Tour an integrated small property with a passive solar mud brick home, an innovative movable cottage, grid interactive solar system, composting loo, grey water reuse with reed bed filter, freshwater systems, organic orchard, vegie patch, chooks, rainforest regeneration, and more. Discuss the “affordability” of different levels of technology and how they contribute a buffer for an uncertain future.

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Rous Water, in conjunction with the Widjabul Elders invites you on a guided bustour of your regional water supply system. Come along to find out or speak about water sources, catchments, treatment and a sustainable water future. Enjoy the Rocky Creek Dam picnic area and Nightcap Water Treatment Plant, playground and rainforest environment on a relaxed and informative day. This course is subsidised by Rous Water.

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For millenia gardeners have studied how the movements of the moon and stars influence the cycles of plant growth. By understanding how the phases of the moon and zodiac signs have influence in the garden you can achieve better results .

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Learn how to plant and maintain a productive garden using organic principles. Find out how to convert a lawn to garden, improve soil, sow seeds and seedlings and choose the right plants for our climate, as well as strategies for lower maintenance. All held in an inspiring back yard.

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Keeping chickens in the backyard is fun and easy. They eat our kitchen scraps, will happily scratch up every weed seed and grub and give us eggs and manure for our gardens. This workshop will cover every-day care, feeding, popular breeds, problem solving and housing, including how to build a simple chook tractor. Keeping even a few chooks has many benefits for living a more sustainable lifestyle.

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This workshop introduces potential bee keepers to the delight and fascination of this rewarding hobby. The session covers safety, myth busting, hands-on bee keeping (Ben will bring along a beehive), legal requirements and the most important thing – how to get started!

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Creating charcoal from organic matter under controlled conditions can provide a powerful soil builder that enhances microbial soil life. When you participate in this hands-on exploration of small scale Biochar, you will learn how to make it, test it, condition it and to apply it to your own situation.

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Undertaking bush regeneration without herbicides requires a greater understanding of natural processes, weed ecology and more strategic inputs of labour. Dave works in the conventional bush regen industry and on chemical free projects. Gain practical knowledge, skills and inspiration to reduce your reliance on herbicides or undertake a chemical free project.

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In untrained hands a chainsaw can be ineffective and dangerous. Learn how to get the job done quickly and safely. This course will offer you practical information on chainsaw preventative/basic maintenance, correct cutting and sharpening techniques. This is a hands-on course - equipment and timber supplied.

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Are you renovating, building, or thinking about it? Confused about what makes a house energy efficient, solar passive, solar active or sustainable? The approval process and BASIX? Then this course is for you, which can include a visits to your site if practical. Dave has run this course successfully in the area since 1997.

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An array of expensive and potentially toxic cleaning products line supermarket shelves. Green cleaning will research what is actually in products and teach you how to replace harmful cleaners with a natural, homemade cleaning kit made on the day that is cost effective and actually works. Additional $10 materials fee on the day.

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Join "Marmalade Ali" for a day of conserving and preserving the abundance of the season in jellies, jams, marmalade and chutneys. Learn to use your conserves and preserves in menus throughout the year. Chef Alison uses edible flowers in her jellies and jams and shares inspiration from traditional recipes. Additional materials cost of $28.

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Meet the growers at the farmers' market, then adjourn to the kitchen to learn about substituting local foods in recipes, while cooking and sharing a delicious, seasonal locavore lunch. Discover the importance of supporting local food for the preservation of people and planet. Additional materials fee of $28.

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In an age when prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are the norm, we forget that a large number of useful medicines can be found in our gardens. This course will explore how perennials, herbs and vegetables can be used for preventative medicine, as well as methods for making the remedies.

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Perennial vegetables are low maintenance and produce abundant crops throughout the year. Many are suited to the subtropics, including staples such as taro, cassava, jicama, and yams, the madagascar bean and pigeon pea, as well as perennial versions of more common vegetables. You will learn how to grow, harvest and then cook a feast with these valuable plants. Additional materials fee of $10.

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Have you ever wondered how a group of all ages can live cooperatively, have a low environmental impact and produce a lot of their own food? Visit the organic community garden, orchards and small scale dairy. Explore the use of renewable alternative technology for power generation, water and nutrient recycling... Bring $5 for a farm produce morning tea.

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