Learn how to grow food sustainably and make money
Wales has declared a climate emergency and every solution to global warming includes radical change in how we produce food. It is as important to start this right now around Crickhowell as anywhere else in the world.
Here are some places in Wales and around the world where you can learn about ways of growing food that are very productive and good for the climate. Many refer to permaculture, which is defined as “consciously designing landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for the provision of local needs.”
The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth offers some interesting courses:
- A postgraduate course, Sustainable Food and Natural Resources
- A 3-day Introduction to Permaculture
Permaculture Wales offers 3-day permaculture courses.
Cardiff University has a part-time course for adults on permaculture: Design Your Edible Garden.
Troed y Rhiw Farm in West Wales offers courses in starting up as an organic grower or farmer as well as in bee-keeping.
Ragmans Farm, just over the border in Gloucestershire, run courses on permaculture and organic food growing. This includes courses on Cider Making and Sustainable Bee Keeping.
Ridgedale Permaculture in Sweden has published many articles and videos on profitable, mixed permaculture to inspire you, as well as books and an on-line training course for those wanting to start up.
Jardins de la Grelinette in Canada, where they share their methods of growing organic vegetables on 1.5 acres, yielding over UK£60,000 per acre with 60% profit margins – enough to sustain their family. They run a course to take market gardeners to the next level. It gives life-time access to over 15 hours of tuition and materials.
And near to home….
Brecon Beacons Foraging near Brecon offers courses in identifying edible wild plants and preparing them for food. There are courses for children and even foraging birthday parties! Read more about Brecon Beacons Foraging on this website.
Nant y Bedd garden in Fforest Coalpit offers workshops on organic vegetable growing. Read more about Nant Y Bedd on this website.
Ty-Mawr Kitchen Garden near Llangorse Lake offers half-day courses on small-scale organic growing. Read more about Ty-Mawr on this website.
A lot of these courses are currently unavailable due to COVID-19. Please check their individual websites for updates!
Photo: Ferme du Bec-Hellouin, France
See also:
Invitation to Crickhowell residents: how to use this site
Our plan: build a new local food economy
Our invitation to other towns and regions
We are responding to three crises: climate, local control, depopulation
How we in Crickhowell can respond to the climate crisis through how we eat
Help for young people to get started in food production
Help for local food & drink businesses to grow