Interested in organic food production but not sure if it’s for you?
Being an organic grower is an incredibly fulfilling job, nourishing people and the planet. But it is incredibly challenging, it's not just the weather we have to contend with.
Latest news
We are very happy to announce our Commercial Organic Growers Course for 2023. Our 4-day Commercial Organic Growers Course gives participants the opportunity to receive in-depth instruction from the growers themselves, as they begin to learn how to develop an organic food growing business.
We are looking for a new Business Development Officer to join both us and our sister organisation Veg Box People.
Are you a driven individual with business and sales skills and a passion for good food, who can help us turn the interest and enthusiasm for locally grown, wildlife-friendly food into increased sales and new fair trading relationships?
We are looking for a new Communications Co-ordinator to join both us and our sister organisations, Bridge 5 Mill and Veg Box People. The position is full time, encompassing 37.5 hours per week, and it would be primarily based at Bridge 5 Mill in Ancoats.
We have now had to bid farewell to many of our FarmStart 2022 cohort, having completed their Level 1 year with us in the past few weeks. Although we may be saying ‘goodbye’ to some, it’s also the case that we will soon be saying ‘hello’ to others... namely, those who have signed up for next year’s FarmStart! We’re accepting applications until Sunday 27th November by the way, if you didn’t already know!
With all this in mind, we spoke to a couple of FarmStarters from this year’s cohort to get their thoughts on the growing journey they have been on with us…
Kindling’s focus on supporting local organic growers - and our relationship with Veg Box People - has always played an invaluable role in our mission to challenge the food inequalities resulting from the dominant model of profit-driven industrial production. We recently caught up with Aoife, Lead Grower at Kindling’s market garden and FarmStart training site in Stockport. Aoife told us why she feels so passionately about becoming and organic grower and about the importance of getting fresh, seasonal veg out through the lovely bunch at Veg Box People.
Supporting local food systems in order to combat the climate emergency while navigating the current cost of living crisis is a very fine line to tread. As this month is ‘Organic September’, we wanted to offer up 10 simple ways that you can support local, organic farmers and growers as a way of building a more just and robust chain of food production and distribution. Even if you find that only one of these is attainable for the time being, you will be playing your part!
We have a fantastic selection of courses coming up for aspiring growers, suitable for those with a variety of growing experience already under their belts, whether you consider yourself a beginner or something of an expert. Please make sure to have a read of all the details below to see which of these courses would best suit you (or perhaps someone that you know!)...
Hear from our FarmStarters about how they're getting on over at Woodbank - they're halfway through their first year already!
Emily
As we’re starting to get into long days and warmer weather, things have started getting busier at Woodbank. We’re starting a little earlier in the day and enjoying working in the polytunnels before the heat makes them too toasty and then making the most of our sun hats to work on the rest of the site for the remainder.
Last Sunday we took part in the national Open Farm Sunday event where we opened our gates at Woodbank Community Food Hub to show the work that we do in trying to transform the local food system - it was an absolutely fantastic day, and we are so grateful to everyone for coming down and taking part in our activities.