Munash Organics to host garlic growing workshop as planting time approaches

All tickets previously purchased will be refunded.

EARLIER: Farmer and gardening educator Bryony Bishop can list at least seven reasons why you should grow your own garlic, and she will share them during a workshop next week.

Most garlic purchased at the supermarkets is imported from overseas, mainly China, and is sprayed with chemicals before it enters Australia.

Ms Bishop, who is garden, education and relationships manager at Munash Organics, says growing your own garlic also has health, self-sufficiency, food security and educational benefits.

Plus, she says it is easy to grow and produce a delicious crop.

"We want everybody to be inspired by growing their own food," Ms Bishop said.

Ms Bishop will teach workshop participants how to select appropriate varieties, prepare the soil, the best time to plant, ongoing care, how and when to harvest and effective curing and storage techniques.

She said soil preparation with manure, compost and rockdust was key, in addition to planting in a sunny spot with full ventilation.

Garlic takes eight months to grow and six weeks to cure before it is ready for consumption.

Depending on the variety, garlic can keep for up to 12 months.

"The key message is to have a go," Ms Bishop said.

"I personally love garlic. It is one of my favourite things to grow because everyone eats it - it doesn't matter where in the world you come from, it is a very universally loved food.

"I also love it because it is very low input - you put it in, follow a few basic rules and eight months later, bingo, you have a delicious crop."

Ms Bishop said it was accessible for anyone to grow garlic, including people with limited movement and small outdoor spaces, as it can be grown in a pot on a veranda or a backyard garden bed.

"It is great to grow and it is lovely to share because everyone loves garlic," she said.

"We educate people to be confident, to feel they can provide for their families, to feel they can grow good food and so they can feel empowered.

"It is fun, it is inclusive and everyone can do it. You make mistakes but you have far more wins than losses."

Ms Bishop is preparing to plant 3500 cloves of garlic on her farm in Clunes at Easter. Red Lion Farm supplies garlic to local restaurants, family and friends.

The Munash Organics Garlic Growing Workshop will run from 10am to 12pm on Saturday, March 21.

You can purchase tickets online at Eventbrite.

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