Leaf, Root & Fruit Pty Ltd.

Understand how nature manages soil and ecosystems, and learn to apply this knowledge to your garden to easily control weeds. Use weeds as soil indicators and avoid the need for expensive soil tests. Design a garden landscape that mimics nature and is therefore low maintenance.

Great soil is critical to successful gardening. Discover how soils are created and understand how ecosystems evolve over time. Bring along a soil sample for us to analyse together as we explore different soil types. Discuss how different soil types can impact your gardening, and how to improve your soil.

Learn about the theory behind Edible Forest Gardens and understand how preparing soil for planting fruit trees is different to the preparation for vegetable patch planting.

Topics:

• The Importance of Soil and soil Types
• Ecological Succession in Nature
• Using Weeds as Indicators of Soil Health
• Edible Forest Gardening
• Preparing Soil for Veggie Patches and Orchards
• Weed Control Methods

This workshop looks at soil and natural ecosystems when planning gardening activities. It involves a combination of theory in a classroom setting, demonstrations and hands-on practical activities including:

• Exploring our six acre property to identify different stages of ecological succession
• Looking at weeds and how they can be used as indicators
• Basic soil testing methods (BYO soil sample)

By the end of the class you will have a greater understanding of ecological succession. This underpinning knowledge is important for all aspects of gardening. You’ll never look at ‘weeds’ the same way again!

What to Bring:

• Enthusiasm for learning
• Your lunch
• Water bottle
• Notepad and Pen
• Closed toed, practical shoes (consider bringing gumboots)
• Appropriate Clothing as Kyneton can get very cold and wet in spring
• A soil sample from your garden (further details will be sent via email about this prior to the event)

Loved the image of fighting nature’s forward motion as we try to beat the weeds. (Though I will continue to weed my garlic). Nice balance acreage verses suburban garden.

Alison J.

Workshop Participant

About the facilitator

I’m Duncan Cocking and I’ve been growing fruit and vegetables since I was four years old. I support others to grow food and reconnect with nature through my business Leaf, Root & Fruit. I'm passionate about reconnecting you to nature via gardening. I write about growing food and living sustainably. I'm a cool-temperate gardener and permaculture educator with 10 years of experience hosting workshops.

“Fabulous workshop. You know your material so well and are able to deliver it in easily digestible form. I learned things I didn’t realise I needed to know. I loved having the science explained to counter some of the gardening folklore I’ve accepted without questioning…”

Wendy P.

About the facilities

In 2019 my young family and I moved from Melbourne to make a tree change to Kyneton, a small town 80 km north-west of the city in Victoria, Australia. Since then, I have been busy developing a permaculture-inspired garden ecosystem.

The property has an onsite classroom, with heating supplied by a wood burner. A split system acts as a back-up source of heating and cooling. The light filled, colourful classroom is kitted out with a large screen for running presentations (I promise that these presentations are almost entirely pictures and rarely contain words). The classroom has basic tea and coffee making facilities, ample car parking and a dedicated toilet.

My demonstration orchard contained within a netted enclosure provides opportunities for workshop participants to explore all aspects of growing fruit trees, and contains many examples of espaliered trees. I have designed and planted an extensive berry patch, market garden beds and edible forest gardens. The kitchen garden demonstrates food growing in a more typical backyard setting. 

Participants from all over the state attend our workshops. I look forward to hosting you at this exciting event.