Short courses on permaculture can be really expensive, so when I found out there was a way I could study for free, I was really excited

• More summer essentials

We had a family veggie patch growing up, and even in share houses I’ve gardened. I’ve always been interested in what you can grow – fruit, vegetables, flowers. All good gardeners know you need good dirt, but understanding why is a different thing, and I’d been thinking about learning more for a long time.

I researched short courses on permaculture, but found they were really expensive. Studying at a university can cost even more, and you can only learn so much from reading gardening blogs. When I found out I could do a free Tafe (technical and further education) course, I was really excited. I was worried my existing qualifications would exclude me because I have a diploma in writing and editing, but it’s something that’s offered free to anyone willing to invest the time.