How to grow food locally

Guest speaker Ms Kate McCarthy will discuss how to design and grow a food garden for local conditions at a Healthy Living and Raw Food course in Umina on Thursday, May 27.

Ms McCarthy of Point Clare has many years experience in growing food for her family as well as many private and public gardens and is looking forward to passing on her knowledge to keen participants.

"While I'm keen to involve family and community in growing food, starting at your own place is easy whether it's in the garden, on the patio or kitchen bench," Ms McCarthy said.

"At my place, I grow food in any spare space, and use a recycled bathtub as a worm farm in the front yard.

"I get my seedlings going upstairs as there's lots of winter sun there.

"It's great that you've got a hub of Peninsula people who are interested in growing and eating fresh organic produce, and I've been a strong supporter of the Peninsula Environment Group food network.

"I've grown organic food as a supplier, and I've bought produce that comes from the Mangrove Mountain farmers.

"My great-grandparents also used to have a market garden on the Peninsula, so I'm pleased to be part of a long tradition of food-growing.

"Currently I'm working as the urban food farmer, teaching organic food-growing principles to adults and children at Wyong Public School Community Gardens."

Ms McCarthy will speak at Umina Anglican Church Hall at 6.30pm on May 27.

For bookings contact Sophie Knox on 4341 9301 or via email at sophie@rawcoasties.com

Press release, 18 May 2010 Sophie Knox, Raw Coasties