Setting up a wicking bed

Welcome to the wonderful world of wicking! The secret to thriving vegetables, even in the hottest weather!

Have you ever wondered how you can make your vegetables grow like crazy without spending the whole summer watering? Maybe you would like to take a summer holiday without your precious plants keeling over the moment your back is turned? What about growing veg in places you thought you couldn't - like on a concrete driveway or next to a big gum tree?

Wicking beds make all this - and more - possible!

Wicking beds are a great way to conserve water while producing great crops. And they don’t have to cost a fortune either. Join Canberra’s own ‘Wicking Witch of the West’ - Cally Brennan from Canberra Permaculture Design - to learn how easy it is to make your own wicking garden bed or plant pot. She has spent the last12 years making all sorts of wicking beds, from the very large to the very small – learn tips on how you can make your garden thrive and survive, even in the very hottest weather.

T his workshop will include:

• Tour of all the different wicking beds in the garden - what works and what doesn't
• An explanation of the components of a wicking bed
• Demonstration: filling a wicking bed

This event will take place outdoors in a residential garden - the address will be provided in your confirmation email.

Special note: this workshop is a shorter duration than our regular workshops. Tea and coffee will be available but there will be no morning tea break.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

Staying Healthy: All of our workshops are held outdoors, with a limit on numbers to ensure there's plenty of space for everyone. If you are unwell please don't try to attend: our flexible refund policy (below) ensures you can get a refund or give your ticket to a friend at short notice.

Refund Policy: We allow full refunds (less the Eventbrite booking fee) right up to the day before the event, or we can book you onto another day. You are also welcome to give your ticket to a friend if you can't make it. If you would like to reschedule, or change who will attend on your behalf, please contact Cally directly on 0410 121 272.

And if we have to cancel the event (e.g. terrible weather or illness of the host) you will of course receive a full refund.

Accessibility and Parking: The house is on a quiet street with plenty of on-street parking. There are no steps to the class location - it's easily accessible for a mobility scooter or wheelchair. We also have a wheelchair accessible toilet if needed. However, parts of the garden do include steps, so if you have a mobility impairment, please let us know ahead of time so we can tailor to your needs as much as we can.

About your teacher: Dr. Cally Brennan

Cally has been practising permaculture for over 12 years. In 2013 she founded Canberra Permaculture Design and Education, a permaculture-focused garden design business in Canberra. She has qualifications in permaculture and advanced permaculture design and when she's not busy creating designs and plans for clients, she is out in the garden, planting, weeding, making wicking beds or hosting workshops. She also served as a Director and Treasurer on the Board of Permaculture Australia in 2018 and 2019.

Cally, together with partner Jeremy, and their daughter Sophie, manage their productive home food garden in Cook, along with three slightly mad chickens.

About the garden

The garden is on an 840 sqm residential block in Cook. That land also contains a house, driveway, existing trees and shrubs - so it's a pretty typical older suburban garden.

The aim is to see just how much food a home garden can produce. We usually harvest between 350kg and 400kg of vegetables, fruit and eggs each year. The goal is to reach a tonne one day!

The garden sometimes gets a bit wild and weedy (two working adults means not a lot of time for maintenance gardening) but so long as it grows food while the soil gets more fertile, things are heading in the right direction!

In this and other workshops Cally will lead you through what she and her family have learned on their journey - and invite you to try some of their techniques in your own garden!