Day Courses
We start with the principles of no dig growing, and how it saves so much time, for harvests as good as, if not better than, those from dug/tilled soil. You’ll see how to create a productive garden, even when a beginner, and how to be on top of weeds, including couch and bindweed. Experienced gardeners will learn timesaving methods to increase the growth and health of their plants.
Gardening is often made to sound more complicated than it is, especially with regard to feeding plants and coping with weeds. You’ll feel empowered through understanding the methods you see at Homeacres, which you can then adapt to your own garden.
Homeacres is a third of an acre market garden and a field lab too – there is so much to see and learn from.
Getting started
- Making soil clean of weeds through mulching rather than digging – a prerequisite to having time for creative work.
- Different composts and manures – when and how to use them for best results.
- Different ways of making compost – which ingredients work best; there is plenty to see in the heaps here!
- A look at Homeacres’ trials and comparisons – dig/no dig, fork/no dig, no-rotation, and different composts.
Sowing and propagation
- Different sowing methods – examples of sowing and multisowing in modules, pricking out, and sowing direct into surface compost.
- Seasonality and timing of sowing for strong, healthy growth.
Growing
- Uses of fleece and mesh to speed growth and protect from pests.
- Reducing slug numbers, and protecting crops from other pests.
- How and when to pick crops for healthier, long-lived plants.
- Advice on polytunnels – which size to use, orientation, and what to grow in them.
- Energy gardening – simple ways to improve growth (see also the last chapter of my book, Skills for Growing.)
We start at 10.30am, so please arrive a little before, and we finish at around 4.00pm. The day includes lunch made from Charles’s vegetables, both stored and fresh from the garden.
Food is prepared by chefs including Anna Shepherd, Laura Price and Catherine Balaam – Catherine’s recipes are in the No Dig Cookbook.
We offer tea and coffee mid-morning, and before you leave, when you can also buy books, calendars and wallcharts, as well as CD module trays and dibbers.
Please click the link below for 2024 dates and booking
Dates & BookingThe courses include lunch (except afternoon). If you have dietary requirements, please say when booking.
- We sell course vouchers which the recipient can redeem at their convenience
- Ideas for accommodation can be found here.
- For home learning, my online courses are available here, and books here.
- Email Nicola at admin@charlesdowding.co.uk with any questions about Homeacres courses.
