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.

FARMstart Trainees

edge
Lambourn, Berkshire

Posted: 7 Jan 2025

Deadline: 15 Feb 2025

Compensation: Fully funded training

Living Wage employer Ethnicity Confident scheme Disability Confident scheme

Unpaid Traineeship Apprenticeship Volunteer Part-time

Job description

This is a 3 day course delivered over 3 Saturdays starting in March - March 15th, April 12th, May 10th.  

Each day will run 10am - 3pm.

The course is designed for those who wish to train as a food grower, switch career or re-train.

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 GROWstart program for this learning.

What we will cover

• 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

Practical elements - we will be working outside in our Market Garden for at least 50% 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.

What’s included - 3 days of teaching, refreshments and access to our growing site to help with the creation of your enterprise. There is also the possibility of access to land following the course, including our mentorship for your enterprise.

What you will leave with - you will receive with good introductory knowledge of a market garden, food production planning, and a good understanding of how to make money from growing food, how to do it and where to start.  Our support is also on offer beyond the course.

What you will be able to do afterwards - we would expect you to go away with some ideas of potential crops, how and where you might grow it and where you can sell it.  You will be able to plan a fruit, veg and herb garden in detail, and the space needed for these crops.

Next steps - you will be ready to start your food enterprise journey. We can help you with access to land, plants, tools and further skills.  There are follow on courses after completion of this one.

This course is fully funded to encourage new entrants into food growing as a career.

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 on each day 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 wil be possible.

There are further opportunities following the course, including work experience, mentoring and further learning and networking with other growers.  We have a network of 40+ growers already.

Application information

Apply using this form

*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*

Or email grow@edgelandscaping.uk with any questions.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs