one-day course organic food production

venue: Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol

The aim of this course is to introduce beginners to organic food growing, enthusing them to grow their own food.

On the course you will mix potting compost, sow a variety of edible plant seeds, write a plan to grow a variety of vegetables from seedlings to edible plants, and afterwards you will be able to discuss different soil properties, identify common pests and pest control methods and recognise common plant diseases.

As well as practical sowing sessions, and looking at the plants around the farm, you will learn:

• the reasons for organic growing
• the basic needs of plants
• the difference in basic soil types and structures
• soil qualities in relation to plant needs
• how to maintain a healthy soil and ways to improve soil
• reasons to avoid soil compaction
• about different growing sites
• a variety of sowing methods
• the importance of crop rotation
• how to identify plant families
• reasons for labelling as you sow
• organic pest control methods and how to make a variety of organic pest control devices

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask specific questions and discuss your own projects.

more on organic gardening

companion planting: it's good to grow onions and carrots together, because the smell of onions keeps away carrot flies

brassicas and other vegetable seedlings growing in seed trays in the sun before being planted out

what you grow is entirely up to you - romanesco broccoli, as well as being delicious, is incredibly beautiful