Organic gardening is old hat. It is the way everyone used to produce fruit and vegetables
and, in many parts of the world where people simply cannot afford expensive chemicals
and technology, still do. Our grandparents would have wondered what all the fuss
was about.
The long term effects of monoculture and the saturation of our environment
with toxic herbicides and pesticides is not known.
We do know that something awful
is happening to our environment; that many species of birds and other wildlife are
simply disappearing, we can see that much for ourselves. We are also aware of what
appears to be a quite extraordinary rise in the number of mysterious allergies and
other complaints that we hear about and cannot explain and most of us share the very
real concerns of informed consumers all over the developed world about the way our
food is produced and at what cost. Future generations will know, and, quite rightly,
judge us by our actions.
So, there you are, if you want to grow cheap, fresh, clean
and healthy food, are not afraid of some hard work and want to rediscover the real
flavour of home grown vegetables produced by working with nature not against her,
read on.
A Summary of the Course
Study book One: Ground work
The basics; The soil
as a provider, structure, texture, composition and soil dynamics. Organic matter,
water and air. Nutrient cycles, bio-
Study book Two: Manures, Composts and Fertilizers
Farmyard manure -
Basic biology; structure, form and function. Scientific naming;
purpose and importance. The life cycle; dormancy, germination, growth and development,
pollination, fertilization, fruit and seed. Photosynthesis and transpiration.
Study
book Four: Planning and Cultivations
Design, layout, planning and rotations; a question
of space. Cultivations; why, when, if and how to dig. Rows, beds, raised beds and
organic surface cultivations.
Study book Five: Vegetables
This section covers all of the most widely grown vegetable
varieties, some old and unusual cultivars, together with a list of interesting ‘specials’
for the connoisseur. They include; Potatoes and tubers, roots, shoots, stalks and
the onion family. Legumes, brassicas, spinach and other leaves. Pumpkins, marrows,
squashes and courgettes. Sweet corn, old and unusual vegetables. The epicure’s
choice.
Study book Six: Herbs and the Salad Bowl
As with the section above, we try
here to cover all of the well known salads and herbs, together with a selection of
old, interesting and more unusual varieties. They include; lettuce, chicories, endives
and celtuce. Rocket, corn salad, cress and Chinese leaves. Tomatoes, cucumbers,
radish, peppers and aubergines. Balm, basil, chervil, coriander and dill. Good
King Henry, mint, marjoram, parsley, rosemary and sage. Savory, sorrel, thyme and
tarragon.
Study book Seven: Fruit
Top fruit including; apples, pears, plums and gages,
cherries, peaches, apricots, nectarines and quince. Soft fruit including; currants,
gooseberries, rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, loganberries and blackberries.
Figs, citrus and vine fruits in the conservatory.
Study book Eight: Under cover gardening
The
glasshouse; siting, types, sizes, heating and ventilation. Cold frames, tunnels
and other plastic structures, cloches, fleece and films. Glasshouse crops and food
production, controlling the environment, biological pest control.
Study book Nine:
Pests, Diseases, Disorders and Weeds
Definition, symptoms and identification, mode
of attack and damage. Nutritional and environmental disorders. Insects, molluscs,
mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses. Natural, biological and cultural control
techniques. Companion planting. Beneficial hosts. Pests, predators and natural
diversity.
Study Book Ten: Conservation, Concience and the Future ~ (Under review)
Chemical, cultural and biological prevention, control and protection methodology.
Assessing and avoiding risks to the environment, awareness of risks and effects
of physical damage and pollution including legislative issues. Ecology in the garden
and at work. The roles of conservation agencies and organizations including: The
RHS, The Institute of Horticulture, the Institute of Biology, The seedbanks, The
National Fruit Collection, The Botanical Society of the British Isles, The Council
for the Preservation of Rural England, The National Council for the Conservation
of Plants and Gardens.
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