Twice a year, we run an intensive four day course for people who want to take their allotment or community food growing experience to the next level. Eight people with a wide variety of backgrounds took part in 2015's spring’s course, we’re catching up with two of them to see how it’s has helped them on their growing journey…
Suzanne Davis
Suzanne’s the Production Gardener at Offshoots Permaculture project, a 1 acre community garden in Burnley. She came on the course hoping to make the garden commercially viable by improving crop planning and succession planting to deliver a steady supply of quality veg for sale.
“Finding the Commercial Growers Course was such an encouragement for me as a small grower. I have been on general horticulture courses before but never been able to find anything local that looked at vegetable production on a commercial scale that would fit into my working week. The reassurance that the course gave me that there were many other in a similar position in the North West and that a group like Kindling are out there to provide help, advice and training for smaller growers was really inspiring.
On a practical level, seeing the various sites gave me really useful ideas for improving what we do, for example we work a lot with volunteers and the planting boards at Glebelands were such a simple idea - I’ll definitely be able to use that on our site. And learning from Jenny about better use of green manures was really helpful too.
I think the most useful thing though is meeting an network of like-minded people who are passionate to show that small scale commercial growing is financially viable and the best way forward - environmentally and for health and wellbeing. It’s given me contacts who I know will help and give advice if I find myself in a growing pickle! Also new friendships and inspiring growers on the same path who I really hope I will keep in touch with well into the future”.
Rupa Shah Flynn
Rupa is an allotment and community grower, and long-time Land Army member, and has been considering a future move into commercial or larger scale organic growing.
“As a participant with the least experience and resources, older than most, it was good to hear about realistic start-up costs, planning, crop care on larger scale, equipment, sustainable methods, important regulations and organisational matters from experienced and enthusiastic growers.
FarmStart’s Test Cropper facility is a great way to take the course further with the same quality guidance. I am working towards establishing organic veg 'growership', with a little more confidence - small steps in community settings and other related work. Building fertile soil (composting) and green manures got my imagination big time. The importance of building trust in relationships was also highlighted for this work, as a community building and cooperative model/effect is desired”.
Interested in testing out a new career in organic growing? Our autumn course begins in October and is particularly aimed at people considering taking on a small plot of land as a Test Cropper at one of our FarmStart sites (central Stockport or High Legh near Knutsford). To find out more about it check out the Commercial Growers Course page.