Thursday, August 15, 2013

Free Food Forest course coming to Katoomba in October

It's been in the making over winter, and finally The Fruit and Nut Tree Network is excited to announce a great new course to help you create and maintain a wonderful productive food forest, and best of all its totally FREE.

 If you're thinking about creating a forest of food from scratch, or considering retrofitting an existing orchard or stand of trees, or adding trees to a mature garden it can be hard to know where to start. How do you design to create a harmonious environment for beneficial and productive plants, and discourage pests and disease? You'll find out the answers to such thorny questions as these, and much much more. 
  • How much room does a tree need? Won't I overcrowd it by underplanting?
  • can I feed different fruit trees without buying specialised fertilisers?
  • Will fruit be carried and spread into the bush?
  • Are there any trees you shouldn't plant under?
  • Do fruit trees all need pollinating by other trees?
  • How much care, attention food air light & water do all these extra plants need?


 Whether you're starting off in in 2 square meters or overhauling two hectares, many of the same strategies apply. Our upcoming free course in association with TAFE and the blue mountains community gardens in Katoomba will help you on your way. 

 Phone Denise on 4753 2039 or email bmoutreach@tafensw.edu.au to secure your place.

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BLUE MOUNTAINS FRUIT CALENDAR

We can harvest a wide range of fruits and nuts locally each season.

Local fruit and/or nut gardeners are invited to make additions or suggest modifications to the following work-in-progress compiled by Lizzie Connor.


SPRING HARVEST

Across the mountains: loquat, mulberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late spring) raspberry

Best in the lower mountains: avocado, jaboticaba, lemonade


SUMMER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apricot, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry, currant (red, black, white), gooseberry, kumquat, loganberry, loquat, mulberry,nectarine, peach, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late summer) almond, apple, fig, hazelnut, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), pomegranate, youngberry

Best in lower mountains:lemon (Eureka), lemonade, lime, mandarin, orange, persimmon (non-astringent) and (in late summer) avocado, babaco, macadamia, rockmelon, wampee, watermelon

Best in upper mountains: jostaberry, lemon (Meyer), persimmon (astringent)


AUTUMN HARVEST

Across the mountains: almond, apple, chestnut, feijoa, fig, grape, hazel, kiwi fruit, kumquat, medlar, olive, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), plum, quince, raspberry (some), rhubarb, strawberry, strawberry guava, walnut

Best in lower mountains: avocado, babaco, cherimoya, grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), macademia, monstera deliciosa, orange, pine nut, pistachio, rockmelon, tamarillo, walnut, watermelon, white sapote

Best in upper mountains: lemon (Meyer), mandarin (Satsuma)


WINTER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apple, hazelnut, kiwi fruit, kumquat, pear (incl. nashi)

Best in lower mountains: grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), orange, tangelo

Best in upper mountains: avocado (Bacon), lemon (Meyer)