Practical Workshops
2023
Gardening & Seed Saving
Sunday 28th May 2023
Matakana
In this workshop we will cover the basics of growing your own organic veges in three simple steps: Prepare, Plant, Nourish. Everything you need to know to build confidence in your growing skills, including: soil fertility, crop rotation and companion planting. We’ll also cover saving our own seeds – collecting, processing and storing.
Growing Mushrooms
Sunday 25th June 2023
Matakana
Learn how to grow different mushroom species at home - including Shitake, Oyster and King Stropharia. We'll cover various growing mediums including how to innoculate logs plus heaps of growing tips.
Fermentation workshop
Sunday 16 July 2023
Matakana
Learn how to make classic sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass and other veggie ferments. Get your head around the magic of SCOBYs for Kombucha, grains for Kefir, mothers for vinegar and take some starters home. You'll also learn how to make simple, tasty, traditional raw cheeses.
Pruning & Grafting trees
Sunday 6th August 2023
Matakana
You'll learn the best way to prune various types of fruit trees including:
-
apple
-
feijoa
-
pear
-
oranges
to ensure healthy trees and optimal fruiting.
Composting
& Plant Propagation
Sunday 27th August 2023
Matakana
We'll explore different composting methods including hot composting and how to inoculate with beneficial anaerobic microbes to ensure the development of fungal networks and sequestration of carbon. Discover how to grow plants from seed, root division and cuttings. Learn the best timing for these practices plus plant species suited to each season, and how to care for your transplants once in your garden.
Deep Ecology
& Inner Resilience
FULLY BOOKED
Sunday 24th September 2023
Matakana
Drawing on the work of well-known environmentalists Joanna Macy, John Seed and Arne Naess, together with practices informed by Peter Levine's nervous system trauma healing approaches, this experiential workshop offers a space to connect, grieve our losses, grow our inner reslience and sense of purpose and agency to act on behalf of Earth with clarity and direction. Incorporating experiential practices that help us to connect more deeply to nature and our nature self , this is a powerful workshop experience with like-minded participants.
Deep Ecology
& Inner Resilience
Sunday 8th October 2023
Matakana
Drawing on the work of well-known environmentalists Joanna Macy, John Seed and Arne Naess, together with practices informed by Peter Levine's nervous system trauma healing approaches, this experiential workshop offers a space to connect, grieve our losses, grow our inner reslience and sense of purpose and agency to act on behalf of Earth with clarity and direction. Incorporating experiential practices that help us to connect more deeply to nature and our nature self , this is a powerful workshop experience with like-minded participants.
Permaculture Properties Tour
Sunday 29th October 2023
Matakana
Get inspired by how others have applied the principles of permaculture design to create resilient lifestyles, eco homes, abundant gardens and orchards. We will visit various permaculture properties in the Matakana area, including examples of timber and straw-bale eco-houses,
solar & water systems, edible landscapes, integrated chickens and animals, composting systems including compost toilets, worm farms and ponds.
A delicious lunch is included at no extra cost.
Eco building techniques
Sunday 12th November 2023
Matakana
A hands-on exploration into two
eco-buillding techniques:
1. Earth-building for houses, outdoor studios, sheds & garden walls.
Video of earth-building workshop
2. Light earth (straw & clay mix) for insulation in timber-framed buildings.