Free food growing sessions

Train the Trainer sessions: fortnightly on Thursdays

Aimed at providing training for Hounslow/Heston residents who run (or are hoping to run) community gardens, or equivalent growing space (already set up or with potential to) and want to facilitate horticultural community sessions.

To train Hounslow/Heston residents to run/facilitate/deliver community sessions upon conclusion of the training, feeling empowered to lead and/or support similar initiatives. The training will offer opportunities for residents to develop new skills and access new job/volunteering opportunities, in addition to transforming residents’ relationship with stuff. These sessions will be used as catalysts for raising awareness to the importance and benefits of adopting circular economy principles in a community garden.

  • When: Thursdays, every other week
  • Time: 10am to 12pm
  • Where: Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden
  • Starting date: Thursday 30 March 2023
  • Ends: Thursday 7 September  2023

See all Train the Trainer sessions

March - Thursday 30 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 30 March
  • Making compost bins/bays. Brown/green ratios, carbon/nitrogen ratio, structures, timeframe, ingredients, kitchen waste, shredding material, Decomposers - FBI. Nutrients, organic material.
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 30 March
  • How to run a community garden session: planning, resources, participants, alternatives, expectations.
Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden
10am to 12pm

 

April - Thursday 13 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 13 April
  • Soil. Texture, pH, No Dig, organisms, organic matter, protection, alternative growing media
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 13 April
  • Working with participants in a community garden: safeguarding, relationships, volunteer contracts, code of conduct.
Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden
10am to 12pm

April - Thursday 27 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 27 May
  • Growing food- seed sowing techniques, seedlings, hardening off, transplanting, spacing
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 27 May
  • Keeping yourself safe: DBS, Insurance, First Aid, Risk assessments
   

 

 

May - Thursday 25

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 25 May
  • Growing food- seed sowing techniques, seedlings, hardening off, transplanting, spacing
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 25 May
  • Getting the message out: communication, social media, advertising
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

 

June - Thursday 8

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 8 June
  • Wildlife garden -  birds, insects, pond life, log pile, dead hedge
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 8 June
  • Activity offer: relevant to users, seasonality, within the space, out in the community
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

June - Thursday 22

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 22 June
  • Propagation skills. Cuttings, division, seeds
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 22 June
  • Training opportunities: upskilling volunteers, additional workshops
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

 

July - Thursday 6

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 6 July
  • Pests and diseases, biological control, cultural control
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 6 July
  • Environmental activism: engaging volunteers in environmental projects, wider issues,citizen science, community, national and international
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

 July - Thursday 20

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 20 July
  • Plant care and maintenance - feed, pruning, support structures
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 20 July
  • Collecting data: mailing lists, whatsapp groups, GDPR.
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

 

August - Thursday 3

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 3 August
  • Harvesting - annuals, perennials, seed saving, sowing, cover crops
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 3 August
  • Sustainability: collecting seed, circular system, climate crisis.
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

August - Thursday 17

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 17 August
  • Planning a harvest for the whole year, choice of plants, crop rotation, companion planting
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 17 August
  • Forming a group: community interest groups, committees, charity, business.
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm

 

September - Thursday 7

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Thursday 17 August
  • Preparation for Autumn and Winter. Green manure, pruning, sowing for Spring
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Thursday 17 August
  • Getting funding: how to apply for a grant, bank accounts, finance.
Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
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