This article gathers experienced gardeners, designers, and permaculture practitioners around Australia (and beyond) who offer advice, design, and construction services for wicking beds. If you want practical guidance on building or managing a wicking bed — from small home gardens to larger systems — these “coaches” may help. Their services include design advice, full-service construction, soil biology support, and workshops to bring sustainable gardening methods to your local community.
Introduction
The following registry presents a network of coaches who specialise in wicking-bed technology and sustainable gardening. Each coach offers different levels of service — from general advice to full design and construction. Whether you live in a city apartment, suburban block, or rural property, there may be someone near you who can help set up a wicking bed. This network makes the benefits of water-efficient, biologically rich gardening more accessible.
How the Coach Registry Works
The registry is organised by region. For each coach you’ll find contact details and a short description of services offered — from free advice and mentoring to paid construction, workshops and product supply. Use the table below to locate a coach near you, then read the profile for full details.
Selected Coaches and Contact Details
| Name | Location / Contact | Services / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Alstrin | 2232 Monteagle St, Colorado Springs, CO, USA Tel: 719 330 4678 Email: chris@alstrinfilms.com |
BA Geography & Environmental Studies. Custom wicking beds, consulting, Bio-packs (mycorrhizae, worm eggs, micro-nutrients). Products and build-for-fee services. |
| William Mansell | 9A Heather Rd, Heathfield, South Australia 5153 Tel: 0429 697 749 Email: habsol@bigpond.com |
Permaculture & community garden specialist. Wicking bed workshops, design & construction, school garden projects, biodiversity & conservation consulting. |
| John Bentley | 9 Cox Ave, Tongala, Victoria 3621 Tel: 03 5859 0258 Email: jb@tongalas.own.net.au |
Former water bailiff and hardware/farm supplies pro. Free advice on wicking-bed construction and operation. Reports rapid soil improvement. |
| John Ashworth | Victoria (contact via email / blog) Email: joartash@gmail.com Blog: http://www.jas49580.blogspot.com.au |
Polymer technologist and lifelong organic gardener. Mentoring, support via blog, built multiple above-ground and patio wicking systems. |
| Philippa Coltart | Port Stephens / Mid-Coast, NSW Email: webcriteria@gmail.com |
Home wicking-bed enthusiast (10+ beds). Advice for rainwater-dependent house-block gardens; interested in sponge methods and catchment solutions. |
| Gilles (Jim) Blok | 11 Symes Ave, Kahibah, Newcastle, NSW Tel: (02) 4943 8812 | Mob: 0411 332 366 Email: wickinggardenbeds@iinet.net.au Website: www.wickinggardenbeds.com.au (under construction) |
Long experience in small-scale builds; offers advice and workshops; sells kits and assemblies. |
| Alan Singleton (Watersaver Gardens) | 20 Jennings Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Tel: 07 4639 5680 | Mob: 0424 996 540 Email: alan@watersavergardens.com Web: watersavergardens.com |
Full installation service, kits (pop-up range), workshops, free advice by phone/email, deliveries Australia-wide for some sizes. |
| Elaine de Saxe | Deception Bay, QLD Email: ees-in-green@gardener.com |
Advice on home growing with wicking bins/self-watering pots. Visits by appointment; happy to show visitors and discuss home food gardening. |
| Colin Austin | 55 Kookaburra Park, Gin Gin, QLD 4671 Tel: 07 4157 2278 |
Inventor of the wicking-bed system. Advice on wicking beds, soil regeneration and biologically-driven growing systems. Research & demonstrations. |
| Araluen Hagan | Northern suburbs, Perth, WA | Permaculture training; wicking beds from tanks/containers; free advice and demonstrations; paid workshops when available. |
What Services Coaches Provide
The coaches listed may offer:
- Full design and construction of wicking beds (in-ground, raised or container systems).
- Advice and consulting on bed size, soil composition, water supply and ongoing maintenance.
- Supply of soil mixes, organic materials, and biological inoculants to build healthy soil ecosystems.
- Workshops and community garden consultations — useful for schools, community groups or shared-garden projects.
- Mentoring and remote support via email or phone for DIY gardeners wanting to build their own system.
Why a Coach Network Matters
Wicking beds and biologically active soil systems often require some technical know-how to succeed — soil mix quality, correct moisture balance, and understanding of soil biology are all important. For people new to the concept, having an experienced coach can make the difference between a thriving garden and failure. Through this network, the knowledge and skills are spread across regions, enabling communities to build sustainable, low-water gardens even in difficult climates. It also helps preserve traditional gardening wisdom and promotes healthier soil and food.
How to Choose a Coach
Start by identifying where you are located and match with a nearby coach. Consider what kind of support you need — general advice, full construction, soil supply or ongoing guidance. If you are new to wicking beds, a coach who offers hands-on building or a workshop may be ideal. More experienced gardeners might prefer mentoring or advice on maintaining bed health and soil fertility. For community gardens, choose a coach experienced with larger beds or group gardens.
Conclusion
This registry offers a gateway to practical, hands-on support for people interested in water-efficient, sustainable gardening. Rather than trying to figure out soil mixes, water cycles and biological balance alone, you can draw on the experience and services of trained gardeners and permaculture practitioners. Whether you are in a city, rural area or rainforest-edge community, these coaches help make wicking beds, soil regeneration and biological growing systems accessible — helping more people grow healthy food while conserving water and restoring soil.
Colin Austin — © Creative Commons. Reproduction permitted with source acknowledgement; commercial use requires a license.
