The Kelmarna Gardens Workshop Programme hosts sessions for people of all backgrounds and experience levels, to engage with a range of topics delivered by acclaimed presenters, connecting people with skills-based, hands-on learning in nature.

Scroll below to check out the current listings for dates and details on upcoming workshops. Also sign up to our monthly e-newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Humanitix to keep up to date with what's on offer. We can't wait to see you on the farm!
Our Workshop Schedule @ Kelmarna

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​Keep an eye out below as we build an exciting schedule for the new year 2023!
January 2023
Raranga for Beginners​

​Weaving with Harakeke
Annie Jane Ah Mu (AKL Council / ACE Program)
Join celebrated weaving tutor Annie Jane Ah Mu for our first workshop session of the year, learning the basic techniques of traditional mahi raranga, the Māori art of weaving with harakeke NZ flax.

​This beginner course is an introduction to weaving that will guide you through the history, customs, and best horticulture practices around working with harakeke, and the skills to come away with a host of craft creations to take home and share!
Saturday 21 January 2023

​10am - 1pm
​​
​$65 + Humanitix fee

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
February 2023
Raranga for Beginners​

​Weaving with Harakeke
Annie Jane Ah Mu (AKL Council / ACE Program)
Join celebrated weaving tutor Annie Jane Ah Mu for this encore opportunity to start from scratch learning the basic techniques of traditional mahi raranga, the Māori art of weaving with harakeke NZ flax.

​This beginner course is an introduction to weaving that will guide you through the history, customs, and best horticulture practices around working with harakeke, and the skills to come away with a host of craft creations to take home and share!
Saturday 25 February 2023

​10am - 1pm
​​
​$65 + Humanitix fee

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
March 2023
Backyard Composting Basics
Madeleine Cull (Kelmarna Gardens / Soil Factory)
Are you looking to reduce your household waste to landfill, but not sure how? Or do you already compost at home and want to improve your results? This introductory home-composting course is designed to kick-start your systems for reclaiming wasteful scraps and turning them into rich, living compost!
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Join Kelmarna Garden's own Madeleine Cull, lead coordinator of our Soil Factory community compost hub, to learn a host of tips and tricks for making microbe-rich compost in your own backyard, to help you navigate common misconceptions, and use a biological approach to work true microbial magic with your scraps!
Saturday 4 March 2023

​10am - 12pm

​​$30 + Humanitix fee

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
Mahi Raranga, Full-Day for Beginners​

​Harvesting, Preparing & Weaving with Harakeke
Annie Jane Ah Mu (AKL Council / ACE Program)
Join celebrated weaving tutor Annie Jane Ah Mu for this full day crash-course opportunity, open to anyone keen to come away with a deepened understanding of the skills of the trade, the culture and customs, and a host of craft creations to take home and share!

Designed for beginners, this session takes the time to learn and practise each step of the process. This means you'll come away with firsthand knowledge and experience of how to do each step yourself, from harvest and preparation to weaving!

No experience needed, although an excellent extension to the Raranga for Beginners, Weaving with Harakeke session, with January & February dates available above!
Saturday 25 March 2023

​10am - 4.30pm

​Full Day Session​​
​$115 + Humanitix fee

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
July 2023
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
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Session 1 of 6: Healthy Soil
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
Soil is the foundation of organic gardening. This session examines soil testing practices, methods of compost making, and strategies for managing natural additives to boost soil fertility. Find out what healthy soil looks like, better understanding your conditions at home, and take practical steps to improve and maintain the condition of your soil.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 22 July 2023

​10am - 12pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
​( admission to all 6 sessions! )

Single Session
$50 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
August 2023
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
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Session 2 of 6: Propagation & Planting
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
This session is all about raising new plants and getting them in the ground. Learn how to grow plants from seed, from division, and using cuttings. You'll cover how to make your own seed-raising mix, and you'll go through best practices for successfully transplanting your seedlings into the garden.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 5 August 2023

​10am - 12pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
​( admission to all 6 Sessions! )

Single Session
$50 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
​
Session 3 of 6: Fruit Trees & Pruning
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
This session with help you give your food forest the best chance at success by looking at how to choose the most suitable specimens for your space. You'll cover pruning skills and tree training strategies to care for new and existing fruit trees, and you'll have the opportunity to get hands on and put theory into practice in the Kelmarna food forest.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 19 August 2023

​9.30am - 12.30pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
( admission to all 6 sessions! )

Single Session
$70 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
September 2023
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
​
Session 4 of 6​: Weed Management
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
This session covers annual weeds, noxious weeds, and strategies for processing them, to explore how to manage or even eliminate weeds from your system while avoiding waste and recovering resources. Get up close and familiar with beneficial and invasive weeds in order to learn how to organically work with plants in both categories in a way that enhances the condition of your garden and nutrition of your crops.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 2 September 2023

​10am - 12pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
​( admission to all 6 sessions! )

Single Session
$50 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
​
Session 5 of 6: Gardening with the Seasons
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
This session will cover fundamental strategies for effectively planning your garden to manage the benefits and disadvantages of each season, to improve your understanding of when to grow certain plants, when to start certain processes, how to select seeds, and how to manage your time and energy to get the most from your garden at any given time of year.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 16 September 2023

​10am - 12pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
​( admission to all 6 sessions! )

Single Session
$50 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
Organic Gardening Basics (6-Part Series)
​
Session 6 of 6: Pest Control & Insectories
Judy Keats (Kelmarna Gardens)
This session focuses on how we can support the health of our plants by supporting the biodiversity of not only our plants but also of other beneficial macro- and micro-organisms, in order to promote biological solutions for common pests and diseases. Judy will also cover a range of common strategies that use engineering and ingenuity rather than harmful toxins.

This 6-part organic gardening course progresses through a spectrum of essential knowledge and skills for growing food organically. It's both perfect for new gardeners just starting out and excellent for experienced gardeners who are keen to sharpen their skills alongside an expert tutor in organics!
Saturday 30 September 2023

​10am - 12pm

Complete Series
$245 + Humanitix fee
​( admission to all 6 sessions! )

Single Session
$50 + Humanitix fee
( available from 7 June 2023 )

Community Services Card
concession rate available​
Book a Private Group Workshop
If you have a group of friends or workmates that is keen to take part in one of our workshop experiences, then use this form to get in touch, and let's arrange a private session for your group!
For enquiries, get in touch with our Education Manager, Sean, at education@kelmarnagardens.nz