Training Courses

[zazen999]

Howdy folks

Just picking your brains

I am currently designing 3 courses to be delivered next year at Ryton Gardens [Garden Organic].

They are titled [my titles]:
Allotments for Busy People
Growing on a Budget
Alternative Growing Techniques [From Permaculture to Square Foot Gardening].

They are just 3 hour courses.

Are there any other half day courses that you think would be interesting to growers? We already do quite a few starting your organic plot, soil management, composting, seed saving type courses; so I am trying to do more specifically aimed training.

[veggiechicken]

Grafting,
Propagation from cuttings,
Growing in pots for those without a garden

[Bren In Pots]

Pruning fruit trees.

[zazen999]

Pruning fruit trees.

Fruit Tree Pruning - Details of forthcoming course from Garden Organic

We already do lots of pruning courses, this next one is in January.

[zazen999]

Grafting,
Propagation from cuttings,
Growing in pots for those without a garden

I don't feel qualified to do grafting for GO - but I'm sure we could find someone that is...myself and VVG went on a grafting session earlier this year and I've been obsessed ever since!

Cuttings, yes I think we do propagation and I do it all the time but I'll suggest that one...

And container growing, nice suggestion. I'll have a think about that one. I started off growing in containers and it's definitely a different technique - not sure if it would take 3 hours to go through it though.

[chris]

What about preserving heritage varieties, or something along those lines?

[zazen999]

I think that gets covered in the Seed Saving but it's a topic on it's own and can bring grafting and propagation in, so that's another one to ponder.

Excellent work so far!

[veggiechicken]

Re propagation from cuttings - there are so many different ways, some of which I've never tried - like root cuttings. Must try that this year!
Container growing could include windowsills - using your indoor space, hanging baskets, alternative containers - drainpipes, MFBs.
How about Making the most of your Greenhouse/polytunnel?
Gardening in a drought?

[VirginVegGrower]

I don't feel qualified to do grafting for GO - but I'm sure we could find someone that is...myself and VVG went on a grafting session earlier this year and I've been obsessed ever since!

Cuttings, yes I think we do propagation and I do it all the time but I'll suggest that one...

And container growing, nice suggestion. I'll have a think about that one. I started off growing in containers and it's definitely a different technique - not sure if it would take 3 hours to go through it though.

For God sakes don't get that same guy in A lot of folks are starting up orchards, so maybe look to something related. Small space gardening/vertical growing appears to be a big thing, given that every new house built comes with a garden the size of a pocket hanky!

Is Seed Saving for Dummies an obvious one?

I'm always amazed how many people struggle with looking after seedlings. There were quite a number on that course that were learning how to sow seed.

[VirginVegGrower]

Mr VVG and I would like hedge laying or hurdling growing supports.

Have you included no dig/lasagne methods? Starting with an overgrown plot - How to tackle.

[zazen999]

Mr VVG and I would like hedge laying or hurdling growing supports.

Have you included no dig/lasagne methods? Starting with an overgrown plot - How to tackle.

I am putting starting with an overgrown plot into the Allotments for Busy People - and it's included in 'starting your organic veg plot' and the allotment courses. And lasagne/no dig is in pretty much all my courses!

The hedgelaying - you have to have an unruly hedge to teach on...

[zazen999]

For God sakes don't get that same guy in A lot of folks are starting up orchards, so maybe look to something related. Small space gardening/vertical growing appears to be a big thing, given that every new house built comes with a garden the size of a pocket hanky!

Is Seed Saving for Dummies an obvious one?

I'm always amazed how many people struggle with looking after seedlings. There were quite a number on that course that were learning how to sow seed.

Starting a community orchard?

I like seed saving for dummies.

How about an all encompassing 'propagation and looking after your seedlings'?

[zazen999]

There's so much isn't there?

[veggiechicken]

How about an all encompassing 'propagation and looking after your seedlings'?

Seed sowing is relatively straight forward but pricking out/thinning out, potting on in a timely fashion is where some folk lose it.

[Samurailord]

How about quarterly courses on 'What to do on the Allotment in Winter/Spring/Summer/Autumn'

This could cover the various seasonal tasks such as planting onions/garlic/fruit bushes in early winter, digging and manuring before sowing in spring, watering,harvesting and keeping on top of weeds in Summer and composting your plants and collecting leaves for leaf mold in Autumn.

We feel this might help the novices who aren't sure what to do when, and also jog the memories of the established allotmenteers.

Andy


We are thinking about having talks for our Allotment of a similar nature.