OrganicLea’s Weekend Workshops
We are so excited to open bookings to our 2025 Weekend Workshop series! We’ve got four wonderful one-day courses that are open for bookings right now, with more to come! All taking place at Hawkwood Nursery, E4 7UH. A summary of the courses is below. For more details on each course and to book your place please visit our Ticket Tailor page here.
Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners
Saturday 1 March 2025, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
This one day workshop will deliver the foundational principles for cultivating many of the mushrooms considered edible and medicinal. The workshop will combine a mixture of theoretical and practical learning.
At the end of this workshop you will have the basic knowledge you need to take your first steps in the home cultivation of both edible and medicinal mushrooms. This workshop will also generate material which you can take home to start your growing straight away!
There will be an hour break for lunch, between 1pm – 2pm. Please bring your own lunch.
This workshop is being run by Rod Sazio, OrganicLea’s Mushroom Grower who has several years of experience in culturing and growing mushrooms, from home cultivation to the current small-scale set-up at Hawkwood.
To book a place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/organiclea/1565255?
Beer Brewing Course
Saturday 15 March 2025, 11 am – 4 pm
Spend the day discovering how to make your own delicious craft beer to enjoy and share with friends. You’ll learn about the science of fermentation, the different flavours and styles of beer, and how to make reliable beers from scratch, at home with minimal equipment.
Please note there will be an hour for lunch, between 1pm – 2pm. Please bring your own lunch.
It will be a fun, hands-on class, and will include:
- an introduction to beer brewing,
- an overview of the ingredients and equipment needed
- an introduction to various beer styles and how they are made,
- and a practical beer brewing session, with some beer to take away and ferment at home.
To book a place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/organiclea/1550818?
Seed Sowing for Beginners
Saturday 12 April 2025, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
This course is aimed at beginners, who are interested in understanding seeds and how to care for them especially when you want them to germinate and become a healthy plant!
We will cover:
- What is a seed?
- Growing medium selection
- How to start and support seedlings
At the end of the course, you will be equipped with a foundational knowledge of seed sowing and be able to apply this to start your own setting. You will also take some of the seeds you have sown on the day home with you.
This course is being run by Danielle Ahmet, a Coop member, one of our Growers and tutors of the Level 1 Certificate in Horticulture. This topic was the very first course she attended and she attributes it as being the first step towards what became a major career shift.
Please note there will be a break for lunch. Please bring your own lunch.
To book a place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/organiclea/1550769?
Fruit Care and Pruning
Saturday 12 July 2025, 11 am – 4 pm
The course will combine classroom-based learning with practical training, and will cover:
- appropriate tools for pruning and plant care
- general pruning principles and practice – applicable to fruiting and flowering trees, bushes and shrubs
- specific pruning and planting techniques, including a range of wall/fence training techniques
- an overview of other fruit care and maintenance tasks.
The tutor is OrganicLea’s Fruit Grower Marlene Barrett, supported by our Fruit team.
Wear sturdy shoes, and bring all-weather gear for outdoor practical sessions. Bring gardening gloves and secateurs for pruning practicals if you have them.
There will be an hour for lunch, between 1pm – 2pm, and please bring your own lunch.
To book a place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/organiclea/1565442?
COURSE FEES
There is a standard fee for each of our courses.
To support our vision to inspire everyone to grow, and learn we have developed an easy way to be able to offer discounted spaces to those who need them. Please take time to read the guidelines and consider whether you can pay a solidarity rate (standard fee plus 50%).
You may also feel that once you have read these guidelines that you could pay a discounted rate (standard fee minus 50%).
Below is a short list of guidelines to help you make this decision of how much you can afford to pay:
Consider paying the solidarity rate (+50%) if you can tick at least one or more of these boxes:
□ You own the home you live in
□ Have access to savings and/or inherited money□ Working part-time/not working is a choice (for example, have negotiated reducing hours to take this course or taking time out to consider a career change)
□ Have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education i.e. educated to degree level
Solidarity rates will offer someone support to take a course they may not otherwise be able to pay for.
Consider choosing for a discounted rate (-50%) if you:
□ Support children or other dependents on one income
□ Work part time/are on low income i.e. working less than 16 hours a week
□ You do unpaid care work
□ You do not qualify for state funds solely due to your immigration status
