grow We are developing a demonstration market garden for training at Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire If you would like to visit or attent a course there, please get in touch
Desperate to be a Food Grower? FARMSTART programmes running regularly in Berkshire Fully funded FARMSTART February & May start Commercial food production training & mentoring Regular practical one day courses Bespoke training at your site by request Access to land for your own enterprise Ongoing mentoring Online courses for those not in the UK Plug plant suppy Apply now Market Gardens Setting up a new market garden or expanding your enterprise Financial viability Training for growers Fruit, Veg, Herbs, Nuts, Eggs, Honey, Edible & Cut Flowers Organic growing methods Regenerative food production Healthy soils & regenerative methods Setting up a food enterprise Polycultures Perennials Whole ecosystem design & biodiversity Book a consultation Our Specialisms Agroforestry Integrated systems Fruit, Veg, Herbs, Nuts, Eggs, Honey, Edible & Cut flowers Designing for biodiversity High value crops Routes to market Economic models Mentoring support Access to land Access to sales routes Business support Seed and plant supply Ask us a question
FARMstart Our new 4 day course is designed to get people started on their journey to grow commercially We will cover fruit, annual and perennial veg, herbs, nuts, eggs, edible flowers, cut flowers as commercial crops You will learn about soil health and regenerative food production We will discuss the types of food business you could start and who to sell to What's included: Access to our market garden for learning 4 days of teaching in classroom and outside practical learning Use of our tools and equipment A comprehensive handout on food production Yearly crop planners Access to our experienced tutors After the course: You may have the opportunity to access land for your food business through us at the end of the course Volunteer and work experience opportunities We can continue to mentor you with your food start up course There are various specialist courses we offer to improve your skills, such as propagation, herbs, forest gardening, high value crop production and more
Growing plants We grow edible plants in our nursery where we can completely control and regulate the growing environment We use our plants for teaching and the market gardens we manage We maintain our public Forest Garden voluntarily We design growing spaces for cooking schools, catering colleges, hotels, cafes & restaurants We have experience in growing a wide range of fruit (including citrus), vegetables (annual and perennial), herbs & spices (modern and historic), edible flowers, nuts, honey & egg production Our growing principles: Chemical free - no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides No dig - minimum soil interference to maintain soil health & ecosystems No bare soil - using mulches & groundcover plants to reduce weeds, retain water in soil & minimise irrigation needs No walking on growing beds - soil compaction disturbs the soil food web & prevents effective drainage Polycultures - always designing for more than one plant in the growing space; maximum produce, minimum labour, optimum soil health & integrated pest management Agroforestry & Perennials - integrating trees within growing systems for livestock & to maximise produce. Using perennials to reduce labour Prioritise heritage & UK varieties & named varieties (not hybrid seeds) & seed saving Grafting with scion wood (cuttings) from local orchards Peat free growing media Minimal use of plastic pots, reusing where possible Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle At present we sell: Fruit trees Apple, Pear, Plum, Damson, Greengage, Quince, Cherry Soft fruit bushes Black, Red & White currant, Gooseberry, Jostaberry, Worcesterberry, Thornless Blackberry, Worcesterberry, Cape Gooseberry and more Climbers Loganberry, Japanese Wineberry, Tayberry, Blackberry and more Perennial vegetables: Good King Henry, Sweet Cicely, Rhubarb, Salad Burnet and more Herbs Culinary, medicinal and tea varieties of herbs including more unusual herbs such as Lovage, Winter Savoury and a full range of mints – from Lime Mint to Lavender Mint Edible flower plants Chives, Borage, Calendula and many more – perfect for brightening up a salad!
Contact us To get in touch with about buying our plants, grown in our own nursery please email us at edge landscaping