
Video: Tom Chapman

Video: Mark Roper
Natasha Morgan’s internationally renowned property, Oak & Monkey Puzzle, in Spargo Creek was sold in 2022 by Belle Property Daylesford.
Natasha continues her tree change with a purpose at Little Cottage on a Hill, in Daylesford. Stay tuned for the next wonderful chapter.
Workshops recommence May 2023.
(Website refresh coming shortly)
Oak and Monkey Puzzle is the design, event and horticultural production-focussed property of Natasha Morgan and her young children.
It is also the physical manifestation of a dream held by a family from the city that made a tree change with a purpose in 2014.
Oak and Monkey Puzzle is an evolving special hub for landscape architecture, garden design, artisans and craftspeople by way of workshops, collaboration and bespoke events. It engenders a warm sense of real community, sparks dynamic conversations, fosters collaborative connections, cultivates creativity and provides a place for meeting of the minds.
Upcoming Workshops
Start Your Backyard Chicken-Keeping Journey with Confidence!
Bringing chickens into your backyard is one of the most rewarding steps towards a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. Whether you’re dreaming of collecting fresh eggs each morning, reducing food waste, or creating a thriving garden ecosystem, Introduction to Backyard Chicken Keeping – A Comprehensive Guide is the perfect resource to get you started.
Time: 10am to 1pm
Dates: Sunday 14 September 2025 & Sunday 16 November 2025
Location: Daylesford, Victoria
Whether you're starting from scratch or reshaping an existing space, this half-day garden design workshop invites you to see your garden differently. From the structure of the land up, this is not a plant-by-plant session. It is a place to think like a landscape architect and begin shaping your dream garden with clarity and purpose.
Together, we’ll explore the fundamental principles that guide thoughtful garden design. You’ll learn how to observe and respond to the unique conditions of a site, and how to work with what already exists to support the kind of space you want to create. We’ll talk about how to create rhythm, balance and a sense of flow in the garden. Not through formulas, but through a practice of observation, clarity and intention.
Using tracing paper and bold texters, you’ll begin a layered, iterative design process based on Natasha's own garden. A technique that prioritises experience over detail. This isn’t about where your grandma’s rose will go. It is about learning to see the bigger picture, and how to design in a way that brings coherence and life to your space.
You’ll leave with the tools to create your own garden brief, a new approach to site mapping and design thinking grounded in landscape architecture, and a renewed way of seeing and shaping your garden. No matter its size or complexity.
We draw from real projects such as Oak and Monkey Puzzle and Little Cottage on a Hill, and explore how to reimagine constraints as creative opportunities. There is also a guided tour of Little Cottage on a Hill, where we see how theory comes to life in a compact space.
Time: 10am to 1pm
Dates: Sunday 5 October 2025
Location: Daylesford, Victoria
For as long as I can remember, I have tended a productive garden. From childhood veggie patches to the abundant landscapes of Oak and Monkey Puzzle, growing has always grounded me and shaped how I see the world. This workshop draws from that lived experience.
Whether you're working with a courtyard, a veggie patch or a larger garden, this is about creating a productive space that offers both beauty and abundance.
We explore what productive gardening really means. I share how my process has evolved across two very different properties—Oak and Monkey Puzzle and Little Cottage on a Hill—blending hands-on learning with thoughtful intent.
We cover soil care, compost systems, green manures, vertical growing, chickens, worms and closed-loop cycles. You’ll see how I use wicking beds as productive, water-wise microclimates, and how I approach different soil types and site conditions.
We talk about heirlooms and hybrids, perennial and medicinal layers, espalier techniques, and the role of beauty in even the most functional plantings.
This is not a technical how-to on growing food. It is a practical and inspiring session on preparing and shaping a garden that is generous, resilient and connected to place. You’ll leave with tools and ideas to help you begin.
Dates: Sunday 19 October 2025
Time: 10 AM – 1 PM
Location: Little Cottage on a Hill, Daylesford
For years, I’ve designed gardens that balance beauty, productivity, and sustainability, but when I discovered wicking beds, they transformed the way I grow. These self-watering garden beds have changed everything—from reducing water use to making gardening more accessible, efficient, and abundant.
In this hands-on workshop, I’ll guide you through the practical steps to create your own wicking beds—whether you’re working with a small courtyard, a backyard, or a larger productive space. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how wicking beds work, how to build them using IBC containers, and how to create a thriving, water-wise garden with minimal effort.
We’ll explore my own wicking bed garden at Little Cottage on a Hill, where I’ve grown everything from celery and purple sprouting broccoli to sugar snap peas and edible flowers—all with less watering and less maintenance. You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to build a garden that is not only sustainable and resilient but also deeply rewarding to tend.
This workshop is designed for anyone looking to garden smarter—not harder. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned grower, wicking beds are a game-changer in sustainable and productive gardening.
Dates: Saturday 25 January 2025 & Saturday 22 March 2025
Time: 2.00 - 4.00pm
Location: Little Cottage On A Hill, Daylesford
Are you dreaming of fresh eggs straight from your backyard or looking to add chickens as part of your productive garden? Join us for an engaging and hands-on workshop led by Saffron, our beloved chicken whisperer, as she shares her wealth of knowledge and love for keeping chickens.
Dates: Sunday 2 November 2025 (TBC)
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Location: Natasha’s Studio & Garden, Little Cottage On A Hill, Daylesford, VIC
Step into the magic of nature with Caroline Parker of The Cottage Herbalist and Natasha Morgan at the idyllic Little Cottage On A Hill. Together, they will guide you on a journey through the healing power of plants bringing them into your everyday life from your own garden that nurtures the body, mind, and soul. Whether you’re new to medicinal plants and their uses, a seasoned gardener or just starting, this workshop will provide valuable insights and hands-on experience to help you cultivate the use of healing plants in your gardens and everyday life.
Date: Sunday 10 November 2024
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Location: Natasha’s Studio & Garden, Little Cottage On A Hill, Daylesford, VIC
Step into the magic of nature with Christiana Jackson of Mimosa Botanicals and Natasha Morgan at the idyllic Little Cottage On A Hill. Together, you’ll learn and create your own bath and body treasures, as well as perfect gifts for the festive season, using lush botanicals from the garden, delightful ingredients from the larder, and pure essential oils.
Half-day workshop
Time: 10am - 1pm
Dates: Sunday 19 January 2025 & Sunday 13 April 2025
Location: Daylesford, Victoria
Give the gift of inspiration, creativity, and connection with a Natasha Morgan Workshop Gift Certificate.
Perfect for the garden enthusiast, artisan, or anyone who loves learning new skills and embracing mindful living, this certificate offers access to one of Natasha’s hands-on workshops at Little Cottage on a Hill in Daylesford, Victoria.
Half-day workshop
Time: 10am - 1pm
Dates:
Sunday 28 April 2024 & Sunday 19 May 2024
Location: Daylesford, Victoria
Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm
Date: Monday 24th July 2023
Location: Oak & Lane Co., 66 Piper St, Kyneton, VIC
Do you have an idea that you want to grow? Are you looking to make connections and foster creative biz conversation?
© Copyright Natasha Morgan 2022
Grow More with Less Water – The Tried and Tested Complete Guide to Wicking Beds
Wicking beds are a game-changer for anyone looking to grow abundant, thriving produce with minimal effort. By harnessing a self-watering system that reduces water use by up to 50%, these garden beds ensure deep-root hydration, healthier plants, and lower maintenance.
Whether you’re dreaming of a productive backyard veggie patch, looking to create a water-wise garden, or simply want a low-maintenance way to grow food, The Wicking Bed Garden – A Complete Guide gives you all the knowledge you need to build, plant, and maintain your own self-sustaining garden.