Garden Insights - Sheree and Henry's Garden

Garden Insights + Share Table

Garden Insights: "Isla en el Cielo", Sheree and Henry Conroy's Garden

Sunday 7 January 2024

2.00 pm - 4.30 pm

4 Hellhole Creek Road, Preston, Q 4352

This event is organised by Permaculture Toowoomba Inc.

Bookings are Essential

Bookings are essential so that we have contact details and know how many will be attending.

What We'll Do

We’ll start at 2.00 pm with a welcome and introduction. We like to visit a range of different gardens, each as unique as the gardeners who live there. It’s wonderful to see the diverse garden styles, approaches, and plants that can be grown in our bioregion.

So this month Sheree and Henry Conroy will show us their highly productive garden on the top of a hill at Preston.

We'll See

Sheree and Henry live on 40 acres at the top of the range with lovely views to the east. They have a mix of native bush, native gardens and a large fenced fruit and vegetable area. The fenced garden is a mix of established fruit and nut trees, raised vegetable beds and paths through berries, more vegetables, and many different companion flowers. They recently started hot composting, renovated their worm farm, and started a black soldier fly system. They also have chickens and horses which are a great source of compost. 

The Story Behind the Garden

From Sheree: 

My parents originally bought the property and still live here. We were married on the hilltop where our house now sits, and planted our first fruit trees in 2002 at the site. The vegetable beds followed after we moved into our house 15 years ago, and we have always loved growing our own produce. 

About a year ago, we began companion planting edible flowers and growing all vegetables and flowers from seeds. The bee attractant plants have improved pollination and made for a beautiful garden. We have very strong winds from all directions, being on a hilltop, so are growing windbreaks and use nets for this, the advantage being no frost.  

Our soil is rocky clay (on the site of previous cattle sale yards), which we continually enrich with composted horse manure. We have many native animals, birds and lizards (including goannas!) on the property and spent many hours earlier this year constructing a 100m bandicoot proof fence around the vegetable area to protect them from digging.  

Afternoon Tea (provided)

A light afternoon tea will be provided (including Gluten Free and Vegan options).

What to Bring

• Water Bottle
• Sun protection
• Clothes and footwear suitable for outdoor weather conditions
• 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

Access

Most of the garden is accessible by walking frame, but not much by stroller or wheelchair. 

Directions and Parking

• Drive south out of town on Ruthven Street. 
• Turn left off the highway towards Preston.
• After 3.2km, turn left again onto Preston Boundary Road. 
• Drive past the Preston Peak Winery gate, and Gormans Gap turn off, then down the hill to Hellhole Creek Road. 
• Turn left onto Hellhole Creek Road, and then immediately turn right to drive in the driveway and up to the top of the hill. 
• Don't drive down Hellhole Creek Road!! 
• Parking is at the top of the driveway. 

Cost

• Financial Members of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. - Free
• First-time Visitors to a Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. Event - Free
• Non-Members - $10 per person
• Children attending with an Adult - Free (but please book so we know the total numbers)

Membership

Annual Membership of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. is due by 31 December each year. It's only $40 per person or $30 for a second or subsequent adult living in the same home.  

If you join now, membership is valid for until the end of 2024. 

Members can attend all events and workshops during the year at no cost. You can pay your membership at checkout when you book to attend this event.

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