How to convert your backyards into organic farming?

[kenroym]

We are a non profit community organization by the name Melbourne Konkani Community Inc.  We are encouraging our members to turn their backyards into organic farming.  We are planning to hold a workshop on 27.4.25 of  1- 2 hours duration  for our members giving insight into organic farming and sharing of collective knowledge.  Is there any resource person within this community group  to present the workshop in Brunswick area on that date. Happy to  compensate the person with the honorarium too. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @kenroym,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It is wonderful to have you with us.

Unfortunately, as our community is Australia and New Zealand-wide, it is fairly unlikely someone will be able to attend to present a workshop to your community group.

Perhaps some of our fantastic garden gurus such as @Noelle, @mich1972 and @mashthyme can offer some thoughts around organic backyard farming principles that can be adapted into your own presentation.

I have reached out via email to offer further assistance.

Jacob

[Noelle]

Hi @kenroym 

May I suggest you contact Sustainable Gardening Australia - www.sgaonline.org.au  This group conducts workshops at community level and has a vast array of resources that could be of assistance to you.

[Jason]

Hi @kenroym,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. 

I would encourage you to reach out to the Activities Organiser at your local Bunnings store and have a chat about your needs. 

Jason

[mashthyme]

hi @kenroym and thanks for tagging me @JacobZ 

it sounds like you are doing great things for you community @kenroym good luck with things.

I would also recommend Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) in Bulleen. I volunteered for them a few years ago and also attended a subject one of their board members conducts for my university.

I suggest getting back to your roots (pun intended). For certification to label one's produce as Organic is expensive and constrains some farmers who already practice organic cultivation. Basically, organic aims to not use chemicals like fossil-fuel-fertilisers and chemical solutions for pests and diseases.

So, getting back to the roots could indicate a principle to think about when trying to cultivate organically. Organic is a compound word: organ-ic. An organ is part of a larger system. -ic indicates 'like', so like an organ. An organ plays a role in a larger system.

So when cultivating, think of what you are doing as being part of a larger system with each part|organ playing a role for the flourishing of the whole.  Think about all scales of your systems from the microorganisms of your air, water, and soils and the human and more-than-humans who flow in and around your systems.

System boundaries are permeable and fuzzy so your system, like everyone's, extends outside the fence of your community garden, which I see it doing anyway. That's great!

The Living Future Institute may offer you some more inspiration on net-positive gardening too.

Good luck! And enjoy cultivating more than food. ✌🏽