We had two very successful fresh food garden courses over the weekend. Lunch on Saturday featured seasonal produce including silverbeet filo pies, asparagus tart and chickpea and kumara salad. There’s a big difference between doing a course and just reading a book or a magazine. Reading’s great, but because of the way our brains are wired, you can’t beat some social support and inspiration.
There are a few places left on the next course on Saturday 31 October 2009. If you have friends and family who might be interested in this course, please forward this email to them. They can also sign up to get these newsletters regularly too. Who knows, they might buy you a place on the course as a gift? If they do, I’ll provide a gift card for them to send.
Here’s what people said about their experiences:
‘there was a nice balance between instructive and practical.’
‘relaxed, open and convivial atmosphere.’
‘friendly session with accessible information. Inspiring!’
‘great for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.’
‘very helpful for someone wanting to set up a vegetable garden.’
‘I certainly got more than I expected.’
‘I would thoroughly recommend the course - very informative and practical.’
‘I’m already recounting a multitude of things I learned and am coming up with ideas that the course gave me.’
Here are some frequently asked questions - please email me if you want more information about the fresh food garden course.
Is the course suitable for me if I’ve never gardened before?
You don’t need any gardening experience to come on the course. The atmosphere is relaxed with lots of opportunities to ask questions. We cover a great deal in a short time so that you can get started right away.
What if I’ve got some gardening experience, is it still worth coming?
Some very experienced gardeners have been on the course and they’ve still very much enjoyed and learnt a great deal from it. They’ve also become re-energised by spending time with other vegetable gardening enthusiasts. Some wanted to try some new vegetables, grow through a longer season or adopt organic methods. Others just enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a beautiful country setting with great food and interesting company.
What would I learn that I can’t just learn from a book?
You’ll see a productive and practical edible garden and learn tips and techniques specific to Wellington gardening. You’ll do some practical and see demonstrations including (depending on the season) testing your soil, how to sow seeds, making compost and double digging. You’ll be able to see espaliered fruit trees, a tunnel house, hot compost heap, liquid fertiliser production, a wormery, vertical growing, mulching and raised beds.
What topics do we cover on the course?
We have a variety of practical, demonstrations and talking. We cover preparing the soil, composting, choosing what to grow, planning your garden, starting plants, weeds, pests and diseases and tools. You’ll develop your own eight week plan to take away. Here’s a typical agenda.
What if I have gardening problems after the course and I don’t know what to do?
You’ll get a folder of comprehensive notes including pictures, charts and diagrams which is yours to keep. I’m available to answer questions by email and offer consultancy to anyone who has been on the course.
What if it’s cold, windy or rainy?
We’ll spend more time inside but we’ll still go outside so come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear. Some of our best courses have been on days when the weather has been at its worst.
salad crops
On the warm days it seems as if I’ll never be ready for spring and on the cold days it seems as if spring will never be here. I’ve started sowing seeds outside - probably still a bit early for some things but with a few warm days they will be away. I found a hen scratching in the vegetable garden today which is always a problem with free-ranging chooks. She knew where the best worms would be found of course.
If you fancy raising some chicks to decimate your own garden, I’ll have some fertile eggs for sale ($3 each) at the Ohariu rural living day. It’s on this Saturday (27th September 2008) at 583 Ohariu Valley Road from 10am to 3pm. There will be a draw for a box of spring produce from the kitchen garden - the only way to get some before the season starts in December. I’ll have with me Henry the rooster and some of his wives.
The kitchen garden will be open as part of the Ohariu Valley Country Garden tour on Sunday 9th November 2008.
Tomato, eggplant, capsicum and chilli pepper plants will soon be available (six plants for $25). This year’s varieties are slightly different to last. Please email me if you would like plants or if you’ve got any comments on what went well or badly with your plants last year. Or you can post feedback at the end of this post.
Here are some tips for sowing seeds outside. Or you can keep sowing seeds indoors in pots for a few more weeks. The peas sown in guttering worked very well - 100% germination and they are now planted outdoors under a cloche. You’ll get plenty more help with seed sowing from the fresh food garden course.
