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Perthshire Organic Gardeners
Programme of Events 2008 /2009
We have
put together what we hope will be an exciting, informative programme of visits,
workshops and talks. Please see below for details.
All the meetings are taking place in the Meeting Room at AK Bell Library, York Place Perth 7.30pm to 9.30pm (unless otherwise stated).
Members attend for free. Non-members £2.00. (Again, unless otherwise stated)
| Saturday 12
July |
Companion
Planting Workshop
10am – 1pm Birnam Institute
Tutor:
Margaret Lear, Plants with Purpose
Most
gardeners know that some plants grow happily together, while others resent any
intrusion. This informative and hands-on workshop looks at some of the science
behind companion planting, and helps you choose the herbs and flowers which
will make your garden more productive - whether by feeding the soil, deterring
pests, or attracting the predators and parasites which are the organic
gardener's allies.
Margaret,
a POG member, has many years experience in horticulture and runs her own
organic nursery. She is an experienced tutor, and her workshops are always fun
and informative.
The
Birnam Institute has its own café where you could stay on for lunch afterwards.
Free to members, non-members
£5.00
Places are limited, so please
book your place asap by calling Johanna on 01738 580152 |
| Wednesday
6 August |
Visit to Pillars of Hercules Organic Farm
, 7pm
( between Strathmiglo and Falkland,
Fife
.)
Time: 7pm
Guide:
Bruce Bennett, Proprietor
“Visionary pioneers of the ethical
food movement forging a new market for pure organic food and inspiring a new
generation of farmers to forsake the chemical treadmill….err, well actually we
just like shovelling compost, hoeing weeds and don’t want to put poisons on
your food or our planet”
This is how the
Pillars
of Hercules
folk describe themselves on their website. They have
been organically farming a part of
Fife
for
over two decades. Join Bruce Bennett on a tour of their horticultural
operations and find out more about organic production on a big scale and how
they keep up year round supplies for their box scheme. Bruce will also open
their shop if there is a demand.
Book your
free place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152.
Lifts are available if required – leaving
Perth
around 6.30pm.
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| Saturday
13 September |
Visit to Kellie Castle Organic garden,
2.30pm
( Nr
Pittenweem,
Fife
)
Kellie Castle and estate have been
run organically for the last 17 years. They avoid the use of poisons and
chemicals thus helping to sustain a wide range of wildlife from hedgehogs through
to badgers, birds and bats. There is an enchanting walled garden as well as the
wider grounds to explore.
Autumn is a good time to visit the
garden, with late summer flowers and bountiful harvests from the orchard.
We are
investigating the possibility of a NTS Gardener Guided Tour.
Entrance
Fee to the Garden £3.00. National Trust for
Scotland
members get in free so
bring your membership card if you have one.
Book your
free place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152.
Lifts are available if required – leaving
Perth
around 1.30pm. |
| Monday 13
October |
Composting and manures
7.30pm Perth Library
Composting and increasing soil fertility
How do we compost our garden and organic waste to produce a manure that greatly improves our soil fertility?? Fairlie Community Garden in Largs have been experimenting with a hot box/rock dust/vermiculite manure to produce a potent fertiliser to convert an old boat yard into a productive garden. Ron Gilchrist from the Scottish Composting Centre will be talking about this way of composting and encouraging discussion about composting in general. Bring along your composting questions. |
| Monday 10
November |
Social and seed/plant/book etc swap
7.30pm Perth Library
A chance to swap your surplus seed, plants, gardening books and other gardening paraphernalia. Bring along a bottle and some nibbles to share. |
| Saturday 6th December |
Social, Greyfriars Pub, 7pm onwards
(to be confirmed....)
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| A Saturday morning in Jan..... |
Fruit trees/Soft Fruit
Planting, Pruning and Varieties
(We are also planning a practical pruning session on a weekend day following this meeting) |
| Monday 9th February |
Biodiversity in Community Gardens, Orchards and Allotments
Cath Lloyd, Tayside Biodiversity Partnership will be talking about increasing the nature in our gardens and community spaces. |
| Monday 12th March |
Topic to be confirmed |
| Monday 6th April |
Annual General Meeting |
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| Other events taking place locally: |
Sat 4th & Sat 11th October Newburgh Apple Days.
Sat & Sun 18th/19th October Glendoick Apple Weekend 11am 4pm Bring along your apples to identify; displays of 120 varieties of fruit; food & wine tastings; children’s activities and more
Sat or Sun 18th/19th October Cider making course: booking essential by form on www.taysidebiodiversity.co.uk
Sat & Sun 25th/26th October Family Fruit Weekend, Elcho Castle, by Rhynd, Perth: 9.30am to 4.30pm. Adults £3.20 Concessions £2.70. Children free in October. Explore the orchard and pick a bag of fruit to take home, Ranger led activities on Sat and fruit juice making and tasting on Sunday. Elcho castle has an orchard of some 90 plum, pear and apple trees, about 37 varieties in all. |
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