exploring how we can upskill existing producers and new entrants to farming
Training
There is a lack of training available in agroecological food production and we are working to address this. Learn more about out plan to develop an in-depth, one year agroecological training course in Bristol, and share your input on this here.
We send out a monthly Opportunities Update, connecting you with training, support, networking, funding and business opportunities. You can sign up or browse the archive of past copies of the Newsletter here.
We have put together a list of the courses currently available in Bristol below.
We have also built a Resource Directory to signpost you towards useful sources of information, training and support as well as towards opportunities to start on the path of growing or producing food for a livelihood. This Resource Directory includes links on food and farming training courses.
Currently available courses
Please see the individual organisations or the Bristol Good Food website for course dates.
INTRO LEVEL
- Let’s Grow – 2 days, Grow Wilder, £120 – This two-day course will introduce the principles and practice of food growing to those interested in growing more food in their garden or allotments.
- Vegetable Gardening for Beginners – Online, Propagation Place, £60 – This course will act as a companion and guide into your first forays of growing your own vegetables.
- No Dig Growing – 1 day, Edible Bristol, £95 – This course will cover the basics of no-dig growing including soil health, mulch, composting.
- Growing Your Community – 1 day, Edible Bristol, £10-50 – This workshop shares the experience of a decade of supporting community gardens and shares the skills of building community from consultation through to co-design and ensuring the whole community has a voice that is heard.
- Success with Seeds – 1/2 day, Edible Bristol, £40 – This course looks at how to sow seeds for successful germination, and then how to grow those seedlings on into successful plants.
- Introduction to Permaculture Course – 3 day, Shift Bristol, £85-165 – An inspiring introduction to the power of Permaculture Design, to create resilient, abundant and efficient systems for people and land.
- City and Guilds Level 1 in Horticulture – 1 day a week for 9 weeks, Heart of BS13, free for certain participants – The course will include both classroom and practical activities, including topics such as; preparing to plant an area, planting seeds, looking after plants, identifying plants and weeds and personal safety.
- Using Horticulture as a Therapeutic Medium – 1 day, Organic Blooms, £220 – This course distills their 20+ years of experience working in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.
- Running a Land Based Social Enterprise – 1 day, Organic Blooms, £220 – This course is aimed at people who want to set up their own Social enterprise based around land based skills and products. It will cover the philosophy and legal structure of social enterprises, their unique place in the market, the balance between social and commercial aims, funding sources, marketing, social impact measurement and much much more…!
INTERMEDIATE
- Grow Leader – 1 day a week for 8 weeks, Grow Wilder, £545 – Develop an understanding of fundamental growing techniques and holistic landscape management that will prepare you to grow food at allotment, community garden or small market garden scale.
- Organic and Allotment Gardening course – 1 evening and some weekend days Jan – Jun, St Werburghs City Farm, £260 – An annual organic and allotment gardening course, starting each February, for those who want to learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
- Growing Futures – 1 day a week Feb-Oct, Edible Bristol, £1200 – The aim of Growing Futures is to support participants to explore a deeper connection with growing food, supporting nature and land based futures, whether that is as a career or looking at self sufficiency.
- Practical Sustainability Course – 3 days a week, Shift Bristol, £2495-3695 – Immerse yourself in an in-depth, hands-on and dynamic learning experience. The course covers a wide variety of modules including Permaculture Design, Soil and Ecology, Organic Horticulture, Green Energy, Group Dynamics, Resilience Toolkit, Woodland Management, Green Building, Re-localisation and Community Engagement.
- RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development – 1 day a week (28 weeks), University of Bristol, £1885 – This course provides learners with a solid theoretical grounding including understanding the science of plants, such as how they function, nutrition, health, adaptations and various planting styles.
- RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture – 1 day a week (28 weeks), University of Bristol, £2275 – The RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture covers essential craft skills, which include the planting, pruning, propagation and maintenance of plants along with the establishment and management of turf, and maintenance of garden features.
TRAINEESHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS
- In the past, Sims Hill Shared Harvest, The Community Farm and Middle Ground Growers have offered traineeships.
- You can see the Landworkers’ Alliance traineeship curriculum here.
- Propagation Place have run a 4 day a week apprenticeship – Over a period of 12 months, the apprentices will become part of the Propagation Place team to support the smooth running of the community business, whilst learning on the job. Apprentices will receive a practical education in propagation, plant care, pest and disease control, soil science and gardening techniques in order to achieve a Level 2 accreditation in Horticulture/Landscaping. They will also get an insight into all other aspects of the project and foster positive relationships with the farm staff, volunteers, and local community.
Further afield
We recommend looking at the Landworkers’ Alliance Agroecological Pathways for finding about courses and information further afield.