Three special Taster Days at Schumacher College
19, 20, 21st July, 2010
At Schumacher the growing, gathering, preparation and eating of food are all essential parts of the Schumacher experience, integral to all our courses. But, when it comes to sustainable local food, many people who want to expand their horizons are doing so in addition to busy lives and jobs.
With that in mind, we are offering a series of Taster Days alongside our Practical Skills for Sustainable Local Food course so that it’s possible for you to come and learn some new skills while sampling the best of what Schumacher has to offer in an affordable and accessible way.
Each day will be a mixture of practical gardens sessions, led by educator and professional gardener Dyane Osbourne, and visits to local ventures at the cutting edge of sustainable and community-based food production activities. Participants will practice new skills and discover sustainable ways of growing food and managing land.
In order to get a real flavour of College life, Taster Day students also have the opportunity to engage with the community living ethos – an essential part of the Schumacher experience. In supervised morning and afternoon sessions, Students can spend time in the Schumacher kitchen, playing their part in the creation of the delicious vegetarian food that the College has become famous for or in discussion forums and workshops.
Monday, July 19 2010
8.30am Optional
Morning Meeting. A chance to meet the other students and staff at the College, followed by time in the Schumacher kitchen helping to prepare lunch for the day.
10.00am First Session
Dyane will lead an outdoor workshop on small-space gardening. Students will make wooden planters from local timber to create a mini herb garden and a three-dimensional vegetable display – whilst gaining hints and tips on container-gardening for themselves.
1.00pm Lunch
Time to sample some of the produce that has come fresh from the Schumacher Garden.
2.15pm Second Session
Visit to School Farm and a chance to meet Horticulturalist Nick Gooderham. Nick is pioneering a low-carbon growing method based on organic standards and a ‘minimum tillage’ policy – disturbing the soil as little as possible. Nick will guide students around the farm, answer questions and give them the opportunity to harvest some crops. Session finishes at 4.15pm
4.30pm Optional, Evening at the College
Another opportunity to join the kitchen activities and help prepare food for the evening. And what better way to appreciate the fruits of the land by transforming local produce into a meal to share with others? You are also welcome to browse around the grounds and gardens or to use the library or meditation room.
6.00pm Optional, Evening meal
If you would like to stay and share the evening meal – you are most welcome. We just ask for an extra £10.
Tuesday, July 20 2010
8.30am Optional, Morning Meeting
A chance to meet the other students and staff at the College, followed by time in the Schumacher kitchen, helping to prepare lunch for the day or out in the garden.
10.00am First Session
Students will visit Dartington Forest Garden, a project of the Agroforestry Research Trust, where Martin Crawford has transformed a 2 acre field into a demonstration forest garden comprising many different levels of trees, shrubs and ground covers, all coexisting and producing useful products such as fruits, nuts, medicinal products etc. The forest garden is self-sustaining, containing a very diverse number of species and thus very resilient to pests, diseases and the vagaries of the climate. It provides a wide variety of foods including fruits, nuts, edible leaves, medicinal plants as well as useful items like poles and fibres for tying.
1.00pm Lunch
Time to sample some the produce that has come fresh from the Schumacher Garden.
2.15pm Second Session
Dyane will take students around the College’s own very different forest garden, which is designed to be a constant source of food for the College. It is a great example of a young forest garden which we hope will be encouraging to those who’d like to try some methods on their own land and within community growing and educational projects.
4.30pm Optional, Evening at the College
Another opportunity to join the kitchen or garden activities. You are also welcome to browse around the grounds and gardens or to use the library or meditation room.
6.00pm Optional, Evening meal
If you would like to stay and share the evening meal – you are most welcome. We just ask for an extra £10.
8.00pm Optional, Open Evening
Taster Day participants can attend the Schumacher College Open evening at no extra cost. Permaculture designer and teacher Rhamis Kent will talk about his work in Detroit, where urban agriculture projects, involving the urban poor and people of colour in growing their own food, are transforming the post-industrial landscape of the city.
Wednesday, July 21 2010
8.30am Optional, Morning Meeting
A chance to meet the other students and staff at the college, followed by time in the Schumacher kitchen, helping to prepare lunch for the day.
10.00am First Session
A practical, hands-on session that explores the wonders of compost. Dyane will give an introduction into producing your own top-quality compost, and its uses in the garden.
1.00pm Lunch
Time to sample some the produce that has come fresh from the Schumacher Garden.
2.15pm Second Session
Magical mushrooms. Dyane will help to dispel some of the mystery that surrounds our fabulous fungi, with a visit to the Schumacher Shitake logs. Students will leave with the knowledge to go and grow their own. Session finishes at 4.15pm
4.30pm Optional
Evening at the College. Another opportunity to join the kitchen activities by helping to prepare food for the evening. You are also welcome to browse around the grounds and gardens or to use the library or meditation room.
6.00pm Optional, Evening meal
If you would like to stay and share the evening meal – you are most welcome. We just ask for an extra £10.
Price for each Taster day, including all workshops, visits, tea/coffee and a delicious Schumacher lunch is £75. If you would like to stay for the evening meal, it’s just an extra £10. All visits are within easy walking distance of the College.
Book your place now! – click here to access our on-line booking system
For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College.
