Gardening Workshop

[Annadl]

I went to a 'Great Gardening' workshop last weekend and it was fantastic.
It was free, for 2 1/2 hours.  Sponsored by the water corporation, the agriculture dept and other departments.

I haven't stopped reading since then.  There is really so much information available.  Their main point was the regions climate.  In WA we have a very dry temperate climate, completely different to Eastern Australia.  Our requirements are so different, and all the gardening shows aired in Australia cater for their climate.    It was something I didn't 'really' realize until it was explained to me.

Apparently there is a lot of 'free' help available.  It's just that we don't know about it till we show some interest in it.  Like greywater recylcers being rebatable by the council.

What a lifetime interest.  Definitely a lot of planning & experimenting along the way.  The challenge for me is the wind here.  'Wind' will probably become my second name here ;D  I said Wind not windy ;D ;D

I have just missed being on A4A for the week.  I don't know what the worst addiction is; gardening, A4A or reading!!!

[Annadl]

[Derekthefox]

That sounded wonderful Anna. If there was something similar available here in the UK, I would be keen to take advantage, but the general attitude to gardening seems to be makeovers are the trend, with the emphasis on spending a fortune at a garden centre.

Derekthefox :D

[Annadl]

Well you see Derek all the TV shows are about garden makeovers & i'm not into that.  They spend a fortune on them and they are free for the 'TV garden' owners.  They put in mature plants and spend $$$'s.

Mind you we will need to redo our front garden (and back) but would want to make it low maintenance and easy to grow.  I might have time for gardening but I don't want to waste my time trying to grow miracles.  If you get that ::)

[Lily]

That sounded wonderful Anna. If there was something similar available here in the UK, I would be keen to take advantage, but the general attitude to gardening seems to be makeovers are the trend, with the emphasis on spending a fortune at a garden centre.

Derekthefox :D

I also think that there should be more chances of cheap/free workshops, perhaps run by the council.  If anyone knows of any please let us know.  There are courses/workshops run by the RHS, but these are often too far away and a little expensive, but often cheaper for members.

Proof of emphasis on garden makeovers are often seen when programmes such are The Big Dig are axed after just 3 programmes.  I wonder if TV are in league with the Garden Centers, like Delia Smith used to do.  She would let the sellers know of any product that she was going to mention on her cookery programmes so that they would have plenty of stock in.

Garden Centers, I love them, but I wish they catered more for the 'lottie' owners.

Perhaps they could offer a workshop on gardening/veg growing.

Lily

[Derekthefox]

Forgive my cynicism and general distrust, which I have acquired through experience, but I see it all as focussing on business interests, rather than quality of life.

Derekthefox :-\

[Annadl]

This workshop was conducted at a council building and did emphasise quality of life & the environment.  I can't believe it but they run 40 workshops a year in WA educating people on being water wise and garden wise.

I even found out about a service that provides free 'leafed' mulch if they happened to be in your area at the time of lopping some trees.  They put the cuttings through the mulcher and then drop it off straight to someone who has ordered any or is on the 'freebie' list.

It was an eye opener for me anyway.

Just thought I'ld let you know.

And did I mention that all the plants & bags of gardening needs were given away at the end of the workshop.  Half of the attendees went away with prizes.  (Not me).  They even gave away 2 compost bins.....

Like I said it was a fantastic event that I didn't even know existed 6 months ago.

It made me happy ;D

(sometimes we need to do these things just to get away from the humdrum in the family home.  It was like a breath of fresh air for me.  Met peeps with the same interest as me...)

Lily we are inundated with garden makeovers in Australia.  It gives the 'good looking' blokes jobs as show hosts and keeps them in business.  They make things look 'pretty' their way, but they don't tell you how to look after the plants after they are planted or the correct soil for them etc.,

Nearly every 3 months we get new gardening makeover shows! >:(

[Lily]

Nearly every 3 months we get new gardening makeover shows! >:(

They're basically all the same over here, they just have a different Title !!  But any new programmes about allotments, well, they get cancelled before they even start.  :o

You must be in high summer over there, hope the growing is good for you.

Lily