Linda Brennan from Ecobotanica gave a great workshop at Beelarong Community Farm yesterday morning. This was the second of two workshops entitled Growing your Own Fabulous Organic Fruit “how to choose, plant, fertilise and prune”.
People were encouraged to bring along any diseased plants or fruit from their garden – there was no shortage! – and Linda started the workshop giving sound advice using organic control for the various pests and diseases. My offering was a sick looking leaf from my cherry tomato plant growing on my allotment. Black Spot was the problem and wettable sulphur was the answer. Thanks Linda.
This was a sick paw paw. Most of it’s problems were fungal.
I could show you photos of plenty more sick fruit but it’s all a bit yukky. You get the drift.
Linda then took us into the orchard at the farm and instructed us in the art of pruning. A great emphasis was given to hygiene and the importance of cleaning your tools completely after use, so as not to spread pests and diseases. Here is Linda in the yellow and blue top instructing us in the correct use of secateurs when pruning.
This is one photo I couldn’t resist. We are all looking at the fruit tree ready for pruning, just look at the concentration on the face of our smallest gardener.
It was a terrific morning. Linda is doing lots of workshops around Brisbane, some for children during the school holidays too, so It’s well worth checking out her website. http://www.ecobotanica.com
Allotment Adventures with Jean 