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      • Forest School Training >
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        • Therapeutic Storyworking with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
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      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
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THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Green Fair Poster Pack
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Feedback
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Therapeutic Storyworking with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Picnic Bench Fund
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
    • Shop At The Centre
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us >
      • Map
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Guided Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List

KITCHEN GARDENING

£290 
Two weekends: 18th & 19th March and 17th & 18th June 2023
​09:30 - 16:30
Tutor: Caroline Aitken
Teas/coffees included
March & June 2023
book now
find out about courses bursaries
join the waiting list
"The content was delivered excellently with a fantastic level of detail and knowledge - thanks!"

   This course:

  • Promotes low impact living
  • Supports biodiversity​​​
  • Teaches homegrown food production


​ABOUT THE COURSE

A four day course, split over two weekends, 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 course will cover:
  • seasons in the gardener’s year
  • 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, 
  • crop planning – advice on the best 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 YOU

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

THE COURSE IS 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 

Check Out Accommodation 

You can get 10% discount when you stay with us during your course for 2 nights or more in our campsite or eco lodge. Please call us on 01730 823166 to make your accommodation booking. Our reception is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.


​Charity Number ​​ 1079866

Picture

Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge
​& Camp Site

01730 823549
accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

​courses@sustainability-centre.org

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Join Mailing List

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Opening Hours

Whats On

Cafe

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Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Green Fair Poster Pack
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Feedback
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Therapeutic Storyworking with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Picnic Bench Fund
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
    • Shop At The Centre
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us >
      • Map
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Guided Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List