Farmer Incubator's Pop Up Garlic Farmers program is a great way to try farming in a risk free and supported environment while building skills, knowledge and networks as you go. You'll get the opportunity to meet experienced farmers, visit established small-scale farms and hear from experts across a diverse range of fields. Then put your new knowledge into practice by taking a crop of garlic from seed to market using organic and regenerative farming practices at your selected pop up garlic farm.

Format

· PUGF Melbourne runs from 18 February to the end of November 2023

· The program includes 8 workshops over the ten months at various locations in and around Melbourne

· You will work at one of our partner farm sites to grow your own crop of garlic. Each farm will have a Site Facilitator to support you and a group of fellow pop up garlic farmers to share the experience with

· You will be expected to spend at least 1 day a month at tending to your crop. Note: this is just an average and there will be peak times (during planting and harvest) when you need to visit your farm more and quiet times (during winter) when you might need to visit less often.

· We require all participants to grow without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Furthermore, most of our partner farms are either certified organic or biodynamic and we strictly adhere to these standards

· Participants will need to organise space for curing and storing their garlic off-site after it has been harvested

Farm Sites

Select one farm to grow your garlic throughout the program:

Keilor - Days Walk Farm: Days Walk Farm is Paul Miragliotta's picturesque, certified organic farm. You will be right inside a buzzing farm atmosphere and meet farmers as they go about tending their crops. The Maribyrnong River runs along the border of the property and is a great place for a swim after a long weeding session! (5 spots available)

Bolinda - Wildwood Organics: Grow your garlic at Wildwood Organics, a newly established 4 acre Certified Organic Market Garden operating out of Hollyburton Park in the Macedon Ranges Shire. Wildwood Organics is in its second season of operation and is currently selling Veggies on a weekly basis to two restaurants in Melbourne, Ceres Fair food and also doing weekly veggie box deliveries. You will be growing in a particularly beautiful part of the world alongside experienced farmer, bee keeper and permaculturist, Ben Dunn. (5 spots available)

Wesburn - Yarra Valley ECOSS: New site! Yarra Valley ECOSS is a not-for-profit community organisation based on a 7.4 hectare permaculture designed farm at Wesburn. Their Vision is to promote local food production, earth education, and multicultural living, while building work skills and developing a vibrant, resilient, inclusive and sustainable community. On this site you will be growing your garlic alongside a community viticulture project and silviculture space and next door to an established biodynamic vegetable farm.

Bundoora - Bundoora Park Farm: New site! Just 15 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, Bundoora Park Farm is an established educational farm run by Darabin Council that presents both kids and adults with opportunities to interact with farm animals, heritage buildings and community gardening. This site is easily accessible via public transport.

Grow at Home: Have you got an amazing space for growing but are looking for how to start or want to be part of a wider community while growing food? We have tickets available for you! Grow at home tickets include all workshops, learning opportunities and materials as well as garlic seed. You will need to source your own site preparation materials including compost and straw mulch. Please get in touch with us via PUGF@farmerincubator.org to discuss this option before purchasing your ticket.

Cost

Your program fees includes the following:

· 8 x workshops throughout the program

· your garlic seed (50 bulbs / approx 500 seeds)

· land use & access from February until harvest (Nov/Dec)

· water, mulch & compost

· a copy of Farmer Incubator's garlic growing handbook

· Crop Enterprise Budgeting planner

· 6 x lunches, and tea/coffee available at every workshop

· new friendships/community connections/business partnership opportunities

· your own crop of organically grown garlic at the end of the year to sell, give away or simply keep for yourself :)

**If the cost of the program or payment terms are prohibitive please do not hesitate to contact us directly via pugf@farmerincubator.org and we will look at creating supportive payment options including payment plans and scholarships.

Course Schedule

Here is the list of fantastic workshops you can be a part of as a Pop Up Garlic Farmer. Please note that dates are subject to change. Final dates and locations will be confirmed and emailed out to all participants 2 weeks prior to start date.

· Workshop 1: Introductions & Planning
Saturday 18th Feb, 9:00am - 1pm

· Workshop 2: Soils, Agronomy and Site Preparation
Sunday 4th March, 10am - 3pm

· Workshop 3: Planting & Cultivating
Saturday 1st April, 10am - 3pm

· Workshop 4: Weeds, Pests & Diseases
Saturday 27th May, 10am - 3pm

· Workshop 5: Farm Tour
Saturday 12th August, 10am - 1pm

· Workshop 6: Co-farming and Accessing Land for Your Future Farm
Saturday 9th September, 10am - 3pm

· Workshop 7: Marketing Your Product
Saturday 7th October, 10am - 3pm,
(**Please note: this event is held at a restaurant and the cost of lunch is NOT included in PUGF registration price)

· Workshop 8: Harvesting and Decision Making
Saturday 4th November, 10am-3pm

Interested but can't commit to the whole course? Or growing garlic yourself and want to get the most of your crop? Book in to join us for any of the individual workshops throughout in the year!