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

( 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.

( 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.

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.

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.

(to be confirmed....)

Fruit trees Pruning Demonstration and Hands on Practice
David Greer, a local tree surgeon/arborist with 30 years experience, is coming to Forgandenny to give a demonstration of fruit pruning and get all participants practicing on trees. Come along to learn how to prune your own trees or update your skills. Wear boots and warm clothing. Bring loppers, secateurs and handsaws. 9am to 1pm with lunch included. (Only 10 places available)
Booking essential – please email/phone Johanna. perthorganic@googlemail.com or 01738 580152

Cath Lloyd, Tayside Biodiversity Partnership will be talking about increasing the nature in our gardens and community spaces.

Annual General Meeting & Talk. 7:30pm AK Bell Library

Please come along and find out what we have been doing over the last year and what we are planning for the future. Our new programme will be available, which includes workshops and garden visits throughout the summer months. We are also looking for a couple of new people to come and join us on the committee, with an emphasis on advertising the group and it's events. So come and find out more and see if you are interested.

We look forward to seeing you.

Now for info on the talk!!

"Hot G s in Cold C s"
A talk on garden microclimates to diversify our planting.

Clare Reaney, a member of East Fife Organic Gardeners and professional horticulturalist for over 20 years, will be talking about how we can identify microclimates in our own gardens and use planting which will best succeed.

Clare began working in a Sussex Rhodendron Garden just after the big storm of 1987, helping to propogate some of the survivors. A move north of 500 miles to the Isle of Arran lead to 11 years working for the National Trust for Scotland in four very different gardens (Brodick, Culzean, Inveresk Lodge and Kellie Castle). While the west coast gardens had the views, the easterly gardens are a lot more comfortable to in, being midge free!

She has just returned from Hawaii, where she spent a month volunteering at the Lyon arboretum conserving the island flora which is endangered.

Day to day, Clare is a Horticultural Technician at the Dundee Botanic Garden, and enjoys gardening at home in Auchtermuchty where she has a south facing wall and views of the Lomond Hills.

From May onwards we will be having outdoor meetings and visits. This summer we are arranging visits to members’ gardens and which will include talks and demonstrations on various organic subjects. Please let us know of your ideas and requests for topics and offers to share your experience and knowledge.

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.