Sunday, 29th November, 10am - 2pm
Tickets $80 AUD
Book online, by phone - (02) 4759 3478, or in store today!
You can purchase tickets online HERE.
Come and learn the knowledge and skills you need to successfully grow your own food with a former professional farmer! Whether your vegetable garden is well underway already this season, or you’re yet to get started (it’s not too late!), this workshop will cover everything you need to know to help you grow your own fresh, healthy, organic produce in your own backyard!
What to expect:
In this hands-on, experiential workshop, we’ll cover all of the basics including:
What is organic growing?;
Planning your garden and how to get started: identifying your climate zone, choosing your garden site, designing for low maintenance, raised bed/row vegetable gardening, basic garden tools and tasks;
Caring for your soil: soil testing, building fertility/organic matter through green manures/seasonal cover cropping, composting and worm farming, organic liquid fertilisers and other soil amendments that you can make yourself at home;
Ensuring a consistent food supply: the basic planting calendar - what to grow where, when and how, succession planting and crop rotations. Strategies for year-round growing and extending the season. Improving yields through companion planting and other techniques;
Direct seeding vs. transplanting: seed starting tips and potting soil pointers, hardening-off techniques to ensure your transplants survive;
Trouble shooting: common plant nutrient deficiencies and how to identify them, common pests (slugs, aphids, possums, etc.) and how to manage them, including floating row covers and home-made non-toxic pest sprays;
All things water: Designing a water efficient vegetable garden, irrigation systems - pros and cons, how to grow food in a drought (yes, it’s still possible);
Creating a diverse and wildlife friendly vegetable garden: attracting the Bs - birds, bees and beneficial insects - to your garden;
Gardening during hard times: overcoming lack of money (how to get started with a low or no budget), lack of time, lack of space, landlord resistance, and other common gardening problems. Getting the most bang for your gardening buck. Growing food as an act of resistance and sharing the abundance!
About your tutor:
Sonya Byron is a naturopath, Yoga teacher and medicinal/edible landscaper based in the beautiful Blue Mountains of NSW. For several years, she earned her living as the owner/farmer of Good Karma Farm, a sustainable two-acre organic farm producing 60 different vegetable and herb crops. She has also worked in a boutique nursery assisting national award-winning garden designers; completed two Permaculture Design Certificates, and completed additional training in regenerative agriculture and therapeutic horticulture. While she no longer earns a living as a full-time farmer, she remains a passionate grower to this day. She believes that fresh, healthy, home grown food is the foundation for good health, and loves nothing more than sharing what she’s learned and grown with others and encouraging them to grow their own food. You can learn more about her work at www.sonyabyron.com.au
What’s included:
The workshop price includes all tuition and materials, tea, coffee, treats and a very comprehensive resource list to take home with you. Delicious snacks will be available for purchase in store, so bring a picnic blanket if it’s a warm day and you’d like to enjoy something to eat in Lyttleton’s garden at the conclusion of the workshop.
Volunteer position:
Lyttleton Stores is now offering one volunteer position per workshop. If you are interested in volunteering, the first step is to complete a volunteer induction. Workshop volunteers must be members and they will receive a 20% discount for one week if they volunteer for a half day workshop (four hours) and for two weeks if they volunteer for a full day workshop. They will also enjoy learning new skills and assisting the tutor during the workshop. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteer@lyttletonstores.com.au 4-6 weeks prior to the workshop commencement date.
Cancellation Policy:
Please note that workshops are non-refundable, however, if you give us 48 hours notice of cancellation, we can give you a workshop credit to apply to a different workshop.