Homebuilders has a new workshop series to encourage people to grow and eat some of their own food. It’s taught by passionate gardener, cook and author of Grow Your Own Kai, Lisa Talbot.
The workshops will be fun – Lisa is also a comedian – and very hands-on, with participants learning all about the planning, preparation and planting of edible gardens and also the harvesting and cooking of the produce grown. There will be lots of doing. We will give the Homebuilders vege and herb plots a makeover, and plant up lots of seedlings and cuttings for participants to take home to start their own gardens. Lisa has been inspiring people to garden and cook delicious produce for nearly 20 years. She is looking forward to running these workshops in this part of New Zealand after having recently moved up to Kaiwaka. “Even beginner gardeners will grow more than they can possibly eat, and it’s a great feeling to harvest food and share it with your neighbours, friends and family,” she says. Lisa adds that the quality of the food we eat directly impacts our health and wellbeing. Eating fresh produce within minutes of it being picked is the best kind of food we can eat.
The workshop series will be held in both Wellsford and Warkworth, with the Wellsford dates and venue to be confirmed. In Warkworth, each workshop will be held at Homebuilders, in Hexham Street, on the last Wednesday of the month from July through to October. Workshops will run from 10am-12:30pm. Thanks to generous funding provided by The Matakana Community Garden, course participants will be provided with lots of garden and pantry goodies to take home.
The schedule is as follows:
July 25: Planning and Planting
Selecting the right spot for your garden, seed-raising and making cuttings.
August 29: Garden Maintenance and Care
Getting dirty and feeding the soil. Working smarter, not harder.
September 26: Free Meals from the Garden
Soups, dressings, salads and sauces.
October 31: Using Vegies and Herbs for Lunch Box Baking
Sweet and savoury lunch treats, baked from scratch.
The workshops are free and people can book into just one or all four workshops by contacting Homebuilders on 425 7048. Children are welcome to attend with their parents/caregivers and childcare is provided, also free, onsite.
Angela Crabb
www.homebuildersfs.org
