Presenter: Erin Cooper

When: Saturday 7/11/26 10-11:30

Format: 15m morning Tea/talk/Q&A 15m

Group size: ages 14+ x25

Provided: morning tea GF available

What to bring: hat, notebook, pen

What you fill your raised bed with can make all the difference to the health and productivity of your kitchen garden. Join kitchen garden expert Erin as she explores how to create a nutrient-rich, lightweight and well-aerated growing mix that supports intensive planting, healthy roots and good water movement.

Erin will share the soil mix she commonly uses in raised kitchen gardens, along with practical alternatives for recreating similar qualities using materials available from bulk landscape suppliers. You’ll also learn smart strategies for filling large or deep raised beds, including when and how to use bulky materials such as logs to reduce the volume of growing mix required.

Whether you’re filling a new raised bed or improving an existing one, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to build the right foundation for a diverse, intensively planted and productive kitchen garden."

Presenter: Erin Cooper

When: Saturday 7/11/26 10-11:30

Format: 15m morning Tea/talk/Q&A 15m

Group size: ages 14+ x25

Provided: morning tea GF available

What to bring: hat, notebook, pen

Watch kitchen garden expert Erin plant out the new raised garden bed at The Garden Cupboard display garden while sharing practical insights into getting the most from your growing space. Learn how to intensively plant a diverse mix of vegetables, herbs and flowers; combine different plant families, growth habits and root zones; and create a thriving garden ecosystem that supports soil life, attracts beneficial insects and helps reduce pest pressure. Erin will demonstrate how thoughtful plant placement and diversity can lead to a healthier, more resilient garden — and more food from the space you have.

Presenter: Erin Cooper

When: Saturday 7/11/26 10-11:30

Format: 15m morning Tea/talk/Q&A 15m

Group size: ages 14+ x25

Provided: morning tea GF available

What to bring: hat, notebook, pen

Learn how to create a beautiful, diverse garden that provides food, water and habitat for birds, pollinators and beneficial insects. Drawing on her experience as a kitchen garden expert and working in a local retail garden centre, Erin will share practical advice on selecting a mix of native and exotic plants to provide flowers, nectar, seeds and shelter across the seasons.

Discover how thoughtful planting can attract not only bees and butterflies, but also beneficial insects such as hover flies and parasitic wasps that support natural pest control. Erin will also explore the value of different flower shapes, staggered flowering times, allowing plants to go to seed, and incorporating birdbaths and water features into the landscape.

She’ll also explain how simple self-seeding plants help pollinators and us. Whether scattered through gravel or winding through the vegetable patch, they’re as practical as they are beautiful.

Presenter: Erin Cooper

When: Saturday 5/9/26 10-11:30

Format: 15m morning Tea/talk/Q&A 15m

Group size: ages 14+ x25

Provided: morning tea GF available

What to bring: hat, notebook, pen

Discover how wicking beds use a built-in water reservoir to deliver moisture directly to plant roots, creating consistent growing conditions while reducing water waste and the need for frequent watering. Kitchen garden expert Erin will explain how wicking systems work, their benefits and limitations, and the key considerations for getting them right.

Explore different ways to create a wicking bed, from retrofitting existing raised beds and containers to purpose-built systems, along with practical advice on soil depth, drainage, overflow and maintenance. Whether you’re planning a new kitchen garden or looking for a more water-wise way to grow, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of whether a wicking bed is right for your space.

Presenter: Kathryn Green - Berry based artist & illustrator

When: Saturday 29/8/26 10-1

Format: intro/demonstration/skills & samples/artwork

Group size: ages 14+ x8

Provided: watercolour paper, brush, box colours, star book journal

Refreshments: morning tea GF available

What to bring: notebook, pen, apron

Join Kathryn for an immersive workshop where you'll explore the beautiful world of watercolor painting. As a talented artist celebrated for her exceptional creativity and skill, Kathryn has garnered a distinguished reputation, appealing to clients worldwide. During this workshop, you'll learn various watercolor techniques and develop your artistic style under Kathryn's expert guidance. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this workshop promises to be both educational and inspiring.

Presenter: Kristy, Wes & Erin Cooper

When: Saturday 1/8/26 10-1pm

Format: intro/box prep/seed sowing

Group size: ages 14+ x8

Provided: all materials, morning tea GF available

What to bring: hat, notebook, pen, apron

Join Kristy and Wes as they guide you through creating your own timber seed-sowing box using woodworking skills and the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. This ancient method involves charring the surface of timber to improve its resistance to rot, pests and moisture, creating a durable, chemical-free seed-sowing box designed to last for years.

Then, with guidance from kitchen garden expert Erin, learn how to create soil blocks to fill your new timber tray. You’ll explore what soil blocks are, their advantages for healthy root development and transplanting, what goes into a good soil-blocking mix, and several techniques for making your own blocks at home.

You’ll leave with practical new skills and your own handcrafted seed-sowing box, ready to use for raising seedlings at home.