Speakers
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John Pinniger has been involved in Permaculture for about 30 years and was the founding convenor of Permaculture Melbourne.
In the early 1990s he became involved in the conservation of old varieties of fruit trees and grows what he can fit onto a small block in the northern suburbs.
A member of the Heritage Fruits Society committee, he currently runs the monthly working bees at Petty’s Orchard. |
John's special topics include:
1. The Heritage Fruits Society. History of Heritage Fruits in Victoria\Melbourne. The current scene, future plans, how you can become involved, and local actions.
2. Heritage Apples and apple tasting. Apples in Australia. What to grow in your backyard/community orchard. Choice of rootstocks. Pollination. Taste a variety of apples (Feb-Apr only).
3. Grafting workshop. Learn the basics of grafting, what to graft to what, and why. Safety measures.
4. Design of small food gardens. Simple, cheap and effective plants for healthy eating – where and what to plant in your backyard.
Contact John Pinniger on 0449 508 318
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Pete the Permieand his wife Silvia* - who is currently the President of the Heritage Fruits Society - together run the Telopea Mountain Permaculture Farm & Heritage fruit tree Nursery in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia.
Pete and Silvia have a vast depth of experience and knowledge. On their twelve acre demonstration property they grow hundreds of varieties of fruit trees and care for goats, alpacas, llamas, chickens and milking sheep. They run both simple and accredited courses on a wide range of topics from Permaculture to Biodynamics.
A member of the Heritage Fruits Society, Pete is one of the chief motivating forces behind the annual Apple Tasting Festival,
and was the convenor after John for half the sixteen year life of the old Heritage Fruits Group that became the Heritage Fruits Society. |
Pete's special topics include:
1. Heritage fruits, especially pears, apples and figs
2. Dwarf and espalier fruit trees
2. Rare and unusual fruits such as sub-tropicals
3. Rare breed animals and poultry
4. Permaculture design.
5. Animal husbandry - eg keeping goats, alpacas, llamas and sheep
6. Organic and biodynamic growing and design - eg how to build a no-dig vegetable garden
7. Making cider and fruit wines at home
8. Using smoke-houses to cure meat and vegetables
9. Cheese and yoghurt making - Camembert, Fetta, Haloumi and Ricotta.
10. Water-saving and harvesting
11. Compost-making and soils
12. Grafting
13. Passive solar design and retro-fitting your existing house for passive solar gain
14. Keeping chickens and other poultry naturally
Contact Pete the Permie here
*Note: Silvia has run the apple tasting tent at the annual Apple Tasting Festival since 2003 and is an excellent authority on the taste of many in the collection. She may speak to large groups on this and other topics.
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Peter Wills Cooke runs the MiApple heritage apple farm at Mia Mia in Victoria.
Using the principals of permaculture and organics, he and his wife grow heritage fruit trees (particularly heritage apples) and make them available to members of the public who want to develop their own heritage orchard.
They grow a wide variety of herbs and flowers, harvest lavender every year, and enjoy an abundance of fruits, vegetables and berries for home and family use. |
Peter's special topics include:
1. Heritage apples
2. Permaculture
3. Organic growing
4. Establishment and maintenance of orchards
Contact
Peter Wills Cooke here
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