Edible gardens guru hosts first workshops at permaculture home

QUEENSLAND’S edible organic gardening guru Leonie Shanahan has spent more than a decade working in schools, at festivals and events teaching people of all ages how to make their own healthy edible garden.

There is nothing more that this engaging woman loves than plunging her hands into Mother Earth – apart from sharing her passion for healthy home-grown foods.

And now, for the first time, organic food lovers can travel to Leonie’s own property to learn the “secrets” of her gardening success in a series of one-day workshops.

“I’m so happy that I can finally bring people to my place and host workshops – the floods last year just wiped out the property, but with a lot of help from friends, my one-and-a-half acres is again my permaculture dream which gives me extensive space to experiment with soils, grow food, manage flooding waters, convert neighbours to organics and enjoy my gorgeous chooks,” Leonie said.

The first workshop will be held on Sunday, March 10 from 9.30am to 2pm at her lakeside property near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. The workshop is titled “Organic Gardening - The Essential Tool-Kit for Growing Healthy Food For You, Your Family and Your Community” and costs $77, with limited spaces available.

Leonie started her famous Edible Schools Gardens program in Queensland 11 years ago and has published companion works – the 2010 book Eat Your Garden – organic gardening for home and schools and the 2012 DVD Leonie Shanahan’s Edible School Gardens suitable for schools, community programs and backyard gardeners.

Since 2001 Leonie has also held workshops throughout Queensland, NSW and Melbourne and spoken at conferences, seminars and clubs and won several major awards for her commitment and dedication including the Recognition of Achievement award at the 2012 Sunshine Coast Regional Council Glossie Awards.

“We were all beginners at some stage.  Growing your own food is about taking control of your health and saving money.  At my new workshops, I take you through the basics of growing organic food that will give you healthy herbs, salads and vegetables.  We will look at different garden bed designs and methods, including herb spirals, tank gardens, hay bale gardens and arches.

“You will learn how to set up a worm bath and worm farm.  We will talk seeds and seedlings and you can pot up one yourself to take home; after-care of plants; how and when to harvest; and from where you can access quality products.

“We will also tour the property to see examples of the different bed designs and challenges awaiting the keen gardener in the challenging Queensland environment.

“And you will also get to take home buckets of free samples to get you started growing healthy food,” she said. “And, weather permitting, bring your swimsuit and towel to enjoy a swim at lunchtime or canoeing on my beautiful lake.”

For booking details and more information visit Leonie Shanahan’s website www.EdibleSchoolGardens.com.au/workshops or phone 0479 054 347.