Five Day | Forest Garden Masterclass | 23rd to 28th Feb 2025

Description

Tutor: Kay Baxter 

*Early bird special, discounted price, get in now! Price will increase from the 23rd of January 2025*.

This is a 5 day event. 

Immerse yourself in the world of forest gardens with our comprehensive Forest Garden Masterclass. Discover how to design your own forest garden based on the principles of nature, aligning with the patterns found in natural forests. Learn how to apply these principles to your specific context, conditions, and goals, ultimately creating a thriving ecosystem that produces an abundance of fruits, meat, eggs, perennial vegetables, medicine, fiber, posts, timber, and more, while regenerating the environment.

Under the guidance of Kay, you will spend time every day in our well developed stunning  Temperate and Mediterranean forest gardens, (both at Koanga and at Kay’s place) , and gain a deep understanding of forest gardens, their design principles, and how to make them productive and abundant. Learn how to recognise, select and integrate plants using guilds, understand rootstocks, calculate nutrient requirements, and provide for them. Additionally, you will explore various plant species, their needs, uses, and placement within your forest garden. By the end of the masterclass, you will be feeling confident you can use our  step-by-step process to confidently design your own forest garden.

During the workshop, you will embark on a small project to design a forest garden, receiving support and guidance from the instructors. This hands-on experience will equip you with the skills and confidence to begin designing your own forest garden as soon as you return home.

The second part of the masterclass will focus on the essential strategies, skills, and techniques needed to effectively manage and maintain a forest garden as a regenerative ecological system for production, soil health, and plant and animal well-being. Topics covered include the importance of nutrient-dense food, the use of fertilizers and organic sprays, practices such as chop n drop and mulching, grass management, and establishment methods. Pruning techniques for common plants in forest gardens, including young fruit trees and support species, will also be discussed and practiced (note: pruning was taught separately in a previous workshop).

This masterclass combines both the Forest Garden Design and Forest Garden Management workshops, providing a comprehensive learning experience. It pairs perfectly with our separate Koanga Propagation workshop, supporting you in growing your own plants for your forest garden.

Join us for this transformative Forest Garden Masterclass and unlock the potential of creating your own abundant, regenerative ecosystem.

Itinerary: 

Arrival: February Sunday 23rd at 4 pm for welcome, introductions and settling in. ( it is really important you are able to be here at 4:00 )

Finish: Friday February 28th at 12:00. 

Monday – Thursday 9am – 4pm 

Friday 9am – 3pm

Meals Provided: 

Sunday: Dinner

Monday to Thursday: Breakfast – Morning tea – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner. 

Friday: Breakfast – Morning Tea – Lunch . Finish at 12:00  and we provide lunch before you go

For your convenience, we offer very basic camping facilities on-site, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Alternatively, you can opt to stay in Wairoa at your own cost. We have arranged start and finish times to make it as easy as possible to arrive the day we begin and leave the day we finish. 

 We look forward to welcoming you here at Kōanga Institute.