Definition of Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is a way of growing plants that focuses on using natural methods rather than synthetic chemicals. It’s all about nurturing the Earth and creating a harmonious ecosystem in your garden. Sustainable practices are key, meaning you work with nature to maintain a healthy balance. This involves enriching the soil with organic matter, like compost, to ensure it’s brimming with nutrients. By steering clear of harmful chemicals, you protect the environment and encourage bio-diversity, allowing various plants, insects, and wildlife to thrive. In organic gardening, it’s all about working hand in hand with Mother Nature for a healthier, greener world.
Do you fancy having a go at running your own gardening or horticultural business? Here’s a link to some online rsources on how to do this:
Learn a Craft, Craft a Future – Business School
Fancy Starting your own Gardening or Horticultural Business?
Do you fancy having a go at running your own gardening or horticultural business? Here’s a link to some online resources on how to do this:
Learn a Craft, Craft a Future – Business School
Heres a video showing a very simple technique for making money out of plants through vegetative propagation using division:
Jonathan Ensell Master of Horticulture (RHS) is the Lead Facilitator for this Course
Jon Ensell – Facilitator and Adult Education Manager: Jon is our horticultural wizard, responsible for infusing our programs with a love for organic gardening. His 30 years of practicing horticulture, 16 years of teaching gardening, and his status as a Royal Horticultural Society Master of Horticulture make him the perfect facilitator for those who want to learn and get the most out of their garden/allotment.
FREE Online Organic Gardening Course and Resources Sponsored by the National Lottery
Download a PDF of the course by clicking on the link below:
| Online Resources for the Roots to Fruit Organic Gardening Course: If you are going to use these resources and develop your own garden or allotments, please follow the suggested months as a guideline. |
| September 1. Let’s Get Started – How to Prepare a Bed, Border, Allotment or Garden Ready to Plant: How to prepare the ground for seed sowing and planting please follow the link and use the https://wp.me/P49fHh-ll Password : Delibr8 The Simplest Form of Plant Cloning/Propagation – Lifting and Dividing Perennials: Heres a video on how to lift and divide herbaceous perennials to create new plants: https://youtu.be/Xgit-WNukh4 SAFETY FIRST! Here’s a link to a basic health and safety course particularly around how embed health and safety legislation and risk assessing into your outdoor teaching: https://rtflearn.co.uk/rtf-health-and-safety-short-course/ Here’s a video introducing you to different gardening tools and their safe use: https://youtu.be/SvgxboFNrkg |
| October 2. Introducing Soil Fertility Through Making Compost and Sowing Cover Crops Green Manures/Cover Crops: Feeding and protecting the soil Compost Making: Leaf Mold Online Resources: Heres a video telling you about how soil builds up: https://youtu.be/pYIWMyjZFcA Heres a video on how to refine compost from your heap: https://youtu.be/l9t-eNHzZFE?si=2aFAVvKi4BhNYXUt Heres a video on the simple techniques and secret ingredients will transform your humble compost pile into a nutrient-rich powerhouse: https://youtu.be/K6uxLBXtQ9w |
| November 3. Looking After Soft Fruit Trees: Pruning Apple Trees: Pruning to improve fruit. Online Resources: Please click on the link below and input the password to gain some more information around pruning techniques: https://rtflearn.co.uk/level-2-pruning-and-removal-of-unwanted-plant-growth The password is: Deliber82 |
| December 4. How to Design a Garden: Online Resources: Heres a link to our free online garden design course: https://rtflearn.co.uk/cpd-how-to-design-a-garden/ Password: R00ms Heres a video no how to survey a garden site: https://youtu.be/y-Dvwof_9uY |
| January 5. Constructing the Hard Surfaces and Paths to Get Round Your Garden Infrastructure: Constructing Paths and Access. Online Resources: How to create concrete mosaics for paths and patios: https://rtflearn.co.uk/how-to-create-concrete-mosaic-slab/ |
| February 6. Propagation through Vegetative Cuttings or Cloning and Sexual Reproduction through Seed Sowing: Online Resources: Vegetative propagation resources:https://rtflearn.co.uk/level-2-collect-and-prepare-propagation-material/ Password:Deliber82 Grafting and budding resources: https://rtflearn.co.uk/level-2-grafting-and-budding/ Sowing seeds in containers resources: https://rtflearn.co.uk/sowing-seeds-in-containers-the-a4-allotment/ |
| February/ March 7. Starting a Veg’ Patch from Scratch Preparing Beds for Spring Planting: What to add to the soil in the spring and what not to do. Online Resources: How to prepare the ground for seed sowing and planting please follow the link and use the https://wp.me/P49fHh-ll Password : Delibr8 |
| March 8. Transplanting seedlings and plugs: Getting a head start in growing plants away from the plot undercover ready to install as established plants. Online Resources: Heres some resources that fullfill a number of great outcomes in one activity, its all about seed sowing indoors and you can also learn about how to grow a highly nutritious crop ready to harvest 10 to 14 days after sowing. https://rtflearn.co.uk/sowing-seeds-in-containers-the-a4-allotment |
| April 9. Sowing seeds outdoors in drills: Sowing directly into the ground can save time and effort. Planting out: How to install established plants/plugs in the bed. Online Resources: How to plant out a veg’ plot or Garden. Password: P0tPlant$ |
| April 10. Compost Making Master Class: From heap to bed Online Resources: Here’s a resource page on how to make a soil improver really fast and how to refine compost from your heap: https://rtflearn.co.uk/organic-gardening-class-making-compost-fast/ |
| May/June 11. Plot Maintenance: Maintaining your bed in an environmentally sustainable way. Online Resources: Here’s a link to some online resources on this subject: How to Maintain a Bed/Veg’ Plot. Password: B0rder$ Heres a link to identifying weeds and wildflowers: How to Identify Weeds and Wildflowers |
| June 12. Growing in Containers: Planting hanging baskets and tubs. Booking Link Online Resources: Heres a link to some online learning resources on How to Plant out a Hanging Basket |
| July/August 13. Feeding and Fertilising Plants in an Environmentally Sustainable Way Brewing up Comfrey Tea: Online Resources: Here’s some step-by-step guidance and videos on how to make comfrey tea: https://rtflearn.co.uk/organic-gardening-class-making-soil-activators-brewing-up-comfrey-nettle-or-borage-tea/ |
| Online Resources That Can Be Used in School Lessons If you fancy a go at exploring gardening and the great outdoors with your pupils have a look at the resources on the page in the link below: https://rtflearn.co.uk/rtf-schools-learning-resources/ |
This organic gardening learning programme has been sponsored by the national lottery!
Learn in a real practical informal setting. Our nurturing environment extends to our welcoming community. Enjoy hot drinks and refreshments while you connect with fellow gardners, creating lasting friendships.
