Garden Insights Visit + Share Table

Visit Madingley (Group 2)

Debbie and Brodie Bassingthwaighte's Garden-Farm

Sunday 4 October 2020

2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

at 88 Richards Road, Postmans Ridge, Q 4352

This is the monthly Garden Insights visit for Permaculture Toowoomba Inc.

See our Website Event for more information.

Bookings are Essential

COVID-19 restrictions have eased in the Lockyer Valley and we're now permitted to have a maximum of 30 people at an event in a private home.

So to ensure COVID-safe physical distancing can be maintained, we're planning two separate groups to visit the garden with a maximum of 24 people attending at each time (plus organisers).

• Group 1 (up to 24 people + organisers) will attend from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm
• Group 2 (up to 24 people + organisers) will attend from 2.00pm to 4.00pm

We will offer a wait list, so if you book and are then unable to attend, please let us know immediately so we can offer your place to someone else.

What We'll Do

We'll start at 2.00 pm with a welcome and introduction.

Debbie will share her ever-evolving Permaculture Design for their property and will discuss what has been implemented in real life and their many future plans.

You'll be able to see and explore the:

• kitchen garden
• holistic fruit orchard
• Asian plucking garden
• aromatic apothecary garden
• wildlife habitat garden
• native bushfoods garden
• integrated poultry systems
• native bee hives
• black soldier fly farm
• nursery and propagation area
• compost tea aerator
• rocket oven
• small swales to capture water from the road
• and more ...

The Story Behind their Garden-Farm and What We'll See

Debbie and Brodie live on a peaceful 5 acres at Postmans Ridge in the Lockyer Valley (about 10 minutes from Toowoomba), that experiences extremes in weather conditions including very dry, frosty winters, and very hot summers.  They’ve been there for 18 years; however, most of the external infrastructure and the productive food plantings have been re-established in the last few years.  The destructive January 2011 flood swept through their property, so almost everything has been repaired and replanted and the garden is evolving.

You’ll have the opportunity to see various vegetable, fruit and herb gardens, pots and wicking beds.  There’s an integrated poultry and small orchard system (with heritage chickens, Muscovy ducks, geese, guinea fowl and a peacock), native beehives, a small propagation area, worm farm, soldier fly farm and abundant birds and native wildlife along the seasonal creek.

The house (originally built in 1981) and outdoor living spaces are slowly being retrofitted.  This property has grid-connected solar power and is independent of other external connections with a bio-septic system that recycles all waste, solar hot-water and 160,000 litres of rainwater storage (no town water).  There’s also a bespoke, home-made, rocket-powered oven in the outside entertainment area.

Light Morning Tea

A light morning tea will be served (with Gluten Free and Vegan options). 

Cost

Financial Members of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. - Free

First-time Visitors to a Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. Event - Free

Non-Members - $10 per person

Children attending with an Adult - Free (but please book so we know total numbers)

Membership

Annual Membership of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. is $40 per person or $30 for a second or subsequent family member.  If you pay now, membership is pro rata (1/2 price for 1/2 a year until 31 December 2020).  Membership forms will be available on the night for anyone wishing to join, or available here for download.

Share Table

Do you have surplus?

We encourage you to bring your surplus produce, plants, seeds, books, craft supplies and resources to share with others.

Some ideas of what you could bring include - fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs, honey, milk, jams, pickles, preserves, jars, ferments, starters, SCOBYs, seeds, plants, seedlings, cuttings, tubers, pots, tools, gardening magazines, permaculture books, recipes, patterns, manure, coffee grounds, compost additives, worms, meal worms, wool, fabric, craft supplies, soap, natural cleaning products, plastic alternatives, produce bags - the list is extensive.

Please bring whatever you can and then take home whatever you need within our culture of generosity and free sharing.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic we're taking careful steps to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe.  This includes:

• Maximum of 30 people in each group at this event.
• Increased hygiene measures at all face-to-face events.  Please wash your hands before arrival and hand sanitiser will be available to use while you’re at an event.
• Surfaces will be sanitised regularly.
• Physical distancing of at least 1.5m will be maintained.
• Please don't attend if you or anyone in your household is unwell, self-isolating because they are at risk of becoming unwell with COVID-19, or you've recently travelled interstate, overseas or to hot spot area.

Please help us to manage the risks and keep everyone healthy and well.

This includes frequent handwashing, covering your nose and mouth when you need to cough or sneeze with the crook of your arm or clean tissue, and observing rules for physical distancing.