Get Growing
Product Details
At River Cottage, we don’t think it is overstating it to say that growing your own and eating your own fruit and vegetables will change your life!
On this course our head gardener, Craig Rudman, will teach a range of skills and techniques that will help you get the most out of whatever growing space you have.
Ever since River Cottage started, the kitchen garden has always been central to life here at Park Farm: supplying our kitchens with tasty fresh produce and reminding us about food’s seasonal journey from plot to plate. With his extensive gardening knowledge, Craig will teach you how to get growing a wide variety of delicious seasonal and organic vegetables.
Course details
Arrive: Tractor ride down to Park Farm where you will have the chance to walk around the River Cottage kitchen garden.
Welcome: Meet Craig whilst enjoying a morning tea or coffee and a tasty River Cottage treat.
Session One: Craig will start off by finding out which areas you most want to learn about during the day. He will then show you why you should grow your own, by explaining the amazing variety, value and flavours available of organically grown seasonal vegetables.
Break for tea and coffee
Session Two: How to get the best out of your growing space; dealing with pests and disease organically; the perfect compost; how to make your soil ideal for growing veg and when (and when not) to water your produce.
Lunch: You’ll sit down to a delicious lunch made by our expert team of River Cottage chefs.
Session Three: A guided tour of our gardens and poly tunnels. You’ll see our 4-bed rotation system, what is growing at the time, and the practical benefits of protected growing under covers. Craig will also cover propagation techniques, such as direct sowing or sowing into modules.
The tour of the gardens is also the perfect chance to see and learn all about what to do in each season – fruit pruning, early spring crops, planting schedules, using green manures and how to get the best from wherever you grow your veg.
By the end of the day you will travel back up our farm track with all the confidence you need to either get growing your own or get the most out of your own set up at home.
This is a guide to the activities that will make up your course at River Cottage. This is by no means set in stone and will depend on the season, the weather and it will be led by everyone’s interests.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Location: This course is run from River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of HQ will be provided once you have booked.
Wine/drink: We are a licensed venue. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines.
Accomodation: If you need local accommodation please click here.
Age: We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12 years of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. We put these guidelines in place for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.
Time: 10.00am - 5.00pm
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