Sustainable Food Growing Techniques

This series of workshops is designed to further the knowledge base of those who already know the basics of how to sow seeds, maintain and harvest a garden, and are looking to incorporate new, sustainable gardening techniques into their spaces.

Already do some gardening, and on the lookout for more ways to improve your garden? Want to learn some new innovative techniques of sustainable gardening? Maybe you already work in a food growing project, and are looking for some new skills to take back to your group. The aim of this course is to give participants some new techniques to help them garden more ecologically, make better uses of those difficult spaces, and generate more fertility from inside the garden.

The course is a mix of theory and practical, but with a heavier focus on the practical application of these techniques.

Day 1 - Mushroom Cultivation: –learn about mushrooms biology, ecology and how they fit with the rest of the garden. Learn all the skills you need to innoculate a mushroom log, from saving spores, selecting logs, to care and maintenance to the correct way to harvest. Also learn how to Make Organic Fertilisers and Soil Conditioners: - This session is designed for those gardening or wanting to garden without the use of artificial fertilisers, but still get big healthy vegetables by making your own ecologically balanced fertilisers.
This includes a basic analysis of what nutrition different plants need, and how we can provide them. There will be two practical sessions – making fertiliser from weeds, and making actively aerated compost tea (biobrew).

Day 2 - Shady Spaces: - These areas are typically underused and unproductive, but with some careful consideration and planning these can be just as productive as the sunny areas. This session includes many techniques to make the most of these often neglected areas. Also learn how to use Weeds as Soil Indicators and their Uses: - Weeds can be a great indicator as to what minerals your soil is rich in, what it lacks, its consistency and its PH. By learning about the common weeds of London, you can understand how best to use this patch of land, and substitute the weeds for more useful plants that can out-compete the weeds. We will also look at some medicinal uses of common weeds, and make a few more unusual herbal teas.

Each session can be done individually, or as part of the course.

Fees
£30 one day, £50 whole course
Fees include tuition, refreshments, handouts, information sheets and email advice.

Course tutor
Simon White has been managing and teaching sustainable growing techniques, permaculture and solar in both the UK and Africa for the last five years, and has run ecological food production programmes at several small farms and city farms.

Booking
Booking is essential as some of our courses/events will be fully booked weeks in advance, and can be done via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-food-growing-techniques-tickets-12443658317 or by emailing simon@stepneycityfarm.org.