FOOD from the SKY

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 March and finishes in Nov It runs on the third Saturday of the month Time:

10:00 to 15:00.

The dates are:

1. March 17th – Soil, Sun and Water by Jack Astbury (FOOD from the SKY Urban Farmer)
2. April 14th – Planning and Planting by Jack Astbury (FOOD from the SKY Urban Farmer)
3. May 19th – Bees and other pollinators by Brigit Starwbridge
4. June 16th – Intro to Permaculture by Hedvig Murray
5. July 21st – Beauty in Sustainabilty TBC
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)

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

(A full payment or payment plan agreed by Azul/Susie is required by 3rd March)

BOOKING and QUESTIONS
Contact Susie : seed2seed@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
March	Soil, Sun, Water & container basics.	Learn what makes a good container soil. Mix compost and sow seeds to take home. Find out about containers: what size you need, where to source them etc. Consider sun and wind and how it effects what you can grow.
April	Planning, fertilisers	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	NO CLASS	You are always welcome on the roof to practise your learning at our volunteer days on Weds and first Sat of the month.
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