Join Richard Lee, EcoMatters Food Team leader in this practical, hands-on workshop at EcoMatters organic teaching garden.

Learn how to read the contour of the whenua, then design and create a productive sponge garden based on swale composting.
Plan, design and prepare now, ready for planting in the warmer months.

Benefits of Productive Sponge Gardens:

Build the depth and health and sponginess of your soil
Close the loop - make use of foodscrap nutrients for food production
Plant a range of species in a polyculture system including bananas, pawpaw, sugarcane, taro, yacon (pictured)
Slow the flow - actively reduce rainwater runoff, while ensuring your site is resilient in times of high rainfall and drought.

Photos taken at Kahurere Ridge Farm, Waitoki, showing remarkable improvements in soil structure from clay to deep friable loam.

ABOUT:

We will be building a new 'compost swale' utilising food scraps collected from Second Bite our Organic Waste collection programme in partnership with Rosebank Business Association, garden waste and other compostable inputs.

This will be a practical session laying down a fresh compost bed into a newly dug swale system. Richard will also demonstrate how to manage bananas and other productive plants for maximum yield.

PLEASE BRING: Gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, a raincoat, hat and water bottle.