KITCHEN GARDENING
Course Information

09:30 - 17:30
£135 for one weekend or £240 for both weekends (non-residential)
Tutor: Caroline Aitken
Teas/coffees included
Sat 14th to Sun 15th March 2020

​Sat 20th to Sun 21st June 2020

ABOUT THE COURSE

A seasonal weekend course on creating and managing a successful and abundant food garden. The course will include hands-on practical sessions and all the theory you need to make your kitchen garden grow and keep your larder full. From crop planning to soil care, pest control to storing produce, this course will show you environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to growing your own food. The course will give you time saving and energy saving tips and inspire you to create a garden that works in harmony with nature.

​The March course will cover: seasons in the gardener’s year, crop planning, jobs to do in winter and spring, permaculture methods which will help you create a more productive garden, soil care, testing and profiling, different kinds of composting and mulching, no-dig methods, crop planning to produce food all year round and how to observe and work with the different microclimates in your garden.
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The June course will cover: seasons in the gardener’s year, jobs to do in summer and autumn, what to grow – advice on how to choose annual and perennial vegetables to cultivate, how to plan your mixed vegetable crop (to maximise space, deter pests, minimise weeding and watering), Forest Gardening, pest management, growing fruit trees (understanding rootstocks and fertilisation), making plant feed, guidance on how to store and preserve produce and energy saving tips for harvesting. 

THE COURSE WILL GIVE PARTICIPANTS

A permaculture perspective on kitchen gardening, including:
  • Knowledge of how to plan food crops and which jobs to do in each season
  • Understanding of how to care for soil and create good compost
  • Methods for deterring pests and minimising the need to weed and water
  • Information on growing fruits trees and storing produce.
  • An understanding of the principles of no-dig gardening, polycultures and perennials and hands-on experience of the methods involved

WHO IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

These courses are suitable for people who have some experience of gardening, who wish to be successful kitchen gardeners and for people interested in learning more about permaculture methods of growing produce. 

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR

  • Notebook and pen
  • Camera
  • Clothing suitable for doing practical activities outdoors – sturdy footwear, warm layers, waterproofs and sun protection
  • A packed lunch, or lunch can be purchased from the Beech Cafe

ABOUT THE TUTOR

Caroline is the lead teacher, design consultant and director of Whitefield Permaculture. She co-authored the book Food from your Forest Garden with Martin Crawford and has a background in design, organic food growing and horticulture and used to work as an eco-cook.

Caroline’s experience includes managing 2 acres of intensive organic vegetable production, managing 5 acres of ornamental and food gardens at a meditation retreat centre, and catering for groups, courses and retreats. She now teaches at venues around the country including Schumacher College, Shift Bristol, The Sustainability Centre and Ragmans Farm.
 
Caroline lives on a 4 acre smallholding on Dartmoor with her family where they produce vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey and firewood.

www.whitefieldpermaculture.co.uk 

"Caroline is an excellent teacher.  I really enjoyed the course.  I am looking forward to putting what we have learnt into practice in my garden."
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"The content on both courses was delivered excellently with a fantastic level of detail and knowledge - thanks"
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Get 20% discount on accommodation
when you stay with us during your course. Follow the links below to book and use code: stay-with-us
Registered Charity Number 1079866