*This course may run online if government guidelines advise
continued social distancing. Hands on learning sessions beyond theory
will be scheduled when safe to do so.

Interested in hands on sustainable gardening? Enthused about growing your own organic fruit, herbs and vegetables to share with your family and friends?

If you want to know more about organic gardening but don’t know where to start than this course is for you. Join CERES Trainer, Justin Calverley as he introduces you to the basics of horticulture, permaculture and organic gardening. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to confidently propagate seedlings, save seeds, grow vegetables and more!

* This is an ACFE Approved Pre-accredited Course where the cost is subsidised for eligible participants.

ACFE Eligible participants are deemed eligible through an interview process with our career pathways officer. The costs for these participants are $65 – ACFE Information and Eligibility

Contact Karen Mengell on 9389 0127 or karen.mengell@ceres.org.au for more information and to book an interview.

Trainer Bio's

Justin Calverley is a horticulturalist and permaculturist with over 20 years experience and will be the lead trainer for the Urban Farmer course. He has extensive knowledge and experience in permaculture, garden design, organic gardening and native bushfood plants. He specialises in edible gardens and is an expert in fruit tree cultivation and pruning. For over 10 years Justin has taught workshops at CERES in sustainable gardening and permaculture. Justin was a regular broadcaster on 3RRR’s ‘Dirty Deeds” and is a presenter on Ch 31’s “ The Garden Tap.”

Lizzie grew up in a family that gardened and her first memories of gardening were creating fairy gardens, turning compost and eating home grown raspberries. Lizzie moved from Canberra to Melbourne in 1998 to study the Certificate IV in horticulture at Burnley college. Growing more environmentally conscious, Lizzie then went on to complete a bachelor of ‘Social Science- Environment’ and realised the great potential to bring gardening and people together to make the world better. Lizzie has spent much of the past 20 years working towards this though a variety of projects and organisations. Working in Landcare, Green Corps team leading, local neighbourhood greening projects, community gardens, family based horticultural therapy programs, food swaps, Edible Eden Design, composting projects. Lizzie has also worked in a range of nursery settings, including, the Victorian Indigenous Nursery Co-operative (VINC), Fitzroy nursery and is currently at CERES Nursery from Tuesday to Friday.

When not wrangling her 2 young boys, Lizzie tends to her own garden, chooks and compost. Her current focus is on edible perennials, fruit trees, berries, habitat gardening and launching into beekeeping together with a neighbour this spring.

What to bring

Comfortable enclosed shoes/boots
Gardening gloves
Appropriate weather gear eg sunhat
Pen and paper
Lunch
Enthusiasm to learn and get your hands dirty’

What to wear

Casual (Warning: This might get messy)

Course length

8 sessions > 10am – 2pm

Sessions:

1. Intro to sustainable gardening and permaculture principle
2. Soils and their preparation
3. Composting, worm farming and fertilisers
4. Organic vegetable production
5. Organic fruit production
6. Pest and disease management
7. Seed saving and propagating
8. Water Management and Guild Planting

** A certificate will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course