Soil Testing & Fertilisers: Growing Nutrient-dense Foods

You are not imagining that veggies were tastier in the ’60s and ’70s … they actually were! You are what you eat, and plants are no different. Discover the importance of soil in growing nutrient-dense food. Enjoy some tomato taste tests and understand how nutrient density is directly correlated to flavour.

Learn some simple ways to increase the nutrient density of your food, and explore options for measuring the nutrient density. We will look at some common mineral deficiencies in plants and how you can correct them.

We’ll discuss modern agriculture and how the veggies produced at an industrial scale are not much better than junk food. You will come away with a renewed appreciation for slow-grown food and how it is tastier and healthier for you.

Topics covered:

• Soil minerals for plant health
• Soil testing
• Clay and sandy soils
• Nutrient density of home-grown food
• Tomato taste tests

The class involves a combination of theory in a classroom setting, demonstrations and hands-on practical activities including:

• taking soil samples for testing
• taste-testing tomatoes
• discovering new favourite tomato varieties to grow at home.

By the end of the class you will have a greater understanding of the importance and influence of soil nutrients on plant nutrient density. You will have the skills and practical knowledge to improve your gardening success rate and grow your own tasty, home-grown food.

The Science of Edible Gardening workshop series

This event is one in an eight-part series called the Science of Edible Gardening. You can book in for each workshop individually, but most attendees end up completing the entire series. There is no start or finish to the series – the workshops can be completed in any order and don’t need to be completed consecutively. If life gets busy, or you can’t make a particular session, then you can always come to the same session another year.

Discover more about the Science of Edible Gardening Workshop Series 

About the facilitator

I’m Duncan Cocking and I’ve been growing fruit and vegetables since I was four years old. I support others to grow food and reconnect with nature through my business Leaf, Root & Fruit. I’m passionate about reconnecting you to nature via gardening. I write about growing food and living sustainably. I’m a cool-temperate gardener and permaculture educator with 10 years of experience hosting workshops.

During my classes, I focus on the science behind how gardens grow. This gives you an understanding of the built-in resilience of plants. Rather than always finding problems to fix with sprays and other products, you will have a renewed focus on relaxing, observing your garden, and enjoying it. Understanding “why” minimises the amount of work you have to do in your garden.