Horticulture students from Goulburn TAFE are getting ready for their second annual Spring Fling plant sale. Photo: Supplied.
TAFE NSW will host its second annual Spring Fling plant sale on this Thursday (November 21) at it’s Goulburn campus, and for the first time, at the Moruya campus on Friday (November 22).
Head teacher of horticulture, Gabriele Harding, who manages both campuses, says that students are keen to showcase their propagation work.
“We have had small plant sales in the past but with the Spring Fling sale, we’re really reaching out to the public and going big,” she says.
The horticulture students will be on hand to show local green-thumbs through the selection of natives, herbs, edible plants, flowering shrubs, vines, ground covers and flowers available for purchase.
“The students learn how to collect and sow seed and to propagate from cuttings at different times of the year,” Gabriele explains “we focus on annual flowers and herbs and sturdy perennials, which are more robust for landscaping.”
Local garden enthusiasts are invited to explore the horticulture facilities and are encouraged to put the horticultural knowledge of students and teachers to the test with gardening questions.
TAFE NSW students are keen to show off their skills at the annual Spring Fling plant sales at Goulburn and Moruya. Photo: Horticulture Australia Facebook.
Gabriele says that getting the classes organised to have enough plants for the sale can be a challenge.
“Having a firm date when the plants need to be ready for sale means we have to be very organized,” she says “that means keeping records and using what we learn this year to make next year even better.”
The number of plants available for sale depends on how many students are doing the propagating.
Goulburn has three classes, including a high school class and Cert 2 and 3 classes, a total of 60 students, while Moruya has one class of about 20 students, Gabriel says.
Although there are clear career paths in Horticulture, the skills you learn at TAFE’s course are life skills, says Gabriele and useful no matter what career you have.
“Horticulture appeals to a lot of people, who may want to grow more of their own food or just be around plants,” she comments “although we don’t grow fruit and vegetables in our course, many of the skills are transferable and people who take the course are often inspired to start growing their own herbs as a jumping-off point.”
Coming to the Goulburn or Moruya Spring Fling sales is “a great way to see what we’re offering and step into our propagation area and have a look around,” Gabriele says.
TAFE NSW teachers will be on hand at both events to answer any questions about the study options on offer for Semester 1, 2020.
The events also serve as a great opportunity for employers to meet skilled employees.
“Come early, last year in Goulburn we were sold out by 1:30!” Gabriele says.
Sales are by cash and EFTPOS.
The Spring Fling plant sale at TAFE NSW Goulburn, corner of Verner and View streets Goulburn, Thursday, November 21 from 9 am to 3 pm and at TAFE NSW Moruya, Princes Highway, Friday, November 22 from 9 am to 3 pm.
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