UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
June 2013
Worms glorious worms! A workshop about growing compost worms at home – Saturday 29 June 2013 @ 1.30 – 4.30pm
at 68 Donnolley’s Ridge Road, Moruya
Each time you see a worm, you know that they are working and doing something important – for our environment, our garden and our food. They’re such a valuable part of our natural world, helping us break down our food waste and other organic matter to create nutrient-rich, pH neutral worm castings, which produce a high quality soil conditioner. A natural super food for our garden to create rich soil and healthy plants! Plants that are then nutrient rich and tasty for us to eat!
In this informative three-hour workshop will learn everything you need to know about composting worms and how to successful grow and nurture them. Topics that will be covered include:
- Understanding what they are and the different worms available
- Understanding their benefits of using composting worms
- How to construct a worm bed and understand the components for it to work efficiently
- How and when to feed your worms so that they are healthy and multiply
- How to produce worm juice and castings to use successfully in your garden
- How to harvest your worms
- How you can make money from growing worms
Brick Colley, one of our local worm experts has been growing compost worms for the last 25 years and runs a successful business ‘Worm Affair’. He is passionate about growing worms and supplies them to businesses around Sydney and beyond. He has completed certificates in Organic Gardening and Horticulture II as well as attended and varies horticultural courses over the years.
Presenter: Brick Colley
Date: Saturday, 29 June @ 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Where: 68 Donnelly’s Ridge Road, Moruya,
Cost: $30 for SAGE members, $35 for non members
Bring: Please wear covered footwear and bring own mug for tea and coffee for afternoon tea on completion.
RSVP: Sandra – education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Friday 28 June.
‘Worm castings – They’re organic, natural and low cost to make’
PAST WORKSHOPS
May 2013
Wicking Bed with Joe Hooper – Saturday 25 May 2013 @ 2 – 4pm
at 6 Conrad Drive, Bergalia
Join us at Joe Hoopers property to learn about wicking beds. Joe has completed certificates in Horticulture II and Organic Plant Management and has been manufacturing and developing the technique of modular wicking gardens for over two years. He has generously provide SAGE with a couple of these little beauties. Essentially wicking beds water plants from below rather than above. If you are interested in growing your own vegetables and herbs, and would like to learn the many advantages of using and operating a wicking garden, then please join us for this very informative workshop. Some of the subjects that Joe will cover include:
- Introduction to wick garden beds
- How to set up a wick bed
- Frame and netting system
- How to best setup them up
- Crop rotation
- How to use chooks in the garden beds
- Soil preparation
- Soil and test results of soil from my beds.
- Compost and worm farm.
Presenter: Joe Hooper
Date: Saturday, 25 May @ 2pm – 4pm
Where: 6 Conrad Drive, Bergalia
Cost: $10 per person
Bring: Please wear covered footwear and bring own mug for tea and coffee for afternoon tea on completion.
RSVP: Sandra – education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Friday 24 May
May 2013
Introduction to Biodynamic Farming & Gardening workshop – Saturday 11 May @ 8:45am – 5pm and Sunday 12 May 2013 @ 9 – 11.30am
at SAGE Garden, 110 Queen Street, Moruya
‘The Biodynamic approach to soil fertility is to enhance, strengthen and balance the life forces within the soil and impart this vitality to the plants we grow.’
Biodynamic agriculture has been practiced for over eighty years and is thus probably the oldest environmentally conscious farming or gardening method in existence. Once this system has been implemented the farmer or gardener can grow any suitable crop at optimum levels of health and nutrition and be sustainable well into the future. The biodynamic method can be applied to any area of land from a suburban block to a large farm and leads to permanent fertility.
This workshop uses a stimulating mix of lectures and activities to present a valuable outlook on the interconnecting factors involved with the biodynamic method of farming and gardening. This workshop covers the following topics:
- Importance of creating and enhancing soil processes.
- Emphasis on humus formation.
- Role of the biodynamic preparations.
- Importance of balancing the qualitative and quantitative in nature.
- Biodynamic Preparation 500, its function and application.
- Principles and practice of biodynamic compost making.
- Build a compost at the SAGE garden
About the Presenter
Walter Kohler-Bond is a qualified Horticulturalist and Permaculture teacher and an Accredited trainer and Workplace Assessor. He has taught Horticulture and Landscaping, Conservation issues and Permaculture for many years at TAFE, Adult education and also conducted workshops privately in Permaculture, Bush Food, Home Gardening and BeeKeeping.
He and his partner Janet graduated through the Biodynamic Education Centre and Walter is now an enthusiastic teacher with the Biodynamic Education Centre. He lives with his family on a small property on the NSW South Coast which is being developed as a demonstration and teaching site for permaculture and biodynamics.
Presenter: Walter Kohler-Bond
When: Saturday 11 May @ 8.45am – 5pm and Sunday 12 May 2013 @ 9 – 11.30am
Where: SAGE Garden, 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Cost: $165 includes notes
Bring: Please bring suitable shoes and clothes for compost building
Catering: Morning & afternoon teas will be supplied. Please bring your lunch
RSVP: Sandra - education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Wed 8 May
Further Information: Walter 02 4474 3971 or email: kohler-bond@bigpond.com or visit on www.biodynamiceducation.com
April 2013
Germinating and raising your own seedlings – Sunday 14 April 2013 @ 9am – 12noon
at SAGE Garden, 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Learning how to effectively germinate seeds and raise seedlings has many advantages. Apart from creating immense personal satisfaction, you will discover a greater range of plant varieties (as many may not be available to purchase as seedlings), provides you with the chance to be organic from seed to plate, and it will save you money.
This workshop is ideal for anyone who wants to explore the art of raising seedlings, experiment with growing a variety of plants and take their gardening skills further. Whether you are new to gardening or have been gardening for years; if you have a small backyard kitchen garden or you want to expand your garden production, this workshop will provide valuable information to get you started.
In this three hour workshop be prepared to get your hands dirty while learning:
- The key ingredients to a seed raising mix
- How to make a seed raising mix
- The ideal conditions in which to raise your seedlings
- Uses of the different soil containers in which to raise seedlings – soil blocks, pots and other types of containers
- When to ‘pot on’ or ‘plant out’
About the Presenter
Kirsti Wilkinson is responsible for planning, ordering seeds and raising seedlings at Old Mill Road BioFarm in Turlinjah on the NSW South Coast. These are part of the many essential jobs she does that maintains the operation of this small farm. Together with her partner Fraser, they run Old Mill Road BioFarm, a small farming enterprise that also aims to enrich local food culture, encourage more small-scale farmers and connect those farmers to the consumer. They sell their chemical free produce at both the SAGE Farmers Market and Moruya Markets every week.
Presenter: Kirsti Wilkinson
When: Sunday 14 April 2013, 9pm – 12pm
Where: SAGE Garden – 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Cost: $30 for SAGE Members, $35 for Non SAGE members
Includes: notes will be provided.
Bring: Please bring your gloves, hand tools and some seeds that you want to plant.
RSVP: Sandra – education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Friday 12 April
March 2013
Home Composting Workshop presented by Eurobodalla Shire Council - Friday 8 March — 10am – 11am
Become a Waste Buster! FREE workshop
- Get back to the natural and easy way of dealing with waste!
- Learn how to convert unwanted food scraps into a gourmet delight for your garden!
- Learn how certain things from your laundry, office, coffee machine and bathroom can also feed
- Trouble shooting tips to help you maximise use of your compost bin will also be included!
- Reduce the amount of organic waste going into landfill and keep your waste bin dry and odour free!
One “Earth Machine” Home Composting Kit per household to be given away on completion of attending a workshop!
Places are limited – so book now to avoid disappointment by calling Council’s Waste Services on (02) 4474 1024 during business hours, or email council@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au to secure a spot at a workshop near you!
Download the brochure for additional details - ESC compost Flyer
February 2013
Grow Vegetables at Home – Sunday 24 February – 9am – 12noon
at Caroline Power’s back garden, 26a Emmot Street, Moruya
Learning how to successfully grow nutritious food, efficiently using organic methods, is very rewarding. So if you have ever thought that you would like to start growing your own vegetables at home or if you have an existing vegetable garden and you would like to learn more about how you can use organic methods and be more productive – then join us at the next SAGE garden workshop and learn how to ‘Grow Vegetables at Home’ so you can feed your family, sell your excess produce or just give them away to friends.
Caroline Power will be conducting this informative and practical workshop at her own home veggie garden to help demonstrate some of the key topics, which include:
- Planning fundamentals – how to plan their garden,
- Garden beds – understanding the different types of beds, when to use them, how to construct them
- How to create productive soil,
- Drip irrigation systems – lessons learnt,
- What, when and how to plant and harvest vegetables,
- Crop rotation – why this is important,
- Pest and weed control.
There is always something to learn in creating a productive garden and with Caroline’s experience, knowledge and skill in the garden, you will be pleased you attended.
About the Presenter
For the last 15 years, Caroline Power has developed her passion for growing vegetables in her back gardens. She completed the ‘Organic Gardening Course’ and ‘Organic Management Course’ at Moruya TAFE in 2010 and SAGE has been lucky to have Caroline to manage and develop the SAGE home gardens for the last two and a half years and delivers food to the refuge and Pantry Club on a weekly basis.
Presenter: Caroline Power
When: Sunday 24 February 2013, 9am – 12noon
Where: 26a Emmott Street, Moruya
Cost: $30 for SAGE Members, $35 for Non SAGE members
Includes: Notes and morning tea will be provided.
Bring: Please bring your gloves and hand tools.
RSVP: Sandra - education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Friday 22 February
January and February 2013
Artisan sourdough bread baking with Penny Ryan — Saturday 12 January 2013 and Saturday 16 February — 2pm – 5pm
at Penny’s kitchen, Moruya Heads
Would you like to learn how to make delicious bread? Then come along and spend an afternoon learning how to bake sourdough bread using a ‘very forgiving’ recipe and a straightforward approach with Penny Ryan.
Making bread is a great skill to add to your repertoire, so if you have ever wanted to make you own bread or if you have tried and failed – then this workshop is ideal for you. Making bread should be easy and Penny will show you how you too can successfully bake this wonderful bread time again, without using a bread maker.
In this three-hour workshop, you will learn about the six key stages of bread making:
- Starter – what is it; why is it important, how do you take care of it and how do you feed it.
- Ingredients – precision is not as important as the order of mixing
- Autolyse – what is it and why is this important
- Stretch and fold technique – an effective and easy way of ‘not’ kneading the dough
- Baking – getting the best out of your oven
- Eating – yummmmm
Penny has a very relaxed approach to bread making, and she would love to share her method with you.
As this workshop will be conducted in Penny’s kitchen so numbers are strictly limited!
Workshop details
Presenter: Penny Ryan
When: Saturday 12 January 2013 AND Saturday 16 February 2013 - 2pm – 5pm
Where: Moruya Heads – details will be provided when you RSVP
Cost: Members $20 and non members $25 per person (the cost includes a jar of sourdough starter to take home, notes and afternoon tea)
RSVP: Please email Sandra on education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038
Workshop Review
Food Workshop – Artisan sourdough bread baking with Penny Ryan — Saturday 12 January 2013
By Trevor Moore
The December SAGE newsletter advertised Penny Ryan’s sourdough bread making workshop by asking “would you like to learn how to make delicious bread?”. This is a bit like asking “is the Pope a Catholic?” so Georgie and I signed up almost immediately. I’ve been baking my own bread for 20 years off and on but had never done sourdough and, possibly, I had never baked “delicious” bread!! Nine people attended the workshop on 12 January 2013.
In her meticulously researched book “The Bread Bible, Rose Levy Berenbaum, says that “sourdough bread is the soul of artisan hearth bread, the wellspring or ancestor of all yeast bread”. Having been shown how to do the sourdough thing properly by Penny I can say that Berenbaum is right!! Harold McGee (in “On Food And Cooking”) suggests that “domestication of the cereal plants made civilisation materially possible”. Perhaps that’s a little over the top (I think that the wheel and fire would be in the running) but nonetheless baking bread is one of the most fundamental acts of food preparation and many homes are the poorer because the art is being lost.
Penny had thought hard about how to explain her approach to us and it worked well. She had starters, dough and bread in various stages of preparation enabling her to take the “here’s one that I prepared earlier” approach. She described the importance of the starter – that’s where the yeast comes from that makes the bread rise – and the way in which the starter needs to be fed and nurtured. It sounds like it might be hard but it’s not; a jar of starter makes the ideal pet.
One important point that Penny explained (I had not known this) is that salt is added after the main ingredients are mixed. With this autolyse technique you allow the mixture to strut its stuff before you add the salt. This allows the flour to begin absorbing the water and lets the gluten strands develop. It then needs less beating and kneading, about 5 or 6 minutes with a Kitchenaid or similar device. This shorter kneading leads to less oxidation and, therefore, a whiter crumb.
Because Penny had gone to the trouble of preparing an earlier batch she was able to show us her stretch and fold method (which replaces a second kneading). You simply stretch the dough north-south, fold it, stretch it east-west, fold it, and repeat that. Leave it for 10 minutes and then do it again, leave for another 10 minutes and do it a third time. Penny didn’t reckon that any of the timings she suggested were critical. So if you get side-tracked you can pretty much pick up where you left off.
Penny bakes her bread in a camp oven which is placed in a domestic oven (you could use a large casserole). Once the dough is in the camp oven you need to slash the top. Penny has a lethal looking device for this called a “lame” (I learn many things from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame_%28kitchen_tool%29) which tells me to pronounce this “lahm”). The scorin
g of the bread allows the dough to rise without the skin tearing and also “brings out the bread baker’s artistic talent, allowing a unique signature”. You will need to go to the next Workshop to see Penny’s unique signature.
Of course cooking is a wasted process if you’re not going to eat and we were delighted to see a fruited sourdough loaf waiting for us to sample. Fortunately I took a picture of this because it was all eaten – and very quickly!! It was absolutely beautiful!!
While we were eating the smell of baking bread emerged as the oven door was opened so that the camp oven lid could be removed for the second half of the baking process. When the loaf emerged from the oven we were unable to leave it for very long before we devoured much of that loaf as well!!
This was a great workshop. Everyone enjoyed it, found it entertaining, informative and educational. There are already plans for another one. When you see it advertised, book yourself on it immediately!!
Many thanks to Penny for doing so much work to prepare and for sharing her experience with us.
December 2012
Crop Specific Workshop – Beans — Friday 14 December 2012 @ 5pm – 7pm
at SAGE Garden, Queen Street, Moruya
Join us for the second in the SAGE series of crop specific workshops, which will be on ‘Beans’. This amazing super food is not only protein rich and highly nutritious it is also easy to grow and prepare for eating. Fraser will be presenting this highly informative and practical workshop where he will cover topics:
- History and geography of the bean
- Different varieties of beans to suit specific areas
- Benefits of growing beans
- Climbing or bush? Which one should you grow
- How to successfully grow beans
- What you can do with the multitude of beans you will get from well grown plants, including how to prepare, store and cook your beans.
Whether you are a beginner or experienced gardener this workshop has been designed to give you everything you need to really understand, grow and eat this one crop.
Workshop details
Presenter: Fraser Bayley
When: Friday, 14 December 2012, 5pm – 7pm
Where: SAGE Garden – 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Bring: Something to eat and drink with bean dishes and necessary utensils and join in the sunset dinner of beans
Cost: $10 for SAGE Members, $15 for Non SAGE members. Notes and bean dishes will be included
RSVP: Contact Sandra on education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Thursday 13 December 2012
November 2012
Feeding your garden sustainably — Sunday 11 November 2012 @ 9am – 12pm
at Old Mill Road BioFarm – 105 Old Mill Road Turlinjah
Getting your soil right is one of the most important things to growing good produce.
Fraser Bayley will be conducting a workshop on ‘Feeding your garden sustainably’, where you will learn how to build and maintain healthy soil to keep your plants in superb health by using techniques that are readily available to you, at home and in your own garden. This workshop will cover topics such as:
- Soil basics
- Composting and worm farming
- Cover crops and their benefits
- Making and using biological teas and herb teas
- Integrating animals for soil fertility.
This workshop is ideal for existing gardeners who would like to increase their soil health and plant vitality without having to buy a whole heap of manure and other products.
Workshop details
Presenter: Fraser Bayley
When: Sunday, 11 November 2012, 9am – 12pm
Where: Old Mill Road BioFarm, 105 Old Mill Road Turlinjah
Bring: Covered shoes, drinking water, a hat and something to sit on.
Cost: $30 for SAGE Members, $35 for Non SAGE members
RSVP: Sandra on education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by Friday 9 November.
About the presenter
Fraser, with his partner Kirsti run Old Mill Road BioFarm, a small farming enterprise that aims to enrich local food culture, encourage more small scale farmers and connect those farmers to the consumer. They have developed their farm over the years using sustainable farming practices and sell their chemical free produce at Moruya Markets every week.
October 2012
A glimpse into the Kellie-Ann Inch garden — Sunday 14 October 2012 @ 10.00am – 1.00pm
For the last 18 years Kellie-Ann Inch has lived in a (1923 built) farmhouse on a 2 acre property at Moruya Heads. It is here that she grows plants and children with her partner, Derek.
At first Kellie would only grow plants which she deemed practical-those that could be used for food or medicine. But then she discovered the importance of flowers and the need for diversity. Now she grows whatever appeals; with preference to those which are edible or scented and can be preserved for later use. Preference is also given to heirloom open pollinated vegetables and much seed is saved from these yearly.
The garden is filled with ornamental trees, fruit trees (including subtropical species), berry vines, grape vines, bush foods, vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs, flowers, bromeliads and more.
Come for a wander around the garden to see what Kellie likes to grow and listen to what she does with it. You will have the opportunity to take cuttings of plants home and Kellie asks that you please bring items to facilitate this (e.g. newspaper, potting mix, pots, plastic bags etc.).
Details
Host: Kellie Ann Inch
When: Sunday 14 October 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm
Where: 361 South Head Road, Moruya Heads
Cost: $10 for SAGE Members - Kellie will generously donate all money from the tour to SAGE.
RSVP: It is essential that you RSVP as the tour is for a limited number people to Sandra on email education@sageproject.org.au
August 2012
Beekeeping workshop — Sunday 5 August 2012, 9.30am — 4pm
We have all heard that the Honeybee is fighting for survival and is at risk of becoming a worldwide endangered insect. Honeybees are critically important for our food security.
We are fortunate that Walter Kohler (Ass. Dip. Horticulture) will be conducting a one-day course on Backyard Beekeeping on Sunday, 5 August. Walter is an experienced beekeeper and has conducted several courses on the subject over the years.
This course is for anyone who is interested in keeping bees, making honey and helping with the natural cycle of crop pollination. It is ideal for small-scale enterprises and domestic backyard beekeepers. Walter has designed the course so you can get started using quick, simple and practical methods.
In the one-day course you will learn:
- how to start working with bees in a natural, organic way
- new ways to keep bees healthy
- about the biology of bees
- ways of working together with bees for our mutual benefit
- the different ways of housing bees
- the costs and materials required for setting up a beehive
- how to build all the necessary equipment
- about the wonderful products that bees can make for you.
What others have said:
‘We both learned a lot, enjoyed Walter’s teaching and loved the practical part of the course’. – Kathryn Harris and son Lawson (8 years old) of Moruya
When: Sunday 5 August 2012, 9.30am – 4.00pm
Where: 33 Yarimup Place, Moruya
Cost: $75 per person or $120 per couple – includes morning tea
Bring: Please bring your note pad, pen and lunch.
Booking: RSVP is essential by Friday 3 August. Please call Walter on 02 4474 3971 or email Sandra on education@sageproject.org.au
Irrigating your Garden workshop – Saturday 25 August 2012, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
SAGE Garden, Queen Street, Moruya
Even though the ten-year drought broke two and a half years ago, most people will still recall how precious water was during that period, and even now with a more regular rain pattern, Moruya has only had 10mm of rainfall since 1st July. So it is time to start planning your irrigation system for the approaching spring/summer season.
SAGE and Adrian Cram, a horticulturist and teacher of landscaping topics at TAFE, will be conducting a workshop on ‘Irrigating your garden’, suitable for either small commercial growers or home gardeners.
This valuable workshop will follow on from the lessons learned during the drought and aims to inform participants on wise and efficient water application and discuss the basic principles in setting up an irrigation system that is suitable for ornamental gardens and vegetable crops.
Topics that will be covered in the workshop include:
- Determining the volume of water required
- Understanding the types of emitters available
- Establishing the layout of the heads
- Learning how to connect pipes (PVC, Rural, Metrik, LDPE)
- Identifying the best type of system needed – high and low pressure
- Installing a low flow system.
As part of the workshop, Adrian will layout an irrigation system and demonstrate the installation of a dripline in one of the SAGE raised garden beds.
Presenter: Adrian Cram
When: Saturday 25 August 2012, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Where: SAGE Garden – 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Cost: $25 for SAGE Members, $30 for Non SAGE members
RSVP: Contact Sandra on education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038 by COB Friday 24 August.
July 2012
Pruning and Orchard Management — Sunday 1 July 2012, 9am — 12pm
SAGE Garden, Queen Street, Moruya
Walter Kohler-Bond has taught Horticulture and Landscaping, Conservation issues and Permaculture for many years at TAFE and adult education, He also conductes workshops privately in Permaculture, Bush Food, Home Gardening and Bee-keeping.
We are fortunate to have Walter responsible for the care of our orchards. Please join us for our next hands on workshop where Walter will discuss and demonstrate:
- proper pruning techniques according to the different fruit trees
- how to sharpening your pruning tools
- the application of organic sprays for pest and disease prevention
- basic tree surgery
- caring for your trees throughout the year, including composting and fertilizing
- companion planting – choosing plants that benefit the health of your fruit trees.
Presenter: Walter Kohler-Bond
When: Sunday 1 July 2012, 9.00am – 12 noon
Where: SAGE Garden – 110 Queen Street, Moruya
Cost: $35 for SAGE Members, $40 for Non SAGE members.
Bring: Please bring your gloves, secateurs and wear appropriate shoes.
RSVP: Please let us know if you are attending to Sandra on email education@sageproject.org.au
May 2012
Fence building to rabbit-proof your vegetables — Sunday 6 May 2012, 9.30am — 12pm
SAGE Garden, Queen Street, Moruya
Adrian Cram is a horticulturist and teaches landscaping topics at TAFE. He will be conducting a workshop to learn and build the SAGE rabbit proof fence. This workshop will cover topics such as:
- Fence design consideration
- Selecting suitable materials for a fence
- How to use appropriate tools and equipment
- Learn useful knots techniques
- Participate in building the fence
Cost: FREE – this workshop is kindly sponsored by Landcare and includes funds raised at the Jim Herford hairdo auction!
Bring: Please bring your gloves.
RSVP: Please let us know if you are attending to Sandra on email education@sageproject.org.au.
Meet you at the tandoor — Saturday 12 May 2012, 2pm — 5pm
SAGE Garden, Queen Street, Moruya
Cameron Williams will be conducting a workshop on the use of the tandoor, an ancient cooker that also (with Cameron’s special attachment) makes the best pizza! In this workshop, Cameron will discuss and demonstrate “primitive” cooking skills including:
- Benefits and versatility of a tandoor oven
- Firing up the oven and how little wood it uses
- Making pizza dough from scratch,
- Cooking naan bread, tandoori chicken and pizza
So come along, bring your family and enjoy learning, making and eating (Pizza!) at this workshop.
Cost: $15 for SAGE Members, $20 for Non SAGE members, $30 per family. Children under 16 years free. Cost includes all ingredients. Recipes will be provided.
RSVP: Before Friday 11 May to Sandra on email education@sageproject.org.au or 0439 032 038.
