ADELAIDE HILLS GARDEN AFFAIR
Sunday 5th May 2024
Stangate House and Gardens, Aldgate SA
Program of Speakers 2026
Middle Lawn -- Speakers Tent
Keynote Speaker - Sophie Thomson at 2pm
About Joe Kielnerowski
Joe is one of the founders of Joe's Connected Garden, a community garden in Elizabeth Grove with 5 adjoining properties growing over 500 different variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Joe has extensive experience with growing and maintaining fruit trees is the South Australian climate and is always experimenting with new varieties and methods. As an active member of the Rare Fruit Society of SA, he regularly hosts workshops on grafting, planting and maintenance of fruit tree, particularly of figs of which he has a collection of national significance. Joe has qualifications in permaculture design and was awarded Playford Citizen of the Year in 2023 for his community engagement work in sharing gardening with as many people as possible..
10:30 am
Joe’s Connected Garden:
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Helping gardeners adapt their methods, building healthy soil and choosing resilient plant selections to thrive.
This practical talk is designed to help gardeners adapt their methods and plant selections to thrive in a changing climate. This practical talk will touch on actionable advice for building healthy soil, choosing drought-tolerant and climate-resilient crops, and using techniques to preserve soil moisture.
11:00 am
Kris Messenger of Bugs n Slugs:
Bugs At Work.
Did you know that invertebrates do lots of jobs that help our gardens thrive. Kris Messenger will talk about 5 things you can do to make the most of willing bug workers in the garden
FOLLOWED BY:
Children’s Activity: Meet The Bugs
Follow Kris to meet a range of amazing invertebrates. Explore, examine, touch and even hold some of the invertebrates that call our gardens home and find out how little creature can really lead big lives.
Kris Messenger has a background in ecology and natural history communication. She specialises in helping children and adults understand and explore how things fit in the natural world using science, art and theatre as ways to help people appreciate the connections between living things and engage meaningfully with the natural world. Focusing on invertebrate education, Kris has also provided services to a wide range of state and local government and non-government clients including many of our state’s major cultural institutes, schools, festivals and events. Kris is also a regular contributor and “Bug Lady” on ABC radio.
11:30 am
Assoc Prof. Danielle Clode:
Fires and Gardens
Gardens can pose a significant risk to houses in a bushfire, but a suitably planned and prepared garden can also reduce risk by creating windbreaks and blocking embers. Keeping fire risk in mind when gardening is an excellent way of helping our gardens resist, rather than promote, fire. Danielle will share key tips and advice on how to plan and manage our gardens to reduce risk and maximise safety – while also maintaining an essential green space in our lives.
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About Danielle Clode
Assoc. Prof. Danielle Clode is a keen gardener who has lived in fire-prone bushland areas for over 25 years. Her homes have been threatened in the Black Saturday and Cherry Gardens fires. She has worked as a researcher in Community Safety and psychological preparedness for the CFA, advises on community bushfire experience and currently serves as a community representative on the Adelaide Hills Council Community Bushfire Working Group. She is a regular guest on ABC radio and podcasts. Her book ‘A Future in Flames’ explores the history of how Australians have lived with fire and how we can do so safely in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Published Books: | The Enigmatic Echidna: Secrets of the World’s Most Curious Creature | Koala: A Life in Trees | John Long: Fossil Hunter | In Search of the Woman who Sailed the World | From Dinosaurs to Diprotodons | Prehistoric Life in Australia’s Inland Sea | Prehistoric Giants: Megafauna of Australia | The Wasp and the Orchid | Killers in Eden | Voyages to the South Seas | A Future in Flames | Continent of Curiosities | As if for a Thousand Years | The First Wave (with Gillian Dooley)
12:00 pm
Mark Smith:
The Benefits of Wicking Beds in our Dry Climate
Learn how wicking systems offer a sustainable gardening practice and create thriving gardens with ease. Along with huge water efficiencies, wicking beds support strong, resilient and productive plant growth with minimal maintenance required.
There are so many myths regarding wicking beds. Mark will go through several of these myths and set you straight.
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About Mark Smith
Mark and his parter Claire are owners of Adelaide Hills Vegie Gardens based in Mt Torrens, a one-stop-shop for sustainable gardening enthusiasts, offering everything from timber garden beds to the revolutionary WaterUps wicking systems, trellises and netting frames. These wicking systems are designed to conserve water and boost plant growth, embodying our commitment to eco-friendly gardening solutions.
1:00 pm
Merilyn Kuchel:
The History of Stangate Garden landscaping and plantings
Hear Merilyn share the engaging history of Stangate House and Gardens and join her guided tour where you can learn first-hand about the garden’s history, its design and significant trees including the enormous and famous old oak. Merilyn’s talk is a part of the 2026 History Festival SA: Discover Autumn Magic in Historic Stangate Gardens.
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About Merilyn Kuchel OAM
Merilyn Kuchel OAM is a highly respected garden historian, horticultural educator and passionate communicator. She is a long‑serving National Trust SA volunteer, who has made significant contributions to the preservation and interpretation of the state’s heritage gardens. She is widely recognised for her contributions to horticultural education, heritage garden preservation and community engagement and is also volunteer coordinator for the gardens of Stangate House and Beaumont House, where her expertise continues to guide their ongoing care and presentation.
1:30 pm
Joel Lace:
Trees and shrubs for Autumn colour in a challenging environment.
We'll look at a range of undemanding plants that will provide fantastic Autumn colour while at the same time being drought tolerant and low maintenance.
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About Joel Lace
A qualified Horticulturist and Landscape Designer, Joel is also the SA Director of the Australian Garden Council. He has spent over a decade working in retail nurseries, with most of this time spent at the iconic Cleveland Nursery in the Adelaide Hills - a long standing and beloved boutique nursery.
Well known for his passion for plants and gardening he is a familiar face in the local community and loves making connections with people through their gardens.
2:00 pm
Sophie Thomson:
New developments in sustainable gardening - the latest research in soil and plant microbiomes
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About Sophie Thomson
Sophie Thomson is an experienced and passionate horticulturalist, environmentalist, consultant, speaker and well-regarded media presenter.
Her 35yrs of experience and a love affair with the environment and gardening led her to steadily acquire in-depth knowledge of horticulture and gardening practices.
Sophie says, “I believe gardening provides some of the solutions to life’s challenges because it reduces stress, teaches us resilience, care of our environment and gives us great pleasure and rewards when we see what we can achieve through our endeavours”.
As a popular media presenter, Sophie has continued on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia with her infectious enthusiasm for more than 14 years. She also writes for the popular Gardening Australia magazine and other publications and is heard weekly on talk-back radio with ABC Radio Adelaide’s Talkback Gardening.