Berries…. Delicious little packets of goodness. They’re also very expensive and if you have kids, you’ll know how quickly they’ll hoover up a small punnet of raspberries. Learn to grow your own and appreciate how tasty a home grown berry can really be.

Most berries can be grown in small spaces, including pots. They are perfect for renters or those with small spaces and a far better choice than potted fruit trees! Come along to this workshop to learn how to propagate, plant and maintain:

Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries and other brambles
Currants, Jostaberries and Gooseberries
Strawberries
Other unique and rare berries

"Hands on pruning was fab - made pruning berries particularly raspberry much easier to understand…. loved the propagating strawberry method"

Carol C.

Grow Great Berries Workshop participant

The class will involve a combination of theory in a class room setting and demonstrations, including:

Pruning of raspberries and blueberries
Propagation of some of the berries
A tour of my berry patch and berry collection

What to Bring:

Enthusiasm for learning
Notepad and Pen
Your lunch
Water bottle
Closed toed, practical shoes
Warm clothes as Kyneton can be cold in winter.

This is an all-weather event. Much of the workshop can be conducted in my heated classroom. However, the berry patch and berry collection are exposed to the elements. So please wear appropriate clothing for being outside on on winter’s day in Kyneton. Please bring your own pair of gloves for the pruning activity.

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.

During my classes, I focus on the science behind how gardens grow. This gives you an understanding of the built-in resilience of plants. Rather than always finding problems to fix with sprays and other products, you will have a renewed focus on relaxing, observing your garden, and enjoying it. Understanding “why” minimises the amount of work you have to do in your garden.

"An engaging and informative workshop pitched at the various levels of those attending … not dumbed down and not overly “sciency” … something for everyone. The opportunity to ask questions along the way was appreciated and added immensely to the experience. I look forward to completing other workshops later in the year as Duncan’s style of both teaching and gardening resonates."

Corrina L.

Workshop participant

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 my workshops. I look forward to hosting you at this exciting event.

Cancellation Policy:

If the workshop cannot go ahead due to unforeseen circumstances then an alternative date will be scheduled and participants will be given the option to attend on the new date or accept a full refund. Otherwise, to maintain viability of these workshops, there are strictly no refunds. Thanks for your understanding.