This course will are show how to bury your rubbish to enrich the soil, how to fashion effective gardening aids from bits and pieces lying around, safe common-sense ways to control pests – and, in a couple of months, to put fresh, pesticide-free vegetables on the table all year round.

Course content:

What you need to start a vegetable garden. Maximum production in minimum space using very little water and all available resources (low input gardening)

Planning a vegetable garden; choosing the site, laying out the garden.

Soil profiles and preparation – no till; single and double digging; trenching; sheet mulching; raised beds; eco-circles.

Successful sowing of seed, thinning and transplanting.

Planting techniques – seasonal planting, inter-planting, succession planting and crop rotation.

Container gardening.

Planting trees, vines and shrubs.

Basic garden maintenance – watering, mulching, weeding, transplanting, protecting, keeping garden records.

Controlling pests without poisons.

Natural fertilisers – teas, compost, vermi-compost.

Harvesting and what to do with the harvest. Cooking, and using, vegetables for optimum health.

When: 11 & 12 September (and every month) (8.30am to 3.30pm on both days) weather permitting!

Where: Soil for Life Training and Resource Centre in Constantia, Cape Town

Cost: R750.00 (or R375/T375) per person; R700 (or R350/T350) per person for Soil for Life members

To book, call 021-794 4982, or e-mail your booking to reception@soilforlife.co.za. Bookings will be confirmed once payment has been received through one of the following methods: at our office, by cheque or by depositing directly into our bank account.

Account details:
Account name: Soil for Life.
Bank: ABSA
Branch: 632005.
Account number: 405 685 5300.

Please fax a copy of the deposit slip to 086 566 3825. Once payment has been received, a letter of confirmation plus directions to our Resource Centre will be sent to you.

Please note that the emphasis of the workshop is on growing your own food. However, the techniques that you learn can be applied to gardening in general.

www.soilforlife.co.za