Bay of Plenty residents have the chance to start part-time horticulture courses – which usually cost $1000 each – for free this winter.

Tauranga’s branch of training and education group Lifeskills wants the community to know it is offering a day-time Level 3 General Horticulture and a night-time Level 4 Sustainable Horticulture Production course, starting May 26 and 27 respectively.

Lifeskills tutor Ruth McLean said the Level 3 course is perfect for beginner gardeners or those looking to improve their skills. Participants learn to identify and select plants, manage pests, diseases and weeds, propagation, pruning and more, said McLean. “This course is taught by a local organic grower.”

She tutors the Level 4 course aimed at more experienced gardeners or those who’ve studied previously. “The prerequisite for this course is completion of the Level 3 course or similar,” said McLean. Participants learn about organics, composting, worm farming, holistic pest disease, weed management, propagation, crop rotation, companion planting, biodiversity and more.

McLean said both courses are approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Tertiary Education Commission, which encourage people who want to find work to sign up.

“Some people end up doing garden maintenance, for example, and start their own business and that can work really well,” said McLean.

“Others already have their own maintenance businesses, and realise their customers know more about plants than they do so they want to learn more – but there’s also people who are working for landscape crews and in other areas of horticulture.

“There are still plenty of places in a daytime Level 3 class, which really suits parents of school-aged kids who are eventually wanting to get back in the workforce or just upskill or role model lifelong learning.

“The good thing is that the knowledge gets shared with participants’ kids and/or grandkids. We do get a lot of hobby gardeners, and that’s perfectly valid. For others it’s about growing more food.”

Affordability and health concerns are prompting people to garden – “and the more we can teach people to grow their own food, the better,” said McLean, who believed the courses offer many benefits.

“They increase people’s resilience by growing their own kai and their employment opportunities. They also create satisfaction and joy for those producing harvests, flowers and forests – because the more you know, the better you grow!”

Mclean said getting people off screens and outdoors can help them deal with life’s stresses by connecting with nature’s calm.

“When everybody’s really stressed then this is a real gift. Getting our hands into the soil is grounding.”

Those who are keen can sign up at: lifeskills.nz/enrol or call 0800 000 055. For more details, or to check if you qualify for Level 4, call Ruth McLean on 027 317 1170 or email: ruth.mclean@lifeskills.nz