Expo shows smart kitchen gardens contribute to a sustainable future
June 23, 2011
With a heightened interest in sustainable gardening techniques including water conservation and reducing our carbon footprint, a visit to the 27th annual Queensland Garden Expo’s Giant Organic Kitchen Garden is a must for all garden lovers.
Learn from experts such as Costa Georgiadis (of Costa’s Garden Odyssey fame) how you can make a difference to the environment starting in your own backyard, see the gardening systems of the future, discover new products, hear from leading garden experts or take a tasty guided tour though the special children’s edible garden.
A highlight in this year’s Giant Kitchen Garden is the Aquaponics section which is said to be the new way to ‘go green’ and the gardening method of the future. Aquaponics is an integrated system where fish and plants grow harmoniously together making it an organic, water-wise method of food production suitable for spaces large and small.
Yandina Community Garden utilises this Practical Aquaponics system and volunteers are lovingly nurturing the plants to be relocated to the Kitchen Garden’s giant raised beds. Barb Wickes, Giant Garden Program Coordinator says visitors can expect to see lush, bountiful herbs and vegetables on display cultivated using the Aquaponics system.
“The Giant Kitchen Garden has something for everyone, whether you’re wanting to garden in small spaces, for medicinal use, interested in cooking with herbs or the worm-farming and composting demonstrations. The area will also provide advice on growing and using plants suited to the sub-tropics, permaculture essentials and gardening for the soil and soul,” said Barb.
“Each year the area is a hive of activity and this year’s program is greater than ever, jam packed with fabulous presenters, workshops and topics catering to the increasing demand for environmentally sustainable and organic gardening trends and techniques,” said Barb.
For three full days see non-stop lectures, workshops and demos with gardening experts including Costa Georgiadis, Leonie Shanahan, 2009 Living Smart Award winner Rosina Buckman, local permaculture experts, Murray Hallam from Practical Aquaponics, to name a few.
Gardening enthusiasts seeking information on all things organic, green and sustainable can choose from a range of talks and topics available at all of the seven live stages featured at this year’s expo.
For more information on the Queensland Garden Expo including the Giant Kitchen Garden feature, speakers or to download a copy of the lectures and demonstrations available each day, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.
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