1st Session – How to Build a Raised Bed from Pallets
Our first session was run by Pallet 42, a young start-up that up-cycles reclaimed pallet wood to create unique furniture pieces that would otherwise end up being thrown away after one use. We had the pleasure of learning how to strip a wooden pallet to its frame and build it up again to make four raised beds for our Green Resource Centre in Floriana. We also slapped some wheels onto the raised beds so that we can move them about according to the season.Â
2nd Session – Sowing & Planting
Our second and final sessions were run by The Veg Box, a small, organic farm that focuses on growing local and seasonal produce in the most sustainable way possible. They taught us how to choose what we should grow based on the season and type of growing space we have available in our homes. We sowed some seeds and planted seedlings in the raised beds which we made in the previous session. Emanuela from The Veg Box created a very unique layered system for our raised beds to ensure they don’t dry out and constantly have nutrients available to them.
3rd Session – Composting
Our third session was run by Thrive Malta, who provide workshops and training on permaculture, composting and organic vegetable growing. We were fortunate enough to have the lovely Alexandra Cachia teach us the basics of composting and how to build one in our own homes from scratch. We learnt all about the greens and the browns as well and what liquid gold is! We then proceeded to build a vermicompost (worm) bin for the community garden at our office.
4th Session – Crop Nutrition & How to Maintain A Garden
Our last session (also run by The Veg Box) taught us how to monitor our crops, how to understand if and what they are lacking, how to make our own fertilisers using natural ingredients as well as how to make our own homemade pesticides. We ended our First Crop Growing Series with some fresh and delicious homemade smoothies using only produce grown by The Veg Box – they went down a real treat!
If you wanted to attend this series but couldn’t, then you’re in luck as we will be holding the Second Crop Growing Workshop Series in February 2020. Also, over the next few months we will be sharing the DIY video toolkits with you for all 4 sessions so you can learn in your own time and replicate it at home 🙂
Photographs and words courtesy of Mandy Vella Briffa.
Friends of the Earth Malta gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the European Union. The content of this article are the sole responsibility of Friends of the Earth Malta and cannot be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information provided contained therein.
This project is co-financed by the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) and the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport and Voluntary Organisation.