Use plants to cool and insulate small space living

Next date: Saturday, 12 September 2026 | 12:15 PM to 01:30 PM

Learn how to create a more comfortable and safe home with a courtyard or balcony garden that shelters you from extreme weather – and cuts your energy bills!  

This session explores how our climate is changing in Naarm/Melbourne, patterns of sun and wind throughout the year, and how to conduct a site analysis for your property.  

Learn how a smart landscaping design can lower your indoor air temperature during summer while keeping you warm in winter, and see examples of practical landscaping strategies including renter-friendly options.   

This session will focus on small garden spaces, but the principles can be applied to any garden space. 

About the facilitator 
Kat Lavers is a small space food production specialist, gardening educator and permaculture designer. 

Her work reconnects people with the land, and possibilities, beneath their feet, helping transform postage stamp courtyards into pockets of abundance.

Kat’s urban system The Plummery is a tiny 1/14th acre (280m2) suburban block that pumps out almost all the household’s veggies, herbs, fruit and quail eggs – reaching 450kg of produce in 2020!

When

Location

West Footscray Library, West Footscray