We run a range of Level 1 and Level 2 City and Guilds horticulture courses throughout the year from our site in Chingford.
We currently have places available on a Level 1 course starting in September:
Practical Horticultural Skills – Food Growing – City and Guilds Level 1 Award
Day(s) & Time: Wednesdays 10.30am – 4.30pm (8 sessions)
Dates: Starts Wednesday 24 September | Ends Wednesday 26 November
No sessions on Wednesdays 22 and 29 October
Who is the course for?
This course is designed to offer foundation knowledge and technical skills for anyone who is thinking about working as a food grower or who wants to enhance food production knowledge for the home or allotment environment. It also acts as a gateway to a range of Level 2 course options. You will be studying in a community market garden environment with a blend of classroom guided learning and practical tasks to build confidence in techniques and seek guidance when needed.
The course covers a range of foundation topics. The morning is classroom-based with learning taking place in many formats. The afternoon will embed learning through practical horticultural activity in the fields and glasshouse gardens. Worksheets completed at the end of the day and home-learning resources shared. The course tutor is Danielle Ahmet supported by others from OrganicLea. The sessions in the afternoon are supported by all the horticultural leads at Hawkwood.
Throughout the 8 sessions – topics covered include: Understanding soil: Soil types, structure, and nutrient-take-up | Making compost and other fertility products and using them to improve your soil | Garden cultivation techniques – appropriate tools | Planting design considerations including the needs of different food crops; spacing, pest management and other aftercare including weed identification and management | Seed-sowing techniques | A crop calendar to support you to grow with the seasons | Understanding the role of organic food growing in a changing climate.
Qualification:
This course is accredited by the City and Guilds. There is no exam. Assessment is continuous and includes worksheets and opportunities to demonstrate knowledge in practicals.
Pricing:
The standard fee for this course is £450 for the 8 sessions.
Note on pricing: To support our vision to inspire everyone to grow, and connect people with plants we have developed a way to be able to offer discounted spaces to those who may need them. We have short solidarity payment guidance that supports a self-assessment. Please think about whether you can pay a solidarity rate (standard fee plus up to 50% or more). You may also feel that once you have read these guidelines that you could request to pay a discounted rate (standard fee minus 50%).
In addition to the above reduced fee places, we have funding that allows us to offer a free place to those who are on Full Universal Credit.
Enrolment process:
1. You can enrol and pay directly via OrganicLea’s online ticketing option. This is for those who are able to pay full /solidarity price in one payment. You will be contacted after this booking and required to complete a simple form.
2. To organise instalment payments or apply for a discounted place, please contact courses@organiclea.org.uk
3. Drop in information sessions about the course: The Community Learning and Inclusion (CLI) team, has organised a drop in information session from 4-5pm on Wednesday 3 September at the Hawkwood site. For those wishing to enrol in person or visit the site to understand transport links / viability – this can be arranged on this day.
Upon enrolment you will be invited to complete a simple form so the tutor can understand your interest in completing this course – this will include some basic health questions.
Please share interest with queries to courses@organiclea.org.uk
To register for a place and obtain more information about this opportunity, including fees, please contact courses@organiclea.org.uk
