Online Course Library
Welcome to the complete organic fruit growing resource centre!
On this page you'll find our collection of more than 50 learning modules and our range of e-books to support your rapid journey to becoming a confident fruit grower! You can also access our free resources by clicking on "Free stuff" in the Module categories box.
The modules are bite-size learning chunks that are easy, fun and detailed. You can dip in and out at your own pace, and learn about any fruit growing topic—from soil nutrition and management, right through to harvest and eating. We’ll turn your enthusiasm and excellent gardening efforts into reliable results in no time.
The modules comprise between 6 and 20 units. No matter how you prefer to learn—reading, doing, listening—you'll find articles, audios, worksheets, videos and interactive hands-on activities to suit you. When you select and buy a module, you'll get instant access to all the units in that module.
Altogether, the modules make up the complete Grow Great Fruit system (if you want them all, check out the Grow Great Fruit Home-Study Program, which gives you access to all resources as well as one-on-one help from us).
So, to get started, you can browse all the learning modules here, or refine your search by selecting Module categories (topics) to help you find what you need.
Any queries, please get in touch here.
Happy growing. Hugh and Katie :)
Showing all 46 results
Organic citrus growing tips from professional growers
A lemon tree is one of the most loved backyard fruit trees, and one of the most useful trees you can grow. Learn how to look after all your citrus trees with this informative masterclass, and then make the most of your harvest with the bonus recipes.
$19.00 incl. GST
Learn when you need two trees for pollination, and how to attract bees for abundant harvests
Two things are needed to get great fruit crops—the right pollinisers (trees that need to be planted together to get a crop), and enough bees. Learn how to ensure abundant harvests by creating a bee-friendly garden and understanding pollination.
$14.00 incl. GST
Protect your fruit with safe and effective organic spraying
Organics is all about not using sprays or chemicals, right? That's true, but there are also some sprays that are allowable, and perfectly safe and effective when used properly, which can save your precious fruit from a range of pests and diseases.
$19.00 incl. GST
Develop your "green thumb" and use plants to heal the soil
Master the organic fertility technique of planting green manure crops to improve soil nutrition, crowd out weeds, and heal the soil of diseases.
$14.00 incl. GST
You need the right equipment for safe, efficient and effective spraying
Demystify this essential part of your fruit growing kit by discovering whether you need a 5-litre sprayer or a 50-litre sprayer, or something much bigger (or smaller).
$14.00 incl. GST
Make your own "black gold" and capture the nutrition from garden waste
Learn how to make your own high quality, reliable compost—every time! Turn garden waste, food scraps, animal waste and even newspaper and cardboard into nutritious compost full of organic matter, nutrients and healthy soil microbes. Close the "nutrition loop" in your backyard and save on fertilisers at the same time!
$19.00 incl. GST
A system for the organic control of codling moth
With the right tools and knowledge, you'll soon learn how to keep this nasty pest under control and out of your precious apple crop—without using toxic sprays!
$12.00 incl. GST
Build resilience with good drainage and a flood recovery plan
In an increasingly changeable world, extreme rain events (and even floods) are more likely, and fruit trees can easily die if their roots become too wet. Prevent the tragedy of drowned trees with good drainage and a flood strategy.
$14.00 incl. GST
Save money with home grown and hand made
Fresh fruit is healthy and full of vitamins, especially if you've grown it yourself, using organic methods.
Learn how to preserve and store fruit to eat over winter without losing all those wonderful life-giving nutrients.
$24.00 incl. GST
Get on the inside track to quick success with fruit trees!
Free weekly webinar with experienced organic fruit growers Hugh & Katie Finlay.
$0.00 incl. GST
Animal helpers for fruit trees
If you love animals and love growing your own fruit, this course is for you. Discover how your pets or farm animals can enjoy life more while helping you with the fruit trees.
$9.00 incl. GST
The one key spring activity for your fruit tree that has four major benefits.
Manage your crop load by fruit thinning like a pro. Use this easy tool to get a reliable crop every year (and solve a host of other problems to boot). Your trees, your fruit and your future crops will thank you. Fruit thinning is winning!
$19.00 incl. GST
Give the gift of knowledge
Do you know someone who could benefit from an online course? Experience the warm inner glow of setting someone on the path to fruit self-sufficiency.
$10.00 – $250.00
Powerhouse workers in your garden
Harness the power of worms to rapidly turn your waste into nutrient-rich soil.
$19.00 incl. GST
Grafting survival skills
Whip tongue grafting is "Grafting 101". It's the place to start because the specific cutting technique you'll learn is also used in other grafting methods.
$14.00 incl. GST
Master cleft grafting
Cleft grafting is a simple and effective technique that comes into its own when there's a mismatch between the size of the grafting wood and the tree you're grafting onto.
$14.00 incl. GST
Bark graft mastery
Bark grafting is the technique of choice for old and large trees. When you get the basics right, it has one of the highest success rates of any grafting technique.
$14.00 incl. GST
Enjoy new grafting skills
"Budding" is the only grafting technique done in summer, and is a cheap and easy way to get the most out of the fruit trees you already have in your garden. You'll quickly increase the amount of fruit you grow without having to buy a new tree.
$14.00 incl. GST
Apple growing answers, from pruning to pests
Imagine never having to buy apples again! With just a few healthy and productive apple trees in your garden, it's easy to grow a year's supply for your family.
$24.00 incl. GST
Manage pests and diseases the organic way
You want to feed your family home-grown organic fruit with no chemicals, right? You need these simple strategies for keeping your trees healthy and preventing pest and disease outbreaks. No matter how big or small your orchard or garden, they work!
$19.00 incl. GST
How to care for your peach trees from pruning through to harvest
OK, who has a special peach or nectarine memory? These versatile fruits are a popular garden tree for very good reason—with the right care (at the right time) they'll provide abundant crops of delicious fruit year after year.
$19.00 incl. GST
Never buy a fruit tree from a nursery again
Learn the ancient skills of growing your own fruit trees from seed or cutting, and then grafting your own trees—useful and fun techniques that will turn you into a truly self-sufficient gardener able to preserve heritage varieties and create something from nothing. You'll feel incredibly empowered when you master this forgotten art and become self-sufficient for fruit trees.
$19.00 incl. GST
Use earth's precious resources wisely to grow food in dry climates
Growing fruit in dry conditions is hard—but not impossible. Producing your own food is even more important in a drought, so you'll love learning how to use every precious drop to keep your fruit trees alive and fruitful.
$19.00 incl. GST
Nurture young fruit trees
The period after planting a new fruit tree is key to its long-term success. Protect your investment of time, money and space in your garden, and put your young trees on the path for a long healthy life with these simple checklists and tasks.
$19.00 incl. GST
Start here for soil basics
Growing amazing organic food starts and ends with the soil. Understand what soil is and whether yours is healthy, and learn simple, practical skills to support the fruit trees and other plants in your garden.
$14.00 incl. GST
Recognise and prevent diseases that damage fruit trees
Fruit tree diseases are common but often misunderstood, ignored or mistreated—usually because of a simple lack of knowledge. Learn how to identify, prevent and treat common diseases, a basic fruit growing skill that will put you ahead of the pack.
$19.00 incl. GST
Harness the positive power of weeds in your soil
Save time and money and improve the health of your soil by embracing the positive power of weeds, instead of constantly fighting a losing battle against them.
$19.00 incl. GST
Free water: how to store rainfall in your soil!
As gardeners, water is one of our most precious resources, and for some of us, an increasingly scarce one. These clever and simple techniques will help you go beyond merely good design to masterful eco-planning.
$14.00 incl. GST
Feed your trees an organic diet
Apply knowledge about basic soil health to plan how to feed your fruit trees through the year, without breaking your budget or spending unnecessary money.
$19.00 incl. GST
Use the permaculture system for better living
Do you yearn for a simpler, more abundant life? A life where you provide more of your own food and produce less waste? Permaculture provides practical, "do-able" solutions for living lighter on the earth, using a design process that works with nature. Whether you're growing food on a balcony or a farm, permaculture will help you create the lifestyle you long for.
$29.00 incl. GST
Timing, technique and storage tricks to harvest perfect fruit to be proud of
You've got ripe fruit on your tree...now learn the all-important (but tricky) skill of choosing the perfect time to pick it. Back it up with great technique and proper storage and you'll make the most of your precious fruit.
$19.00 incl. GST
Choose the right trees, prepare the site and plant properly
It's important to set your fruit trees up for success. Luckily it's also easy, when you know what to do! Learn how to choose the right site and the right trees, get your soil ready, and plant properly to give your trees the head start they deserve.
$14.00 incl. GST
Strategies to stop pests from damaging your fruit
Pests that eat fruit are a fruitgrower's nightmare! You've put a lot of love and energy into growing perfect fruit, now it's absolutely vital to learn simple strategies in place to make sure YOU get to eat it, and not the pests!
$19.00 incl. GST
Strategies to keep birds and other flying pests away from your fruit
Our fruit trees are part of the natural environment, but that doesn't mean they have to feed all the neighbourhood birds!
Discover the right systems and techniques to keep your fruit safe from different types of birds.
$14.00 incl. GST
A guide to pruning deciduous fruit trees
The ebook starts with the parts of a fruit tree, basic aims of pruning, and the 10 Key Pruning Principles. We talk you through deciding what shape you want your tree to be, and give clear, concise instructions about how to care for your tree as it grows. There's also details on what to do with monster trees (the ones that got away!) and includes a wide variety of training systems.
$49.95 incl. GST
Enjoy confident pruning in simple steps for success and self-reliance
There's no such thing as "right" or "wrong" when it comes to pruning, just cuts and consequences. This short course makes pruning feel simple by teaching you the pruning principles, which trees to prune in winter (and how to do it), and how to plan your pruning for the year.
$19.00 incl. GST
Prune young trees for success
Pruning young trees into the right shape when you plant them is super important, as it sets the tree up correctly for the rest of its life.
$14.00 incl. GST
Be a wise water warrior
Grow amazing fruit with a sensible amount of water. Sound good? Then throw the "rules" out the window and get back to basics: learn how to adjust water needs for different aged trees, understand how weather affects water use, and set up an easy watering system.
Save water, save money and save yourself some work!
$19.00 incl. GST
Become an earth lover by unlocking the secret world of microbes beneath your feet
Understand the amazing world of soil microbes that are key to the Natural Fertility System, and how to make your soil a welcoming home to healthy microbes (and not the nasties).
$19.00 incl. GST
Imagine ... easy pruning techniques for cherry and apricot trees
Pruning is really important, and really hard—or is it? Everything will fall into place when you understand the difference between summer and winter pruning, and know how to successfully summer prune the right fruit trees.
$19.00 incl. GST
Supercharge your soil
Become a skilled soil builder with this little-known but valuable technique for rapidly building soil fertility.
$19.00 incl. GST
Efficient Fruit Tree Irrigation
In this ebook we demystify watering, giving you the information needed to not only monitor your watering, but also set up a system that works, is efficient, makes the most of our most precious resource, and gives the best chance of getting a good return.
$24.95 incl. GST
Rethinking weeds as edible and medicinal herbs
Enjoy the many benefits of nature's bounty provided in your backyard. Tap into the wisdom of the past to learn how the plants you think of as weeds can actually be used as an abundant free source of nutritious food and home remedies. And they're good for your soil!
$19.00 incl. GST
Free weekly fruit tips newsletter
Stay up to date with what you need to be doing each week to ensure a bumper harvest
$0.00
Common Insect Pests of Deciduous Fruit Trees
This handy ebook features more than 15 common pests of deciduous fruit trees including a description of each pest (with photos), the type of damage it does, its life cycle, what to look for, and a range of strategies for prevention, control and treatment.
$39.95 incl. GST
Common Diseases of Deciduous Fruit Trees
This handy ebook will help you identify and treat more than 25 common diseases and conditions of deciduous fruit trees, including strategies for avoiding all the common diseases like Brown rot, Black spot (Apple scab) and Blossom blight. Colour photos will help you identify your fruit tree problems
$39.95 incl. GST
