Join local permaculture expert Rod Hughes and horticulturalist Katie Armstrong-Sebbes, to learn about permaculture from the soil up in this 2 day, hands-on workshop exclusive to Perth City Farm.

Permaculture is an approach to designing landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for local needs. You will discover that not a lot of space is needed to design a productive garden that looks as good as it tastes and helps create a more sustainable environment.

Across the two days you will spend time in the classroom as well as getting your hands dirty with practical work in the gardens at Perth City Farm. You will learn all about:

Permaculture ethics, principles, zones, elements and functions.
Small space growing solutions
Growing bed preparation and planting
Theory and practice: soil, soil biology, compost and worm farming
Retrofitting where you live
Plant propagation
You’ll leave with: A jar of worms, new friends and oodles of inspiration and enthusiasm

Day 1, 8.30am to 3pm
Day 2, 9am to 3pm

What to bring:
We love hands-on learning! Please wear your gardening clothes and bring gardening gloves. A delicious morning tea is included which we will eat under the beautiful trees on the Farm (if the weather permits).

Meet Rod:
Rod has worked nearly three decades in environmental management. In recent years he has turned his attention to permaculture learning and how this system of thinking can create new and critical connections between people, the environment and the food we eat. Rod has completed a Permaculture Design Certificate, Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate and Diploma of Permaculture and uses these skills as the Farm Manager at Perth City Farm. Rod’s motto is “be nice and grow things” and believes that being kind to each other, looking after mother earth and ensuring fair share is critical to our survival.

Meet Katie:
Katie is a qualified Horticulturalist with a passion for food production and landscape gardening. She loves to talk all things plants and inspire people to grow and eat locally and sustainably. Katie works as our Market Gardener at Perth City Farm and spends her gardening time both at the Farm and in our external gardens, managed through the City Greening enterprise.

About Perth City Farm
Perth City Farm is a central urban farm that supports connected, sustainable communities. Established on a former industrial site in East Perth, this polluted site has been lovingly rehabilitated by volunteers to become a Western Australian icon for environmental sustainability and community engagement. We provide space and opportunities to build community connections, and educate and enable people to live sustainably.

Please note that masks must be worn when indoors at Perth City Farm run events and education sessions, including this one, unless you have a valid exemption. The WA mask mandate has ended, but case numbers are still high and we consider this measure a sensible way to keep our participants and staff safe. We know wearing masks can be annoying, but we also know that some in our community are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and the wearing of masks means everyone can participate in our events. Thank you very much for your understanding and ongoing support.