Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

FREE FARMstart taster days on August 1st & September 5th

These taster days are designed to give you an introduction to work as a grower or running a market garden running under organic and no dig principles as well as regenerative soil management.

We offer a longer programme which you are welcome to discuss with us but there is no obligation to undertake after completing the taster day.

 

FREE Taster Day Schedule

• Market Garden tour - taste our unusual edibles as we tour around our perennial market garden
• Tools - What tools do you actually need to run a market garden
• Vegetables - the backbone of most market gardens - what could you be growing, how, in how much space
• Fruit - some of the more unusual crops to excite your customers
• Herbs - all the many benefits of growing herbs
• Flowers - cut flowers & edible flowers
• Nut crops for the UK
• Sustainable honey production

 

This taster day is aimed at those who wish to train as a food grower, switch career or re-train, and opens the door to further training & learning opportunities with us and our wider network.

We value diversity and welcome applications from those traditionally excluded from work, training or agriculture which includes but isn't limited to: people from minority ethnic backgrounds, women, single parents, NEETs, the queer community, ex-offenders, recovering addicts, those out of work or returning to work, those who recognise that being outside helps their mental health.

Places will be in high demand and as such, priority will be given to those who are local to the site for continued learning and access to land.

 

Who is it for?  Beginners and Intermediate growers.  Anyone who wants to grow food as a career, in a paid grower role, or commercially on your own piece of land or market garden. This course will enable you to begin the journey of setting something up on your own and earning an income.

*This course is not for people who wish to grow at home - we have a separate set of courses for relevant learning.*

 

Introductory days are funded to encourage new entrants into food growing as a career.

 

What our full programme covers

• The available edible crops for this climate
• The systems within which these crops can be grown
• Soil prep and fertility management
• Organic production
• Integrated pest management
• Fruit, Veg, Flowers, Herbs, Nuts, Eggs, Honey (Meat and Fish will be discussed)
• Low labour management
• Irrigation
• Packaging, Pricing and Reaching customers
• Compliance and legalities
• Financial viability of crops

Practical elements - we will be working outside in our Market Garden for at least 70% of our time together, learning as we carry out tasks. You will take part in sowing, planting and maintenance tasks, as well as harvesting, packing and pricing. There will be many plants to taste over the duration of the course.

Next steps - We can help you with access to land, plants, tools and further skills.  There are follow on opportunities to work with us to gain experience, mentoring, further learning and networking with other growers.  We have a network of 60+ growers already.  We also offer a grower matching service between projects and growers.

 

Places will be in high demand and as such, priority will be given to those who are local to the site and able to take on land with us.

The course runs 10am - 3pm in rural Berkshire - it is possible to reach the site via public transport and lift share, but you may prefer to drive for ease.  We support car sharing, but cannot guarantee this will be possible. (Hungerford, Didcot Parkway & Newbury have train stations and connections nearby) 

 

August 1st OR September 5th

10am - 3pm

 

Application information

Apply using this form or email grow@edgelandscaping.uk with any questions.

*Due to high volume of applicants, priority will be given to those local to the site, and therefore the course may fill before the closing date*

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs