Go for sustainability

By Bridget Cook
Over the next two months the Tynong North farm is running a series of sustainability workshops, covering a variety of different topics.
Since 1997 more than 5000 people have participated in their extensive educational programs in the living classroom.
Farm co-owner Julie Weatherhead said this particular program was being held to reach all areas of the community.
“There is something everybody can do, no matter where they live or what type of property they have, to be more environmentally sustainable,” she said.
The 20-acre property itself has been transformed into a living classroom that demonstrates a sustainable approach to land management.
Through the farm design, vegetable garden, chickens and the house design, Peppermint Ridge Farm sets an example of sustainable living. The Sunday Series will consist of several workshops, all starting at 9.30am, and include a bush food morning tea.
Practical Sustainability will be held on 17 May and is a good starting point for people to learn the basics. It will provide a practical introduction to setting up a green household.
The organic vegetable growing workshop will teach you how to grow delicious vegetables, while saving water, time and money. This will be held on Sunday 24 May.
An opportunity to increase awareness on weed identification and management will be held on 31 May, with the ‘what does your garden grow’ short course.
The bush food gathering workshop, to be held on 30 May, will offer the chance to experience unique tastes of bush food that can be grown in any backyard.
On Saturday 13 June a course on managing land sustainably will cover soil health and pastures, weeds, farm layout and design, shelter belts and vegetation management.
If interested in improving your knowledge of Victorian plants and how to identify and propagate them, then the Native Plant identification workshops will cover this on 14 June. For further details on these courses contact the farm on 5942 8580.