Organic Food Production Foundation Course 2025
Local Community Market Gardens (https://lcmgstroud.co.uk) is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Scheme based in Sheepscombe, Stroud who have been developing local food initiatives for 13 years as part of Down to Earth Stroud (https://www.downtoearthstroud.co.uk).
We are running an Organic Food Production Foundation Course which will take place one day a week (Wednesday) for 11 weeks from January 15th – 26th March 2025 (including a break on the 19th February for half-term). The day will run from 09:30-16:00 – with breaks!
Each week we will lean into a different element of organic food production at a foundational level and learn practically how to grow food organically on a working CSA. We will begin exploring why we want to grow and the context around local and organic food production. From there you can expect to learn about a wide range of different vegetable plants, their main parts, life cycles, pollination as well as their gifts and challenges. We will also practice a range of organic growing techniques: from sowing seeds and preparing ground for plants; to managing weeds, pests and diseases; working with compost; harvesting and processing crops and more.
Some things to note:
- The course cost is £150 in total.
- No prior knowledge or experience is required as this is a foundation course.
- Tools and equipment will be provided.
- Upon completion of this course you will receive a NOCN qualification in Organic Food Production.
- Booking is essential due to limited spaces. We will be learning in a small group of 5-10 students.
- The course will be delivered by Sophie Carter, a passionate food grower working on an organic permaculture CSA.
Organic Food Production Intermediate Course 2025
Local Community Market Gardens (https://lcmgstroud.co.uk) is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Scheme based in Sheepscombe, Stroud who have been developing local food initiatives for 13 years as part of Down to Earth Stroud (https://www.downtoearthstroud.co.uk).
We are running an Organic Food Production Intermediate Course which will take place one day a week (Thursday) from 23.01.25 until 04.12.24.
There will be breaks in line with school holidays as much as possible, provisional dates for breaks are April 24th, May 27th, July 31st, August 27th.
The day will run from 09:30-16:00 – with a half hour break for lunch.
Contact hours will be 240 with approximately self-study hours of 90 hours but this can vary.
There are seven sections – I’ve attached 2 sections here as an example but they include:
- Site – all things related to the site including wind, erosions, sun, aspects, planning, H&S etc
- Soil Ecology
- Plant biology
- Principles of veg production
- Principles of fruit production
- Weeds, pests & diseases identification and control
- Harvesting and saving seeds.
Some things to note:
- The course cost is £450 in total.
- Prior knowledge or experience is required as this is a intermediate course, designed for those who are thinking of moving into a career as a grower.
- Tools and equipment will be provided.
- Upon completion of this course you will receive a NOCN qualification in Organic Food Production.
- Booking is essential due to limited spaces. We will be learning in a small group of 5-10 students.
- The course will be delivered by an experienced team of organic growers.
General
The intermediate group will be given their own parcel of land on the site to develop from scratch, to see crops from each food group from seed and sowing through to harvesting. They will work as a part of a larger team as well as have dedicated input from professionals in the field
Participants will also have the chance to visit another organic veg box scheme.
Concessionary rates available.