Sustainable Living Centre – Courses for August

DIY Bathtub Worm Farm
How to make your own worm farm from re-use and free materials
Sat 15 August 9am – 1pm $20
Ron Sperber, Director Earthwhile Ltd, Permaculture & Sustainability Education

Old bathtubs make great worm farms and can be had for peanuts. Tree branches (that would otherwise be firewood) for a sturdy base, a lid and we’re away. Permaculturist and worm farm expert Ron Sperber, of Earthwhile Ltd, will lead this hands-on workshop. You will gain the experience of building a wormfarm with available materials without blowing the budget. Bring comfy clothes to work in, gloves, gumboots and raincoat (if it’s a wet day). Limited numbers so be sure to book early.

Fruit Tree Pruning
Sat 22 August 10.30 – 12.30pm $10
Derek Craig, Director Oak & Thistle Ltd

Winter is a key time for fruit tree pruning. Learn how to prune for maximum fruit production and according to fruit type. Different fruit trees have different pruning requirements and may blossom and fruit on this years or last years growth. Some pear and apple cultivars, for example, are ‘tip bearing’ which can prevent their use in espaliers. There’s plenty to learn here for the keen edible gardener.

Cooking and Sampling
Quick low cost cooking from the garden
Tues 25 August 6.30 – 8.30pm $10 + $6 food
Alice Leonard, Director Angel Food

Eating further down the food chain is good for your health, your wallet and the environment – learn how to create healthy and delicious meals based on beans, whole grains and fresh seasonal produce. The emphasis is on economical family-friendly meals which don’t take all night to prepare!

EDIBLE GARDEN CULTURE Part 6.
Plant Health
Sat 29 August 8.30am-10.30am 11am-1pm (repeat) $20
Richard Main, co-founder Unitec Hort Sanctuary, environmental educator

An 8-part practical series designed to get participants up-skilled in home fruit and vege production. This module covers: Plant Health – Holistic approach to soil and plant health; Planning and preparation for the Spring garden; making your own liquid fertiliser; seed sowing/propagation.

Other events:

Biodynamic Organic Gardening Group

Introduction to the Biodynamic Calender
Sat 1 August 10.30 – 12.30pm
Members of the BOGG $5 new annual membership
Venue: Sustainable Living Centre, 4 Olympic Place, New Lynn

Come and join in and learn how to use the new calendar. These will be available for sale on the day for $20. We will also spend some time planning for spring planting.

Warming Herbs & Spices
Sat 8 August 10.30-12.30pm $5 new annual membership + koha
Bashi Singh – Clinical Neuro Muscular Therapist (Dip. NMT, Dip, Ther Mas)
Venue: Sustainable Living Centre, 4 Olympic Place, New Lynn

Bashi is a Medical Herbalist, she will tell us how to eat for maximum health benefits during the winter months, including Q&A’s. We will also make a winter Chai Tea decoction for all to try!! She has herb courses The Properties Of Herbs , Herbal Manufacturing and Ointments , Balms and More through Northtec running in the next semester which I recommend. She will also be running Aromotherapy Classes in the future. She has a great way with people and knows a lot about herbs!. She also talks to other groups including the Herb Society. She is a great advocate for container growing, as this is the only option really where she lives in the suburbs.

PERMACULTURE WORKSHOPS
Inquiries, phone Finn on 021 562 995 or email aucklandmpdc@gmail.com

Saturday, August 1st
Module 15. Appropriate Technology

Guest tutor – Rilke de Vos – Energy Research Engineer, National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA)

Introduction to energy, resources and technology; Ecological and climate appropriate design and application; Examples of appropriate technologies – high tech and low tech solutions; Life-cycle analysis – embodied and on going energy use; Sources of (renewable) energy; Energy production – Solar, wind, geothermal, micro hydro; Energy storage; Systems Maintenance; Site specific and community based systems.

Saturday, August 22nd
Module 16. Retrofitting Your House
Guest Tutor – Jerome Partington – Sustainability Manager, Jasmax
Introduction to residential / suburban retrofit and redesign; Working with existing structures; Improving energy efficiency; Creating healthy living environments; Utilising appropriate technologies; household waste and water management retrofits.

As always, please email us to register for either of these modules and we will provide you with more detailed information about the day closer to the module delivery date.