Bay OK Gardens teaches locals composting skills

Over 50 gardening enthusiasts learned how to create nutrient-rich compost for their gardens, at a recent Bay OK Gardens workshop with soil biology expert Mark Tupman.

Hosted by Chat ‘n’ Garden at The People Place and co-organised by GeoCatch, garden goers learned all about the benefits of good compost.

“Composting helps your plants grow better, which in turn improves the soil, so it’s a win-win,” said Mark.

“The people that came along showed so much enthusiasm for composting and gardening,” he added.

“They all participated and asked great questions, and I can see they are going to go home and put it into practice.”

Busselton local Rosemary said she learned a great deal.

“Today we’ve learnt how to optimise the way we compost and that’s been excellent. There were heaps of good ideas we didn’t know. Composting sounds simple but in fact there’s a lot to know about it and to learn those things from someone who’s a real specialist in the field was really good.”

Mark’s tips include balancing carbon-rich materials with nitrogen-rich materials, using a combination of ingredients, building smaller heaps so microbe populations don’t run out of air or overheat, and keeping things moist but not wet. Finally, it’s a great idea to add some composting worms at some stage to finish things off.

The People Place Centre Manager, Julia Poole, said it was wonderful to see the workshop so well attended.

“Chat n Garden started earlier this year and works with the community to encourage people to come in and garden or attend a workshop.”

The workshop was supported by the Department of Communities, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Healthy Estuaries WA, with products provided by Naturaliste Turf Supplies.

The People Place Chat ‘n’ Garden is a social gardening group gathering weekly. For more info visit www.thepeopleplace.org.au.

For more sustainable Bay OK gardening tips, visit www.geocatch.asn.au.