OrganicLea runs a range of Level 1 and Level 2, City and Guilds, horticulture courses throughout the year from the Hawkwood Nursery, in Chingford, London. We currently have places available on a course starting in late February.
Practical Horticultural Skills – food growing
Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am – 4.30pm
28 February, 1 March, 21 March, 18 April, 9 May, 6 June, 27 June
This course is designed to offer foundation knowledge and technical skills for anyone who is thinking about working as a food grower or who wants to enhance food production knowledge for use at the home or an allotment. It also acts as a gateway to a range of Level 2 course options.
You will be studying in a community market garden environment with a blend of classroom guided learning and practical tasks to build confidence in techniques and seek guidance when needed.
Topics include:
- Understanding soil: Soil types, structure, and nutrient-take-up
- Making compost and other fertility products and using them to improve your soil
- Garden cultivation techniques – appropriate tools
- Planting design considerations including the needs of different food crops; spacing, pest management and other aftercare including weed identification and management
- Seed-sowing techniques
- A crop calendar to support you to grow with the seasons
- Understanding the role of organic food growing in a changing climate
The qualification
This course is accredited by the City and Guilds. There is no exam. Assessment is continuous and includes worksheets and opportunities to demonstrate knowledge in practical tasks.
How much is the course?
The standard fee for this course is £450. We have solidarity payment guidance that supports a self-assessment. Please think about whether you can pay a solidarity rate, the standard fee, plus up to 50% or more. You may also feel once you have read the guidelines that you could request to pay a discounted rate, the standard fee, minus 50%.
In addition to reduced fee places, we have funding that allows us to offer a free place to those who are on full Universal Credit.
To register for a place and obtain more information about this opportunity, including fees, please email courses@organiclea.org.uk