Our one acre plot shows just what can be done with a small area and has pig and poultry pens, large vegetable and herb growing area, polytunnel, small orchard, cordon fruit trees, fruit wall, edible hedgerow, perennial vegetables, a grow-your-own spices area, compost bins and more.  Sally likes to grow unusual veg, so expect to see quinoa, oca, yakon, skirret, salsify and butterbeans to name but a few.  You will also see our productive walled garden which has a small orchard, kitchen garden with dipping pond, cut flowers, and herb garden.

Learn how to plan your own mini farm to keep livestock such as chickens (both layers and meat), ducks, turkeys, pigs, even sheep and goats, and become self sufficient in vegetables. The practical planning session looks at how much you can fit into the space and highlights  the key points you have to consider  such as access, zoning, aspect etc. Important principles such as soil management, fertility, crop rotation, companion planting will be covered together with the basics of keeping livestock, fencing and water harvesting. You will also look at the paperwork you need to keep animals, such as holding and herd numbers, movement licenses, and cover issues such as keeping animals in urban areas.

This course is run several times during the year. The content is varied to tie in with the season. The spring dates give you a chance to look at the vegetable plots early in the season while the summer / autumn dates enable you to appreciate the vegetable gardens and polytunnel at peak productivity and see the pigs which will be ready to go.

The April date will focus on planning and rotations. The vegetable beds will be covered, the fruit cage will be planted up. The polytunnel will be full of newly sown modules and winter veg. The piglets and meat birds will not have arrived, but you will be able to see our Kune Kune pigs, poultry and bees kept elsewhere on the farm plus the new flower farm and orchards. We look at topics such as composting, green manures, hugelkultur beds, and weed control. The advantage of this date is that you will have time to go home and get started yourself.

By early summer the veg beds will be full of the first plantings, the polytunnel planted up with salads,  tomatoes and cucumbers  and the piglets will have arrived. We may have some ducklings or meat bird chicks too. There will be a chance to walk around the small flower farm. Courses later in the year  give participants the chance to see the vegetable gardens and polytunnel in full production, the pigs will be at porker weight and ready for slaughter and there will be some ducks and possibly turkeys around. Part of the day will look at planning for winter crops and the next year.

The cost of this course is £95  for the first person with a discount ticket of £75 for the second and subsequent person booked at the same time. The numbers on these days are limited to 10  people. The price includes all tuition, course notes, a copy of one of Sally’s books, a light lunch and refreshments during the day. The day starts at 10 am, with arrival from 9.45 am. There is a final Q and A session  and the course ends at about 4 pm.

Next available date Saturday 9 April

You can buy tickets for this event on Eventbrite