Connect & Learn + Share Table

Earth Care and Plant Choices in Permaculture

presented by Susan Sheppard

Monday 16 February 2026

6.30 pm - 8.30 pm

at Level 3 Meeting Rooms, Toowoomba City Library, Corner of Herries and Victoria Streets, Toowoomba, QLD 4350

or online via Zoom

You'll receive the Zoom link after you book.

This event is organised by Permaculture Toowoomba Inc.

Bookings are Essential

Please book so we have your contact details and know how many will be attending.

What We'll Do

6.30 pm - Learn - Earth Care and Plant Choices in Permaculture

Presented by Susan Sheppard

What We'll Learn

The risks posed by certain plants escaping property boundaries and becoming environmental weeds or, to use a less loaded term, 'naturalised plants'
The relevance of the Permaculture Principles, particularly 'Earth Care', in guiding responses
An invitation to take a more environmentally informed approach to our plant choices
Practical approaches to assessing and managing the risks.

Susan recognises this is a complex topic and there are multiple legitimate perspectives, so she will try not to be didactic, but nevertheless warns that there may be some bad news about the weed potential of some permaculture favourites!

About Susan Sheppard

Susan is a keen permaculture gardener with an interest in reconciling sustainability in land management practices with broader environmental sustainability. Although her formal qualifications are not especially relevant to the talk - with a professional background in law and government policy - she has practised permaculture in home and community gardens for over 20 years and has a Permaculture Design Certificate. She also dabbles in bushcare and is currently Secretary of the Friends of the Escarpment Parks which cares for 16 bushland parks in Toowoomba. She moved to Toowoomba 4 years ago and has been busy setting up a 1/4 acre food and bush garden in town for a modest, but hopefully active and well nourished, retirement.

7.45 pm – Connect – Light Supper (provided) and Share Table

A light supper will be served (including Gluten Free and Vegan options).

Please bring your own KeepCup or mug so we can reduce waste.

Sharing of produce on the Share Table opens after the presentation to allow plenty of time for everyone to place their donations, and then allow you to browse, connect and make your selections during supper.

Parking

Free off-street parking is available under the library (enter from Victoria Street).

Access

The venue has access for wheelchairs, walking frames, and strollers as needed. Everyone is welcome (including children with parental supervision).

We hope we see you there!

What to Bring

KeepCup or similar for your drink at supper (we're trying to minimise waste)
Donations of surplus produce for the Share Table

Share Table

Do you have surplus?

We encourage you to bring your surplus produce, plants, seeds, books, craft supplies, and resources to share with others at our events.

Some ideas of what you could bring include – fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs, honey, milk, jams, pickles, preserves, jars, ferments, starters, SCOBYs, seeds, plants, seedlings, cuttings, tubers, pots, tools, gardening magazines, permaculture books, recipes, patterns, manure, coffee grounds, compost additives, worms, mealworms, wool, fabric, craft supplies, soap, natural cleaning products, plastic alternatives, produce bags – the list is extensive.

Please bring whatever you can and then take home whatever you need within our culture of generosity and free sharing.

Cost

Financial Members of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. - Free
First time visitors to a Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. event - $10.00
Non-Members - $20.00
Children attending with an Adult - Free (but please book so we know the total numbers)

Membership 2026 - now due

Annual Membership of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. is due by 31 December each year. It's only $50 per person or $40 for a second or subsequent adult living in the same home.

Financial Members can attend regular events and workshops during the year at no cost.

You can pay your membership for 2026 at checkout when you book to attend this event.

Membership forms will be available at the event for anyone wishing to join, or available here for download at http://www.permaculturetoowoomba.com.au/membership/

Contact the host of Connect and Learn - Earth Care and Plant Choices in Permaculture