For the fourth year, we are running our very popular Introduction to Growing Your Own Food beginners course. We will cover all you need to know to get you started with vegetable growing - including soil, seeds, propagation, plant care, no-dig bed making, and compost.
We will meet once a week on Tuesday mornings (10am-12) over six weeks to build up all your knowledge and skills, and finish with a celebratory meal.
Tuesday morning course dates are :
May 13th, 20th, 27th & June 3rd, 10th and 17th
“I really enjoyed getting involved in the practical aspects of the course and learning the theoretical! It was really well balanced!” (2024 course participant)
Who is This For?
This course is for anyone who want to learn how to grow vegetables using wildlife-friendly methods (no pesticides). You don't need to have your own garden - maybe you will one day! Or you can use these skills in any community growing space. The teaching is aimed at adults but you're welcome to attend with a baby or young child.
Very lovely people, I get lots of new information about vegetables, and how important is the soil for all of us and the planet. I am happy that I participated in that course because helped me to gain confidence in understanding how to look after vegetables, soil and the nature. (2024 course participant)
Accessibility Notes
We will be teaching and learning in our Community Garden. The ground is rough and uneven, but there are no steps and people have navigated it in robust wheelchairs. We will mostly be outdoors - be prepared for windy north Edinburgh! There is hands on activity, but no heavy lifting. We have outdoor kit you can borrow (wellies, waterproofs, fleeces). We don't have microphones, but will be a fairly small group (under 20 people).
See below about ticket pricing and financial accessibility.
About the Course Prices
We have three different prices. Paying the standard rate makes a contribution to covering our costs. If you can afford to pay the higher rate, you enable us to offer the discounted rate to folk under financial stress:
Solidarity (Pay it Forward) £120.00
Standard Price £80.00
Solidarity (Take if you Need) £40.00
+ Eventbrite fee %
We can also offer a free space if the cost prevents you from being able to attend - please email communityallotments@lauristonfarm.org to request this
If you haven't been before...
Travel and Directions
The address is Lauriston Farm Road, Edinburgh EH4 5EX.
The main community entrance is the farmyard at the back of the Toby Carvery car park.
Please use public transport, walk, wheel or cycle to get to the farm whenever possible.
Lothian Buses 16, 27, 29, 37 & 47 all stop within 5 minutes of the farm and there is a bike rack at the community entrance.
There is no public car parking on the farm. We can support a small number of vehicles to drive onto the farm to park at the entrance for this workshop - this is reserved for disabled people who need it as an access requirement - please email communityallotments@lauristonfarm.org if you need to do this. Please do not drive onto the site without prior arrangement.
