Gorgeous Micro-Gardens

In this 2 hour course we will help you:

1. See how wicking and closed wicking systems work and what makes them different to grandmas pots in saucers
2. make your own wicking pot from pre-loved items
3. turn your favourite pots into wicking beds
4. explore alternatives to glue or plastics – how can cement be waterproof?
5. see food plants that thrive in wicking beds
6. choose easy food water plants
7. reduce the risk of mosquitoes in your garden
8. understand local fauna like water-dragons, frogs and dragon flies
9. discuss your own water challenges and strategies to minimise plant losses in drought.
10. See how to apply wicking technique to larger garden beds

Intensive Food Gardens

Most of the water spent on gardens seeps away after feeding the roots.  There is a better way to conserve water and nutrients. We can grow your most valuable plants in wicking beds where water stays within reach of your plants. The only water losses in a wicking bed are through the plants transpiration.

Wicking Systems of Many Sizes

Large gardens can have sunken basins as reservoirs for new plants. Little window sill plants will survive better with wicking style pots.

Prevent plant losses

If you are planning to go on an adventure you would be right to be concerned about leaving your best pots without any water. The temperatures are getting hotter and sunlight more intense.

Save Your Greenhouse Plants

Another reason to get into wicking beds is to help your plants survive in the greenhouse. A greenhouse is often a place where good intentions wilt and die. If your greenhouse plants are wicking, they are well equipped to thrive.

Try some water loving food plants

We grow delicious Kangkong, taro, watercress, water celery, and chestnuts in our water pots.  Wicking bed principles can be applied to growing potted plants, vegetables, and seedlings. Native water lovers include midgem berry and Nardoo

Here are our best indoor potted plants:

• Kang kong
• Mint
• Shallots
• Thai basil
• Tumeric
• Ginger
• Choko – super easy to grow and has nutritious leaves
• Sweet Potato – edible leaves, pretty green and purple vine

Two great medicinal plants to grow indoors are Aloe Vera and Houseleek Sempervivum. They are both excellent salves if someone gets injured or and insect bite.

Indoor Plants with Impressive Stature

• Sugarcane (big sunny corner plant – can cook with the leaves)
• Taro (leaves as big as a coffee table)
• Monstera Deliciosa (hardy and yummy – impressively big vine)
• Dwarf Banana (even if it is slow to fruit you can use the leaves as food wraps)
• Passionfruit (edible leaves)
• Grapevine (edible leaves and fruit)
• Fig
• Olive (medicinal leaves)
• Bunya

Our all time favourite has been our 11 year old potted Bunya which served tirelessly as our Christmas tree.

learn more about and different types of wicking pots and take yours home.

Cost $45

For Hybrid Permaculture Design Course Participants this session can count toward your homework for one topic such as ‘water’ or ‘aquaculture’ or ‘Cultivated Ecology’ in the Permaculture Design Course. See here all the topics in a Permaculture Design Course.

You will be introduced to wicking theory and get active making 2 types of wicking gardens. You will make a wicking garden suited to most indoor or outdoor settings.