TAFE’s fee-free courses cover garden design and growing Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad by News Of The Area - Modern Media - March 31, 2023 The Garden Magic course teaches propagation and a whole lot more. TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour Education Campus is calling for registrations for two upcoming free horticulture courses. The Garden Design course offers an introduction to garden design, while Garden Magic is an introduction to horticulture with a hands-on approach. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Course teacher for Introduction to Garden Design, Tony McGowan told News Of The Area, “This short course provides an introduction to the discipline of garden design. “It will show how horticulturists, landscape practitioners and homeowners can approach new and existing gardens in need of planning, prior to the installation of hard and soft garden construction. “Having an existing knowledge of plants, drafting, lawns, soil preparation and garden construction will be an advantage though not essential,” he said. The main topics covered in Garden Design include: what is a design brief; how to undertake a simple site analysis; what a concept design involves and how it provides a starting point; and all about producing a simple garden design plan. Garden Magic is a hands-on six-week course, packed with information, Ruth Maitland, Horticulture Teacher at TAFE NSW told NOTA. “We start off with soil health, such an important topic, as thriving soils are the basis of sustaining our food production,” she said. During the course the participants will be shown easy and practical ways to improve soil in their vegetable garden. “We cover a wide range of topics from the right choice of vegetables to grow, plants to attract beneficial insects, fruit trees, propagation…the list goes on. “This is all from an organic gardening perspective,” she said. Ruth has found that many of the participants from past courses had improved their knowledge and abilities and wanted to know more, with several deciding to enrol in TAFE’s certificate level courses to continue building their skills in the garden. “We need more people to understand and cherish our soils and environment and more training for horticulturalists in our workforce,” she said. Both courses start in May and do not require any assessment completion as they are non-accredited. Places are limited. Call (02) 6659 3139 or email anne.gundry2@tafensw.edu.au for enquiries or to enrol. By Andrea FERRARI In the veggie garden growing flavoursome food full of natural nourishment.
