Wicking Bed workshop - Saturday 16.09.17

Easter Weekend Workshop

If you're planning to stay local this Easter and are looking for something to do, we are running a Seed Saving workshop on Easter Saturday following our monthly produce swap.
The produce swap will kick off at 9.30am, and the workshop at 10.30am.

You'll learn when to harvest seed, how to store it and other seedy subjects.
If you'd like more details you can email us yackandandahcg@gmail.com OR phone Neil PH 02 6027 1557

What's Bugging You?

Hello Gardeners,

The 3rd Saturday is this coming weekend. That means it will be Produce Swap and Gardening Workshop day at Yackandandah Community Garden.

Produce swap at Yackandandah Community Garden

Kick off the morning with Produce Swap starting at 9:30am. Bring your excess for others and take something from the table. Produce can include vegetables and fruit, preserves or jams, cordials, etc. We'd also welcome any garden related items that you think others might find useful. Even if you don't have anything to swap you're welcome to drop in and talk gardening, maybe even swap some cash for produce. Produce swap goes all morning so feel free to stop in at any time.

At 10 am we 'Check the Garden'. Take a walk and see what is happening this week, ask questions or pass on your garden tips. We always find plenty to talk about while 'Checking the Garden' on the 3rd Saturday each month.

10:30 is Workshop time. We're asking for a $10 fee to join in our regular garden related workshop each month. Your workshop fees go directly towards a flourishing Community Garden. This month the title is:
'What's bugging You?' and we focus on pests, diseases' weeds and other problems in the garden. Participants can bring examples (if you can catch it or take a photo) for our experienced gardeners to identify and talk about how to deal with it. Otherwise just a good description will do.

Even if you don't have any problems (lucky you!) join the workshop, then you'll be prepared when they do turn up at your place. You may even have the solution we're all looking for. Join in, have fun and meet other local gardeners.

Willing workers at the Community Garden last weekend

There's always things to do at Yackandandah Community Garden so even if you're not interested in swapping, walking or talking, come along and give us a hand on Saturday mornings. There's always something needs doing at the Community Garden.

9:30 - 10:30 every Saturday morning at the garden. We look forward to seeing you there.

Neil

Workshop - Garden Q&A

Workshop - Preserving & Fermenting

Workshop - Soft Cuttings - 20th Feb

"Gardening for a dry climate" workshop

Irrigation for Home Gardens Worjshop

Thinking about the best way to make the most of water in your garden this summer? Come along to the workshop at the garden tomorrow and let Neil share some of his tips on managing watering your garden.

Wicking bed / box workshop

Tool Maintenance workshop

Nature Play Week children's workshop

Dehydration demonstration

Autumn in north east Victoria has to be the best time of year, and Saturday was the perfect day for Neil Padbury to share his experience with us, with another way to make the most of your bumper crop. 

We looked at two methods for dehydrating produce - using an electric dehydrating unit and traditional natural dehydration with the help of the sun and the wind.  He also discussed the different ways to keep the colour in the produce such as lemon juice or sulphur dipping. Compare the two jars of figs in the bottom right hand corner photo. The jar on the right is completely natural, while the one on the left has been treated with sulphur - such a difference.

Remember we have dehydration units for garden members to borrow, and its a great way to try before you invest in your own unit. If you are interested in more details on hiring the dehydration, preserving or passata kits, get in touch via the Contact Form on the "Contact Us" tab or send an email to yackandandahcg@gmail.com

Preserving demonstration

What a perfect day we had to spend time at the garden yesterday.  Neil Padbury was giving us his tips and tricks to creating show winning preserves, using the "hot pack" method and the Fowlers kit. Better watch out Neil, you may have some competition at the Myrtleford show this year!

The next workshop at the garden will be a Dehydration Workshop on Saturday morning 28th March. If you are interested in coming along,  pop into YCC, get in touch via our facebook or blog pages, or drop an email to yackandandahcg@gmail.com.au

Passata Day 2015

What a fantastic day we had at the garden yesterday!

Some people think that a community garden is about "the garden", but yesterday we showed what "community" can do with around 120kg of tomatoes turned into 200 bottles / jars of passata and chutney. We had a mix of garden members and non members, locals and non locals, and even a couple of visitors for morning tea.

There were a couple of hick ups, but solutions were quickly found and we went home exhausted but happy. If you are keen to come along next year, pencil it into your diary. We are sure to have another Passata Day next year.

Take a look at how the day went:

Beautiful produce from Greenwood & Grogan, Arnolds and our back yards.

Washing & sterilizing the bottles and jars

Lots of chopping and not one bandaid required!

The chutney smelled sensational cooking away on the BBQ

The passata machine made short work of the tomatoes - brilliant!

 

The bottling line in full swing

Using old and new preserving methods.

A fantastic day at the garden with great company, perfect weather and yummy food - perfect!

seed saving workshop

passata workshop