Eaglehawk Primary School where he teaches children all aspects of food growing, soil husbandry, composting and plant propagation. Brian also consults to schools and the general public regarding food gardening and permaculture, while working to establish his own permaculture garden among 18 acres of box-ironbark forest in Axedale.

Additional Details

Please wear covered shoes suitable for working in the garden, and bring appropriate outdoor gear such as garden gloves, hats or coats. If weather is inclement the workshop will move indoors.
 
Enter the College via the main reception area, which is located near the end of Cromwell Street, and follow the signs to the kitchen where we will meet before heading out to the garden.

Public transport is often a good way to get to Collingwood College, with Collingwood train station only minutes away. However, on Saturdays there is usually parking available in the immediate vicinity of the College. Other parking options are generally the north and south sides of Hoddle Street, in Gipps Street and in the parking zone at the end of Islington Street.

Please note, the Foundation endeavours to proceed with each Public Workshop as planned, however in the instance of very low numbers of registrants or other unfortunate events we reserve the right to cancel a workshop up to 48 hours before scheduled. In all cases we will do our utmost to inform registrants a week in advance of any cancellation, and a 100% refund will be made