I have run courses for everyone from the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, RHS and Garden Organic, to Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Festival, Humble by Nature, Centre for Alternative Technology and the Museum of London. I also offer courses at my climate change demonstration gardens in the wild, wild west of Wales, otherwise known as near to New Quay in very scenic Ceredigion, Wales.
Polytunnel Growing Course – £95
With increasing weather extremes unfortunately part of our future, polytunnel growing really is a powerful ally in the battle against climate change. As well as delightfully extending the growing season, when you know how, these tunnels boost growing efforts no end and enable year round produce and shelter whatever the weather.
I start the day with refreshments in one of the large polytunnels, demonstrating that these valuable indoor spaces can also provide an enjoyable area for entertaining as much as bountiful fruit and veg production. The course is tailored where possible to the needs of the participants but includes the basics such as propagation methods, watering options, layouts and polytunnel care and maintenance to make your fantastic indoor growing haven work for you. I provide a thorough explanation of how to extend the growing season to produce an array of produce all year round; including abundant salad leaves and herbs in winter.
In the morning, I also cover seed saving and lots of tried and tested time saving tricks and techniques designed to make the process of gardening much more enjoyable. Then, after more refreshments, I move onto demonstrating different ways of growing under cover including mixed planting systems which help avoid pest build up in the first place. This leads on nicely to a look at companion planting and how letting nature (beneficial insects, pollinators and amphibians) into your tunnel can help boost results as well as making your tunnel an ever more enjoyable place in which to be.
Finally there’s ample opportunity for further questions , so I can ensure all rocketeers (aka attendees) go home empowered with the knowledge, confidence and skills to make their polytunnel-growing-efforts truly blossom and grow.
Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Dates for 2023:
10th March
21st April
12th May
Get Climate Change Smart GYO Course
Each day is packed with lots of ideas, time (and money) saving tricks, techniques and skills to furnish you with the knowledge to grow fruit and vegetables productively in the face of increasing extremes of weather.
I start the day with a getting-to-know-you session over refreshments so the course can be tailored where possible to participants’ needs. Then we move onto the basics including different methods of propagation, compost-making and growing different types of fruit and veg.
In the morning I also cover seed saving and lots of time saving methods, including no dig gardening, which are designed to make the process of grow your own much more enjoyable in the process.
Then after more refreshments , I move onto demonstrating different ways of growing including under cover, container and raised bed systems. Within this I’ll explain about mixed planting systems which I use as a viable alternative to crop rotation which provides biodiversity and helps avoid pest build up in the first place. This leads on nicely to a look at companion planting and how letting nature (beneficial insects, pollinators and amphibians) onto your plot can help deal with pests naturally as well as making your space a mesmerising haven in which to be.
Finally there’s ample opportunity for further questions, so I can ensure all rocketeers (aka attendees) go home empowered with the knowledge, confidence and skills to make their fruit and veg growing efforts truly blossom and grow whatever the weather.
Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Dates for 2023:
24th March
28th April
9th June
New online courses available to book now
New thrifty windowsill and undercover edibles over winter online course available to book now
Available anytime on catch up, this comprehensive course provides weekly updates and materials from me. Offering oodles of hands on advice on growing salad leaves, herbs, baby carrots and roots, micro greens, mushrooms, pea shoots and sprouts in your home and outside under cover. Plus many more produce ideas and money and time saving tips and inspiration besides to help you nurture in a range of delicious produce this winter.
