discover Gardening classes in brisbane

Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of permaculture and gardening courses are available?

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  Our course offerings span multiple areas including fruit tree pruning (summer and winter sessions), beekeeping workshops, composting and worm farming, native plant gardening, sustainable gardening fundamentals, and specialized topics like soil health, water management, and pest control. We also offer multi-session courses such as the Complete Urban Farmer Course, which includes 14 sessions covering permaculture principles, chookcare, propagation, seed saving, and community gardens. Courses combine theory with hands-on practical experience, with class sizes limited to maintain interactive formats—for example, our Beekeeping Workshop is capped at 8 participants.

• Are courses available in both online and in-person formats?

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  Yes. We offer both in-person workshops at Edendale Farm and online sessions via Zoom. For example, Home Composting for Beginners and Setting up a Worm Farm are available in both formats. Online participants receive a Zoom link prior to the event, and recordings are available for three days following certain sessions if you cannot attend live. This allows flexibility while maintaining interactive Q&A opportunities.

• What materials and resources are typically included in courses?

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  Course inclusions vary by workshop. The Beekeeping Workshop includes a wooden beehive frame with beeswax foundation and a $5 discount on the 'Bee AgSkills' book (bringing the cost from $27.50 to $22.50). Cheesemaking workshops include a 20% discount on cheese-making kits and equipment. Home Composting and Worm Farming courses offer discounted bins and resources available on the day. The Complete Urban Farmer Course includes a copy of Justin Calverley's 'The Urban Farmer' book as course text. Most practical courses provide all materials needed for hands-on learning.

• Who are the instructors, and what are their qualifications?

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  Our courses are taught by recognized experts in their fields. Justin Calverley is a horticulturist with 30+ years of experience and author of 'The Urban Farmer,' with 10 years of his radio show 'Dirty Deeds' available as a podcast. Jacqueline Bender has 6 years of cheesemaking education experience and worked on farms managing dairy goats and production. Fiona Cross has 30+ years of experience in conservation and horticulture. Dr Lena Alice Schmidt specializes in native plants and pollination. Instructors combine practical field experience with teaching expertise across permaculture, horticulture, and sustainable practices.

• What should I bring to in-person workshops?

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  Requirements depend on the course. Fruit tree pruning workshops require gardening gloves, a hat, and sharp clean secateurs. The Fungus Amongst Us walking workshop requires comfortable shoes and optionally a magnifying glass. Worm Farm and Composting workshops note that outdoor footwear and sun protection are advisable if weather permits outdoor viewing. The Sustainable Wrapping workshop welcomes participants to bring fabric to reuse. Most workshops specify required items in their descriptions, and we recommend checking your confirmation for course-specific details.

• Are there multi-week or comprehensive courses available for beginners?

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  Yes. The Complete Urban Farmer Course runs for 14 sessions across multiple weeks (Friday, Saturday, or Thursday options) and covers permaculture introduction, chookcare, beekeeping, propagation, seed saving, and community gardens. The Sustainable Gardening Course provides foundational knowledge in horticulture, permaculture, and organic gardening with hands-on practice in seedling propagation, seed saving, and vegetable growing. Both courses are designed for beginners and can be delivered at community locations with groups of 10+ participants. These longer-format courses provide comprehensive skill-building compared to single-session workshops.