What’s On

Tuesday 14^th April 2015                   
1pm – 4pm

The Going Organic course is designed for anyone who is considering becoming an organic gardener and would like to apply these techniques within their gardens. This is an informal course with plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion.

Wednesday 15^th April 2015         
1pm – 4pm

Explore the essential building blocks for successful composting; what to compost, where to site your compost and a look at the different composting systems available. This course will give you the confidence and knowledge to either set up your own compost bin at home or make the most of your current composting set up.

Thursday 16th April 2015                    
10am – 1pm

2015 is the year of soil and as one of the most precious resources in your garden, looking after it well is the key to growing successful food crops. This course will explain how to manage different soil types and feed it from sustainable resources. We will show you how growing green manures can benefit future food crops and how to recognise when your plants are suffering deficiencies. The session will contain a mixture of demonstrations and practical activities.

National Gardening Week was launched four years ago by RHS and has grown into the country’s biggest celebration of gardening. Join us at Ryton Organic Gardens where we will be celebrating National Gardening Week with a selection of informative and interesting talks and courses. See below for the events added so far….

Tuesday 14th April

11am – 11:45am
Tour and Talk from Heritage Seed Library
Enjoy a tour of Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library and learn more about the history of the library, how it works and the importance of saving seeds. The tour will also include a visit to the HSL’s growing out area, where our heritage varieties will be seen growing and you’ll see some of the techniques used for growing from seed.
This Tour and Talk is repeated on Thursday 16th April at 11am
(free to attend, click here for information about the Heritage Seed Library)

1pm – 4pm
Going Organic Course
(click here for further details)

Wednesday 15th April

1pm – 4pm
Essential Composting Course
(click here for further details)

Thursday 16th April

10am – 1pm
Managing Your Soil Course
(click here for further details)

11am – 11:45am
Tour and Talk from Heritage Seed Library
(free to attend, click here for information about the Heritage Seed Library)

1pm – 4pm
Spring Pottery Class
(click here for further information)

Friday 17th April

FREE entry to gardens

Tuesday 12th May
10am - 1pm

Learn how to make a variety of different plant supports from willow. Participants will be able to make and take home a wigwam on the day, suitable for sweet peas and other climbing plants. This course is for a beginner/intermediate level.

Thursday 14^th May 2015                   
1pm – 4pm

This is an adult ceramic workshop, no previous experience necessary.
Spring is here, so dig your hands into clay, release the seeds of creativity, and cultivate your very own pottery inspired by nature.

Come and learn the skills of clay work, experiment with techniques, shapes, decoration, and colour, to build your own forms. Guided by Lesley-Ann French, a local Ceramic Artist and Tutor, you will be able to create unique pots and plaques which will be fired so that they can live inside or out.

The maximum number for the workshop is 10 so everyone will get as much help as they need and there will be the opportunity for chat and plenty of fun! Just bring your interest and enthusiasm……everything else is provided!

Lesley will fire your clay creations at her studio and they will be ready to be picked up from Ryton Organic Gardens from 7th May.

Friday 22nd May 2015
1pm - 4pm

Amid increasing pressures on the natural landscape, our gardens have become vital to wildlife. 22nd May 2015 is International Biodiversity Day and during the session, we will look at what the gardener can do to create a healthy haven for wildlife. This course is for a beginner/intermediate level.

Thursday 4th June 2015
10am - 1pm

Learn more about the wonderful world of worm composting. How do worms create compost? What should you feed your worms? We’ll take a look at different styles of wormery, how to create the optimum conditions for your worms and how to use vermicompost in the garden.

Saturday 13th June 2015
10am - 4pm

This course will be delivered by the Centre for Alternative Technologies (CAT).

The course will cover the principles of working wood, joints and carpentry in a rustic style and is tailored to those interested in making rustic furniture from a range of native tree species in the uk. The style of this course is very hands-on, where participants will learn through making their very own garden bench.

Saturday 25th July 2015
10am - 4pm

This course will be delivered by the Centre for Alternative Technologies (CAT).

Not a building course but rather advice on the component parts and the biology of a compost loo system and the kit required to make one.  Students will still need to build effectively a shed around the outside for it to be complete but that’s the more straight forward part of the skills required to make a compost loo.