Living soil workshops

Organic gardener Michelle Cox is running two workshops in North East Valley about how to create and support a healthy living soil.

Caring for the soil is the most important thing you will ever do as an organic gardener and is the key to producing an abundance of healthy, nutritious food, she says.

Michelle Cox, third from left, doing some hot composting in Macandrew Bay.

Her first workshop is about knowing your soil and participants will discover its gifts, shortcomings and challenges too.

"We'll do some hands-on tests and you'll learn why soil life is pivotal to the health and abundance of your crops," says Michelle.

The second workshop, Heal Your Soil, will cover a range of proven organic tools and techniques to use at home to create deep, friable soil full of life.

Michelle lives on "a wild acre" in Waikouaiti and has been running organic horticulture courses and designing permaculture gardens for more than 16 years.

"I love watching the rise and rise of interest in organics and permaculture accelerate every year. We are no longer fringe!"

The cost for each workshop is $45 or $75 for both. For more information and to register email organicsunearthed@gmail.com

WHAT: Know Your Soil workshop

WHERE: Valley Project community rooms

WHEN: Saturday 13 July, 1-5pm

WHAT: Heal Your Soil workshop

WHERE: Valley Project community rooms

WHEN: Saturday 27 July, 10am-2pm, followed by an optional field trip to Waikouaiti