A few tips from Saturday's workshop:

Why? One good reason: Fruit trees are healthier if pruned to allow good air flow and sunlight in.

When? Now's the time for pears and apple trees. Spring is better for other fruit.

Tools? Just secateurs, pruning saw and lopers.

How? We heard the principles of pruning, including cut just outside of the collar, avoid cutting through a node. Make the easiest decisions first – crossing branches and vertical growth from side branches (fruit is produced on horizontal branches). Buds are often branch potentials and the way they face is the way the branch will grow. Obvious now, but it took someone to tell me it to make it obvious to me.

Who? Julia, Christine, Jason & me, Kate & Brent (neighbours)

According to Paul once you learn the principles, pruning is easy, enjoyable, artistic and meditative. What's not to like there?


Written by Kate Leslie

The Dervaes family comprises a divorced Dad and three adult children. The first thing that struck me about them was their happy, even joyous faces.

They clearly love what they do – practicing self sufficiency and voluntary simplicity from an 800 sq.m block in suburban California. Skilled gardeners, they generate a surplus of fruit and vegies to sell to grateful chefs of some local restaurants. But that only starts to describe their days – keeping goats and chickens, washing clothes using a hand wringer, making bio-diesel from waste cooking oil from the same local restaurants....

After the film screening there was a great panel discussion.  One of the three articulate panelists was David Holgrem, the co-founder of permaculture.

Just one of the things we heard – Transition Banyule is finding its edible garden tours very popular.  Small groups visit four small-scale edible gardens and charge $10 with lunch.  Hmmm...  Would Transition Hobsons Bay people be keen on edible garden tours?

Oh, and there was a great turnout from THB.  I know Mara, Hope, Ana, Wendy and Rob were there too.

Written by Kate Leslie