Gardeners Jason, Rory and Sue share their knowledge through their own growing experiences, no matter the weather. Ideal evening for those wanting to start a home garden.

Each speaker is introduced by Pam McKinlay who is one of the gardeners with the North East Valley Community Garden.

Jason Ross of Habitate Nursery grows heritage varieties of fruit trees suited to our coastal Otago climate. Jason will speak about diversity of plants, lay-out and design for a food forest structure and grouping plants by water needs and niches.

Rory Harding from George Street Orchard successfully grows an abundance of food on an urban section. Rory will talk on making use of microclimates, planting borderline species at the edge of climatic possibility and on his evolving food garden.

Sue Novell has changed a flower and shrub garden into a food garden that supplies food year round. Sue will talk on increasing health of soil and biodiversity, use of perennial vegetables and easily self-seeding plants to reduce the work in seasonal planting.

At the end of these presentations the three will join in a panel to discuss watering and composting/mulching. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the combined panel.

Jason will conclude the session with ideas on resources home gardeners can draw on:

- local food growing clubs and groups (DVGC etc.), open gardens

- local community gardens

- books (Dunedin City Library)

- online resources such as Kath Irvine’s ‘Edible Back Yard’ etc.

- charts from Habitate specific to our coastal climate (Jason will have these available for sale on the night $15 cash only)

There will be an opportunity to connect with other gardeners over refreshements.

Each of these gardeners will have tours of their gardens during the festival.

Cost: $5/adult children Free