Training events
All events are free for CSA groups and practitioners, with lunch and refreshments provided, but please note that booking is essential.
CSA Training and networking day - 18 March 2010
NOW FULLY BOOKED
10.00-4.00pm Forest Row, East Sussex
This day is for CSAs who don't yet have a business plan in order to help you clarify your aims, objectives and priorities and to help you start to form a realistic plan from your group's various enthusiasms. There will be time for networking and a brief farm walk at the inspirational CSA, Tablehurst Farm.
For more information and to book a place email Lisa Nunn, email: lnunn@soilassociation.org
Crop planning, pig and poultry-keeping
27 March, 2010
From 10am - 4pm at Loxley Valley Community Farm, Sheffield
This workshop will look at three main topics:
- Crop planning for CSAs
- Rearing organic hens
- Rearing pigs for pork
For more information and to book a place, please contact Kirstin Glendinning on kglendinning@soilassociation.org
The day will involve some practical activities, so please bring appropriate clothing and footwear, and a packed lunch - we will not be providing lunch or refreshments.
SW Networking and Marketing event
Saturday 17 April 2010
10.30am-3.30pm at Occombe Farm, nr Paignton, Devon TQ3 1RN
Join us for a practical one day marketing workshop, tailored to the needs of CSAs and other local food projects. Rob Greenland from The Social Business will take you through a step-by-step marketing plan which will help you to think about do-able, affordable ways to build long-term
relationships with your current and potential customers.
Rob Greenland is a social entrepreneur based in Leeds. He worked for a fair trade co-op for 7 years, and then for a couple of social enterprise support agencies. He has been self-employed since 2005, working with social enterprises and other third sector organisations to help them to get
better at achieving social change. He has worked with CSA's and other local food projects in Yorkshire, and is an adviser on the Local Food Lottery Programme. His blog http://www.thesocialbusiness.co.uk was recently named top social enterprise blog in the UK. He has also written for Social Enterprise, New Start Magazine, and The Guardian.
To book a free place, contact Lisa Nunn, E: lnunn@soilassociation.org
FREE advice from our Making Local Food Work partners
- For enterprise support advice call: 01993 814 388
(Plunkett Foundation) - For governance and legal support call: 0161 246 2907
(Co-operativesUK)
Other Soil Association events
The Soil Association is running 300 courses over the next two years as part of the Organic Farm School. On offer are hands-on courses in growing your own food, rearing animals, cooking and rural crafts. Participants can learn practical skills direct from organic farmers, growers and producers with personal experience.
Courses include :
- bee-keeping
- bread baking
- Cheese making
- Sausage making, salamis and curing
- Game preparation and butchery
- chicken keeping
- vegetable growing
- cider making
- bread baking
- willow weaving
- hedge laying
- and many others.
Monty Don, Soil Association president, said: “The Soil Association’s Organic Farm School is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to come and learn skills from the experts."
