FOOD from the SKY

NEWS: Our seed2seed course is almost fully booked. We do still have a couple of places available on some of the course modules however – so if there is a particular topic that takes your fancy, please email sarah@foodfromthesky.org.uk to book.

A fantastic opportunity to learn about food growing from ‘seed2seed’ and go on a real journey, with great speakers at an amazing venue!

Do you want to learn how to grow food and live in the City with a balcony or a garden?  Do you want to learn how to grow organically and create an environment for bees and butterflies with other like minded people?  Do you want to go on an exciting year journey learning different methods to increase your yield (Permaculture, Biodynamic) while improving the space you live in …without costing the Earth?

We are so excited here at FOOD from the SKY to offer Seed2Seed: Foundation course in Urban Food Growing  in 2012!

We have just ended our first year which has be a wonder-full experience for many (see below what 2011 students say)

Seed2Seed is a Year course that starts in April and finishes in Nov It runs on the third Saturday of the month Time:

10:00 to 15:00.

The dates are:

1. April 14th – Soil, Sun and Water, Planning and Planting by Jack Astbury (FOOD from the SKY Urban Farmer)
2. May 19th – Bees and other pollinators by Brigit Starwbridge
3. June 16th – Intro to Permaculture by Hedvig Murray
4. July 21st – Beauty in Sustainability byIris
5. August 18th – Plan your winter growing space by Jack Astbury
6. Sept 15th – Intro to Biodynamic by Spencer
7. Oct 20th – Preserving and collecting seeds TBC
8. Nov 17th – Plan your next year by Jack Astbury (FOOD from the SKY Urban Farmer)

TUTORS: See intro and more at bottom of the page

LOCATION:
On the beautiful and pioneering roof top of Thornton’s Budgens, Crouch End, London N88DU.

FEES
Fees include 8 sessions, course work, some free organic seeds and access to a vibrant network of London food growers and seeders of change. Each course is limited to 16 people.

Full course: only £400 (£50/day)

The  course is a step by step journey through urban food growing and so students are encouraged to attend the full course . If this isn’t possible, a drop-in option is available:

Per module: £60/day

Capital Growth Co-ordinators: £384/year or £48/day

Concessions (unemployed/those earning under £20K: £240/year or £30 /day

BOOKINGS & QUESTIONS
Contact Sarah : sarah@foodfromthesky.org.uk

FAQs
We’ve answered some of your frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.

Course Outline:

Month	Theme	Content outline
April	Soil, Sun, Water and Container Basics.Planning, fertilisers	Learn what makes good container soil Mix compost and sow seeds to take home Consider sun and wind and how it affects what you can grow Learn about natural fertilisers and how to make them, including comfrey tea and wormeries. Make a potting mix and learn to transplant seedlings. Find out about soil life and how to nurture it. Make a growing plan for your own space.
May	Bees and other pollinators	Learn and identify different urban pollinators and their habits and habitats Learn about how to create a wild urban flower meadows Learn about natural ways to prevent pests and disease, including rotation & companion planting.
June	Permaculture	Understand the founding ethics amd principles of permaculture Discover how working with nature, you can increase productivity, while reducing work and waste. See how permaculture tools can be applied to your own life to creatively solve problems. Learn about forest gardens, as one application of permaculture.
July	Beauty in Sustainability	Create a beautiful growing space using recycled items and natural forms. Learn about structures to maximise space and yields, including self watering containers.
August	Plan your winter growing space	Review of growing year so far, analyse success/failures. Plan your winter growing activities.
September	Biodynamic and winter growing	Find out how biodynamic techniques can improve the quality, taste and quantity of your produce – including the influence of the moon. Learn about the variety of crops you can grow in containers over winter. Plan your winter growing.
October	Preserving and seed saving.	Learn the theory and practise of seed saving. Find out about different ways to preserve your harvests, including bottling and jams.
November	Plan you next year	Content will be tailored to your group’s needs and may include: Planning your 2011 growing season. How to engage your community in your project. Ongoing support and networking.

SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED :

Are the classes aimed at total beginners? Or at people with some prior gardening knowledge?

CLASSES ARE AIMED AT BEGINNERS AND PEOPLE WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE.  THE MIXING OF BOTH WILL INCREASE THE RESSOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ALL

Is the aim to enable the participants to create a garden in their own backyard, or is it more about working/growing things in the Food From The Sky garden? (which looks like an amazing project – I must say).

IT IS TO ENABLE PEOPLE WITH VERY LITTLE SPACES, ROOFS, BALCONIES TO GROW LOTS OF FOOD WHERE THEY ARE.  THE COURSE WILL PROVIDE HOME PROJECTS SO YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR OWN GROWING AREA WHILE DOING THE COURSE

Do you have to pay upfront, or once you’ve signed up can you pay per session?

PAYING UP FRONT WOULD BE HELPFUL. HOWEVER WE ARE AWARE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE SO WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO EXPLORE PAYMENT PLANS THAT MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND OURS.

Finally where do the sessions take place?

THE SESSIONS TAKE PLACE ON THE ROOF OF BUDGENS. SOME SESSIONS WILL BE INDOORS AND MANY MORE OUTDOORS.
For BOOKING and ENQUIRIES: Please contact Susie: seed2seed@foodfromthesky.org.uk

WHAT SOME OF LAST YEAR’S STUDENTS SAY ABOUT IT:

‘A lovely garden on the roof of a supermarket! That also runs a food growing course over the year to learn about how to grow food for yourself in whatever space you have .  A lovely place, lovely people, inspiring activities. Highlights: All the different lovely people. The various teachers/visitors and the others in the group. Getting our hands into soil, being outside.  The practical aspects that linked back to theory, in general across the sessions.’ Geraldine Gilbert, Network coordinator/Food team, Forum for the Future

 ‘An amazing project and group of people that care about the health of us and the planet and are actually doing something about it. The course gives you a broad understanding of how to take the first steps in growing organically regardless of the size of your growing space. It is underpinned by principles of permaculture which adds an extra dimension that makes it not only learning about growing food but also about how you want to live your life.’ Susie Gill – Personal Assistant for CEOs.

‘Inspiring, opening lots of new doors to different aspects of food growing; going at a natural pace through the growing year, great fun and opportunity to learn with lovely people, lots of practical learning for my own growing.’ ‘Being on the roof, in the middle of a city, yet close to the earth.’ ‘A journey of discovery. All you need to know to start growing your own food. Fabulous fun. Learnt so much and an introduction to many growing systems.’ Angela Hockley – Editorial Manager

‘A great way to learn about the growing year-whatever your level of experience and whatever your available growing space. A wonderful overview of what you need to know and an opportunity to get a taster of different but complimentary growing ‘philosophies’.  A lovely way to learn and to share with like minded people.’ ‘The way we learned through sharing and supporting each other.’ Wendy Rowan – Devine Chocolate

TUTORS:

GROWING IN CONTAINERS/SMALL SPACES/GARDEN: Sat 14th April, Sat 18th August & Sat 17th Nov – Jack Astbury – FOOD from the SKY urban farmer (more soon)

BIODIVERSITY SESSION: Sat 19th May – Brigit Strawbridge

Brigit writes, talks and campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and other environmental and ethical issues. She is especially passionate about our native bees and spends much of her time observing the symbiotic relationship between bees and flowers in her ‘pollinators garden’ – and on the Malvern Hills, where she lives. Through these observations Brigit is discovering an ever deepening relationship of her own with the natural world. Brigit’s blog http://www.beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

PERMACULTURE INTRO: Sat 16th June – Hetvig Muray

Hedvig is passionate about permaculture. She has applied permaculture design to all aspects of her life: creating a productive garden in an old garage, growing plants that clean the air in her flat and more. She has been involved in 20 Introductions to Permaculture, including with Brighton Permaculture Trust, Transition Town Brixton and London Permaculture Festival. She has set up and run a social enterprise since 2006 that supports people to grow food in their own homes, gardens and communities. Her website is http://hedvigmurray.co.uk

BEAUTY IN SUSTAINABILITY : Sat 17th July- Iris (more soon)

BIODYNAMIC INTRO : Sat 15th Sept – Spencer (more soon)