Unwrapping nature’s gift

Michelle Ritchie (left), of Organics Unearthed, and Otago Peninsula homeowner Annelies Ruigrok uncover a compost heap insulated with wool in Ms Ruigrok’s back yard during a composting workshop yesterday.

The four-hour workshop covered a range of composting systems and included theory, discussion and hands-on activities.

Ms Ruigrok said she had composted regularly for about eight years and, as she grew organic vegetables, was pleased to know what was going on her garden.

Ms Ritchie said compost was a wonderful resource for gardens.

"Composting made easy" was part of Wild Dunedin — NZ Festival of Nature and was supported by the Dunedin City Council.

The festival opened last night with a keynote address from Department of Conservation public affairs deputy director-general Sia Aston and presentations on sustainability at the University of Otago’s St David Complex.

The festival programme includes more than 200 events across 10 days.