Food Forest Gardening

Learn to turn your patch into a thriving, vibrant, edible ecosystem. Forest gardens are beautiful, diverse and abundant habitats that connect us to an ancient way of being, in harmony with nature’s rhythms. The role of the gardener is one of intuition, reflection and nurturing, with moments given to tending here and there. 

In this workshop you will learn nature-based gardening practices to turn your patch into a low-work thriving, vibrant ecosystem that gives year-round harvests

You will learn:

• The philosophy of forest gardening
• Practical gardening skills and tips
• Ecosystem dynamics in gardens and soil
• Easy no-dig techniques to build healthy soil
• Plants for food and medicine: fruit trees, berries, vines, vegetables, herbs, flowers, natives and weeds
• Plants for soil health, mulch and bees and biodiversity
• Ways to eat and cook unusual and medicinal foods

Learning will be a mindful, creative mix of theory and hands on, including a connection to country meditation and exploration of the CERES gardens. This workshop is for gardeners of all abilities and people wanting to deepen their connection to nature through growing and harvesting practices.

Trainers Profiles

Since childhood, Leila has connected deeply with nature, especially food and medicine plants. She’s a life-long experimental gardener and has developed a unique style of low-work, no-dig, forest gardening. She has transformed her urban rental into a food forest growing over 100 types of plants. Leila lives for slow and simple abundance, and is dedicated to inspiring and supporting others to create wild, edible gardens that connect us in profound ways to the earth, self and spirit. Her business, Barefoot Food Gardens, offers open gardens, consultation, education, and garden co-creation collaborations. A seasoned educator, Leila encourages learning with hands, heads and hearts, in creative and interactive ways, that support opportunities for deep connections with nature. Leila is also a mother, poet, community activator, writer and barefoot forager.