A couple of fantastic fruity workshops are coming up, joining up with friends at the Fruit and Nut Tree Network Permaculture Blue Mountains and Transition Blue Mountains. Up first on 27th May, a chance to learn how easy it is to propagate berries and figs in a wonderful mature orchard in Mount Tomah and even then take some canes home. Berries thrive in our cool climate, and most canes will produce fruit for you next summer. Coming into June we’re pruning fruit trees right here in the Blue Mountains Community Gardens, Brian and Wayne show us how its done and we’ll prune a small number of trees on site. Booking essential for both events.  Check out the flyer below for more details.

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This next Sunday there will be a workshop and discussion session on plant propagation from 11am -12 midday as part of the usual Sunday volunteer session. The focus will be on the current weather and plants that germinate and grow well from cutting during the late mountains summer/autumn seasonal period.

This will cover:

• what to grow and propagate in autumn
• cutting selection & methods
• discussion of seasonal timing for growth
• seed selection & germination
• planting seedlings on and soil preparation
• saving seeds
• grafting techniques - if there is interest and time

We will start promptly at 11am and finish at midday.

On Sunday March 4th at 12 Midday till 1pm [1 hour max] we have a short workshop & question and answer chat session planned for anyone interested in discussing ‘vegetable’ growing in the mountains. This will follow the usual volunteer session on the Sunday that runs from 10am – 12 midday.

This is a huge and varied subject and the plan is to swap stories and experience with growing the full range of vegetables possible in the Blue Mountains with it’s cool temperate climate. i.e. what to plant when and how to try and fit in with local conditions. We will have some practical suggestions based on local experience with weather and soil, and suggestions for ways to access resources that may help.

Some of the recently formed North Katoomba transition group will be attending.

A new timeslot for volunteer meetings at the Katoomba community gardens will now be run on Sundays 10am till 12 Midday.

For many working people living in the mountains it is hard to make the current Friday 10am-2pm timeslot. We are keen to get more people involved who cannot make those Friday sessions due to work or other commitments.

These sessions will be only two hours and tend to be focussed on undertaking a specific range of tasks or workshop like activities. It is assumed that the intent is also to meet up with like minded community gardening people and catch up with how the gardens are progressing, swap plants, seeds and information. Feel free to come and help or possibly just watch the plants grow.

The shed will be open and tools available for this two hour period.

The first of these Sunday volunteer sessions will be this coming Sunday 22nd January [2012]

This does not replace the Friday volunteer sessions which will continue as usual each Friday from 10am till 2pm.