Waste not, want not workshop series: From soil to seed: Complete home food growing

Home composting

Composting is the controlled, natural process of decomposing organic materials like food scraps, plant material and cardboard and paper. This process, driven by microorganisms, requires a balance of carbon-rich brown material such as cardboard and nitrogen-rich plant materials, moisture, and oxygen. The resulting “black gold” 🌱🟫improves soil health, fertility, and water retention, acting as a sustainable alternative to landfill waste and synthetic fertilizers.

Recycling your garden waste into home-made compost is both easy and environmentally friendly.

Over a series of two hour workshops, you will learn the complete skills to grow your own food at home – from soil preparation and composting through to seed saving, planting, plant care, and harvesting.

These transformative workshops will equip you with everything you need to grow your own organic food at home, whatever your starting point or available space. You’ll learn professional horticultural techniques from an experienced gardener, covering soil preparation and composting, seed collection and sowing, container growing, pruning, plant health, and organic growing methods aligned with Soil Association standards. Beyond the practical skills, you’ll discover how to significantly reduce your shopping bills by growing fresh, nutrient-rich produce in your own garden, balcony, or patio. You’ll gain the confidence to troubleshoot common garden problems, manage pests naturally, and become truly self-sufficient in growing food year-round. This workshop series isn’t just about gardening – it’s about reconnecting with nature, reducing your environmental impact, and joining a supportive community of like-minded growers. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, these sessions offer practical, achievable learning at a pace that suits you, with the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your food comes from and how it’s been grown.

What You’ll Achieve

Through this composting workshop, you’ll develop a deep understanding of why composting matters – both for your own gardening success and for the health of our planet. You’ll gain the practical knowledge and confidence to start composting at home, whether in a garden or in pots on a balcony or patio, and learn how to use your finished compost to grow healthier plants and reduce your need for more expensive shop-bought fertilisers.

If you’re already composting, you’ll discover new techniques and solutions to improve your process and get even better results. By the end of the session, you’ll have the skills to manage your own compost system effectively, plus we’ll provide you with helpful resources and information to support your composting journey long after the workshop ends.

The real benefit? You’ll save money, grow better plants, and know that you’re making a positive environmental impact with every scrap of kitchen and garden waste you transform into gardening gold.

Workshop details

Grow, Cook, Share, Care is a Hands of Hope programme engaging vulnerable groups, those with complex needs, families, especially those living in food poverty, and older people, in learning, wellness and social activities aligned to growing, cooking, and nature.

Suitable for all. Priority for spaces will be given to people meeting the criteria: aged over 50, young carers and young adults with learning disabilities.

There is no charge for this workshop, donations are always welcome!

Please ensure you arrive ten minutes before the start time to ensure we can get everyone registered. You will need to do one booking per person please so we know who will be attending.