There’s nothing more satisfying than eating food picked fresh from your own garden. This free Dr Compost gardening workshop will take you through everything you need to know to get a veggie garden started and to maximise your harvest.

Find out which vegetables grow best in the Queenstown Lakes district, and when to plant them for the best yields. Learn how to grow from seed, transplant seedlings and stagger plantings to avoid gluts (every gardener's worst nightmare - courgette's anyone?).

From building a raised bed to using mulch to conserve moisture in the soil, Dr Compost's top tips come from over two decades of vegetable gardening in our harsh climate. He's made a few mistakes along the way so he can teach you how to avoid them.

Let's not forget the magic of compost - the secret ingredient which adds life to your soil, increases its water-holding capacity and feeds your plants. All while reducing the waste (and smell) going into your rubbish bin.

Veggie gardening is a life-long hobby, so we can’t promise to give you all the answers in one workshop. But we can guarantee you'll leave inspired to get growing, and with all the knowledge you need to turn your backyard into a productive local food hub.

The Dr Compost home-composting project is funded by Queenstown Lakes District Council and delivered by Wastebusters to reduce organic waste in landfill.

Tickets are free but are strictly limited to help us maintain physical distancing during alert level 2.