We are pleased to be able to offer five one or two day unique courses at our Hawkwood plant nursery in Chingford on several weekends in May. They are:
- Fruit growing basics: introduction to care and pruning for fruit trees and bushes on Saturday 8 May 2021
- Spring Tonics on Saturday 8 May 2021
- Learning to look: an introduction to botany on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 2021
- Mushroom cultivation on Sunday 16 May 2021
- Ital/Veganic Cooking workshop on Monday 17 May 2021
Each course runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm. You will find details of each course below. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served basis’, with a waiting list created for each course if needed. Please apply using the short form here.
Details of the standard fee for each course are in the course descriptions below. We encourage you to consider our solidarity, discounted and free places offer. This year we are trialling a way to provide discounted spaces by encouraging all learners to consider whether they may be able to pay a solidarity rate (standard fee plus up to 50% or more!) or should consider applying to pay a discounted rate (standard fee minus 50%) if they meet certain criteria. Courses are free for those who are on benefits and have no other income. By paying based on our available resources we can foster more equity, sustainability and diversity in our food system and work towards economic justice on a local level. You can find out more here.
Fruit growing basics: introduction to care and pruning for fruit trees and bushes on Saturday 8 May 2021
This course is aimed at those with a little knowledge of food growing who are keen to build their fruit care skills. This course will cover why prune and when to do it; basic tools and techniques; and other fruit care annual tasks.
After learning you will be able to explain the basic principles of why, when and how to prune fruit plants, including when they are trained against a wall or fence; to name appropriate tools and parts of a plant important in pruning techniques and understand the annual maintenance cycle for fruit trees and bushes.
Marlene will be the tutor for this one day course. Marlene is an Organiclea co-op member who grew up with apple trees in the garden and has looked after the fruit at Hawkwood Nursery for many years. She is excited to share learning on how we can all enjoy the best delicious fruit from our gardens.
There are 15 places on this course.
Course starts at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm, with an hour for lunch. Please bring a packed lunch with you, and come dressed for the weather and ready to spend time in a classroom and in the gardens at Hawkwood. Bring secateurs if you have them.
The standard fee for this course is £29.
Spring Tonics on Saturday 8 May 2021
This course is aimed at those interested in exploring and learning about the plants available to us at this time of year. This course will explore plants that cleanse, tone and restore. These plants work on boosting the immune system, cleansing the lymphatic system and toning and strengthening the blood. In the winter months we tend to eat more preserves and higher carbs and fats. Let the magical world of medicinal plants put a spring back in your step. We will spend the day exploring how you could start your journey and gain some confidence in using plants at home.
After learning you will know about some plants that cleanse, tone and restore and how to use them at home.
Belle will be the tutor for this one day course. Belle has always had an interest in natural and complimentary treatments and qualified as an aromatherapist in 2008. The therapeutic and healing properties of plants has driven a passion for foraging and self-learning over the last 5 years and led Belle to create herbal teas, tinctures, vinegars and oils and balms, which support her health and well-being.
Course starts at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm, with an hour for lunch. Please bring a packed lunch with you, and come dressed for the weather and ready to spend time in a classroom, the kitchen and in the gardens at Hawkwood.
There are 15 places on this course.
The standard fee for this course is £29.
*** FULLY BOOKED *** Learning to look: an introduction to botany on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 2021
This course is aimed at those with a level 1 or equivalent horticulture qualification who are keen to build their wild plant identification skills. This is a pilot course for us, and much of the course will be a collaborative exploration of the topic. The course will cover plant classification, naming parts of plants, common UK wild flower families.
After learning you will be able to differentiate between family, genus and species and explain why this classification is useful; and describe and name parts of a plant useful to identification and classification (vegetative and floral).
Sara will be the tutor for this two day course. Sara is a horticultural tutor and budding botanist with a keen interest in learning and sharing what they know about the UK’s wild and wonderful plants.
Course starts at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm each day, with an hour for lunch. Please bring a packed lunch with you, and come dressed for the weather and ready to spend time in a classroom and in the gardens at Hawkwood.
There are 15 places on this course.
The standard fee for this course is £58.
*** FULLY BOOKED *** Mushroom cultivation on Sunday 16 May 2021
This one-day taster course is aimed at those with no or little knowledge of mushroom cultivation. This course will give you a taste of what is involved in growing your own delicious gourmet edible mushrooms. The course will mix a bit of theoretical with some hands-on work; and some material for you to take home afterwards to continue your mushroom cultivation journey.
After learning you will know about the mushroom lifecycle and how this can help you select the appropriate cultivation technique for your skill level.
Rod will be the tutor for this one day course. Rod is part of the OrganicLea production team and loves growing not just plants but also mushrooms and is keen to make this more accessible to others.
Please bring a packed lunch with you, and come dressed for the weather and ready to spend time in a classroom and in the gardens at Hawkwood.
There are 15 places on this course.
Course starts at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm, with an hour for lunch.
The standard fee for this course is £29.
Ital/Veganic Cooking workshop on Monday 17 May 2021
This workshop is aimed at anyone interested in learning about Ital/Veganic cooking. It will have informal kitchen vibes, highlighting the value of being in an organic space to create using fresh organic produce, principles and techniques. This workshop aims to improve confidence with plant based cooking, flavouring, spices and cultures which is great for anyone’s general wellbeing, health and general world views, especially as food is very important for life. We will prepare, cook and eat together as a community and bring seasonal vibrations to the experience. The workshop will also enable you to plant some seeds and take them home to nurture, grow and eat.
After learning you will be able to cook an Ital/Veganic meal, understand the combinations of flavours, spices and cultures in that meal and be able to plant some seeds and know how to care for them at home.
Chris will be the tutor for this one day workshop. Chris is a growth facilitator and the veganic chef at Organiclea. Chris’s mantra is grow it, cook it, eat it, teach it.
You will prepare and cook your own lunch on this workshop. Please come dressed for the weather – some activity might be outdoors, and come ready to spend time cooking, socialising, learning and sowing seeds.
There are 10 places on this course.
Course starts at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm.
The standard fee for this course is £29.
