Growing vegetables and herbs without the use of chemicals requires us to think differently about our systems of growing. Structuring our planting to ensure we are growing seasonally, rotating our crops and harnessing the diversity of the veg that we grow through companion planting is a smart way to make sure your hard-earned produce reaches its full potential.

This workshop with empower participants with the skills and knowledge to implement crop-rotation, companion planting, and seasonally appropriate planting strategies to make the most out of their work in their backyard, balcony garden, or farm.

Come along to learn:

Which vegetables and herbs grow best in our local climate
The seasonality of the vegetables and herbs that we want to grow
The characteristics of the vegetables (botanical and physical) and herbs that we want to grow, and how we can use their similarities and differences to our advantage
Improving our soil through appropriate crop rotation
Improving our resilience to pests, diseases, and weeds through crop rotation
Pest management through companion planting
Maximising our use of space through polyculture, biointensive and companion-based planting methods.

Included:

Morning tea or afternoon tea
Digital copies of crop rotation template and ‘flash-card’ cut outs
Workshop notes

Tickets:

Book early to avoid disappointment! Early bird discounted tickets are available until 2 weeks before this workshop.

About the facilitator:

Cal Champagne has been the manager of Green Connect Farm since its establishment. Growing up on a permaculture demonstration property on the Far South Coast of NSW, Cal moved to the Illawarra as a young adult to study environmental sciences at UOW, before going on to postgraduate studies in Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Sydney. During his studies, he got involved in permaculture locally, through the ‘Living Classroom’ school gardens at Cringila Public School, Port Kembla Public School and Warrawong High School. When an 11-acre piece of land adjacent to Warrawong High School was made available, Cal joined Green Connect to turn this land into what is now the Green Connect Farm, one of the country’s leading examples of urban agriculture.

Before you book, please consider:

The site is a working farm and visitors must participate in a safety briefing before the workshop.
The terrain at the farm is particularly steep and slippery in parts. This workshop will include practical components on the farm and participants will be required to walk across uneven and sloping ground. If you have mobility restrictions or any concerns about your ability to navigate the terrain, please contact us before booking.
Plants love rain and so do we! We don’t cancel workshops in wet weather unless there is a dangerous storm. Please come prepared for the weather.
Allergen advice: Our farm is home to domestic animals as well as bees, wasps, and macadamia trees. Please pack an EpiPen if allergic and keep it with you while on site.

All workshop participants must:

Wear enclosed shoes or boots (no thongs or sandals) and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Long pants are recommended.
Bring a hat and sunscreen or rain gear, depending on the weather forecast.
Bring a pen/pencil and paper if you wish to take notes.

If you have any questions about this workshop, please don't hesitate to contact us at activities@green-connect.com.au or 4243 1537.