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Level: Beginners and those with some gardening experience

Duration: 2 days

Dates: 13-14 Mar; 27-28 Mar; 10-11 Apr 2014

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Highlights:

– Kitchen garden course over 2 days

– Kitchen garden design, herb and edible flower selection, planting, growing how-to and harvesting tips

– All tools and equipment provided

– Light lunch, tea/coffee/juice/water, fruit and tray bakes included

– Covers basic gardening skills including planning, preparing, building and maintaining a kitchen garden

– Take home your kitchen garden design and herb/edible flower list at the end of the course

Course description:

Course goers will learn how to design and build their very own kitchen garden during this 2-day course. They will cover basic garden design, herb and edible flower selection, bed construction, ground preparation, planting and on-going management, as well as learn tips on how to maximise the productivity of their kitchen garden. After the course they will be able to grow herbs and edible flowers that can be picked for home cooking.

Step-by-step instructions will enable participants to feel confident about building raised beds for their kitchen garden, selecting and planting herbs and edible flowers, creating the right growing environment for different herb varieties, as well as maintaining beds and harvesting the fruit of their labours.

Topics covered:

– Kitchen garden design

– Selecting herbs for home cooking and edible flowers for garnishes

– Plant combinations

– Planting seeds or taking cuttings; buying plants

– Preparing the ground for planting

– Maintenance; encouraging seasonal-long produce

– Harvesting herbs and picking edible flowers

Venue:

The course is taught in a dedicated barn at Le Manoir Saint Gervais as well as out in the kitchen garden. Participants have the use of various tools and equipment. Tea and coffee making facilities are available throughout the day in The Study.

This course is for beginners and gardeners with some experience (even if you don’t know all the Latin names!). Basic gardening skills will be covered up front so that newcomers can progress quickly. If you are an experienced gardener you will benefit from learning a structured approach to establishing a kitchen garden from your experienced tutor.

Your course tutor will contact you in advance to understand what you hope to gain from the course and to establish the size of your desired kitchen garden.

About us:

Le Manoir Saint Gervais is a haven for all things vintage/crafty/homely. The team runs workshops, courses and masterclasses  throughout the year for individuals wanting to learn new skills while staying at a boutique B&B, or for expats and their visitors staying locally. We also create bespoke ‘crafty getaways’ for groups wishing to hire the whole house.

Who attends courses at Le Manoir Saint Gervais?

 – Independent visitors to France wishing to explore the local area, learn new skills and meet new people while staying in quality accommodation

– Family groups or groups of friends celebrating a birthday or hen party and looking for activities that everyone can do together whatever their age or ability while staying in quality accommodation

– Groups looking to increase their skills while staying in quality accommodation

– Individual visitors staying locally with friends or family and wanting to learn new skills

– Expats and French nationals living locally wishing to learn new skills and meet new people

Note: partners, family and friends of course goers are welcome to stay at the house and enjoy the local area and what it has to offer.

Please visit our gallery and scroll through photos from recent courses.