The Organic Centre at Rossinver, Co Leitrim, runs courses throughout the year on everything from beginner food growing to using renewable energy to beat the recession. If you’re based on the east coast you can avoid the trek to Leitrim by attending a course at its training centre in Glenealy, Co Wicklow. “Organic Food Growing for the Complete Beginner” is a one-day course which covers the basics of vegetable growing.
A hands-on approach allows participants to learn by doing, gain basic theory, and find out which herbs and vegetables the beginner should try. This course will run in Glenealy on May 23rd, July 18th and September 19th.
Next Sunday, you could try learning the ancient craft of grafting at a grafting workshop in Rossinver, with fruit expert Phil Wheal. You will get hands-on experience of grafting apple, pear, plum and cherry trees, and get to take home your own newly-grafted tree. Also running next Sunday in Leitrim is the first in a four-day course, “Grow Organic – Cook Organic”, which aims to encourage gardeners to cook with their own produce and cooks to grow some of their own ingredients – the twist here is that you start the day with a cooking session and learn how to grow the ingredients in the afternoon. Day one focuses on winter vegetables. Day two (herbs) is on May 2nd, day three (summer vegetables) is on July 19th and day four (fruit) is on September 26th. One-day courses at The Organic Centre typically cost €90 or €95 and include a light vegetarian lunch. For more information tel: 071-9854338, or see www.theorganiccentre.ie.