Community Gardens
This Schumacher College, Dartington Trust course explores how garden design and regenerative horticulture can be combined to develop gardens run by and for the community. Community gardens have the potential not only to grow nutritious food and create wellness, but to strengthen social ties and empower us to tackle climate change. They can consider both the needs of community and the land, through seeing what is being called for within a particular place.
This course explores how we can build a community garden for the benefit of biodiversity, people and the wider environment. We will examine principles of regenerative practical horticulture and how we can restore our soils using wild, edible and ornamental plants.
There will be opportunities to learn from and participate in several local community gardens in and around Dartington. Here we will experience first-hand what can be achieved in a community garden and some of the issues they encounter. Experienced tutors and growers, including Mark Cummings, Zoe Jong, Jacquie Felix Mitchell, Harriet Knight, Poppy Okatcha, will discuss what they have learnt and what you might need to consider when setting up and caring for a community garden including design, space, people, budget and restrictions.
During the course explore how to facilitate a community gardening group, so that it becomes a thriving space for all. We will look at how roles are created within a group, how to resolve potential conflicts as well as devising a set of values and mission for a community garden.
For community volunteers who would like to set up a community garden there is a 50% discount for this course.
Time: Friday 19 – Sunday 21 May
