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Level: Beginners and those with some gardening experience

Duration: 5 days

Dates: 31 Mar – 04 Apr 2014

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Highlights:

– Potager/vegetable garden course over 5 days

– Vegetable garden design, vegetable selection, preparation and 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 vegetable gardening skills including planning, preparing, maintaining and harvesting a vegetable garden

– Take home your vegetable garden design and plant list at the end of the course

Course description:

Course goers will learn how to design and establish their very own vegetable garden during this 5-day course. They will cover vegetable garden design, plant selection, vegetable patch construction, ground preparation including composting and mulching, planting seeds or plants, pest control, on-going management, as well as learn tips on how to maximise the productivity of their vegetable garden. After the course they will be able to grow organic vegetables that can be harvested for home cooking or given as gifts to friends or family.

Step-by-step instructions will enable participants to feel confident about establishing vegetable beds, selecting and planting seeds, creating the right growing environment for different vegetables, as well as maintaining beds and harvesting the fruit of their labours.

Topics covered:

– Vegetable garden design

– Selecting plants for home cooking

– Plant combinations and rotation

– Buying/planting seeds or plants

– Preparing the ground for planting

– Maintenance; encouraging season-long produce

– Harvesting vegetables and seed collection

Venue:

The course is taught in the Potting Shed at Le Manoir Saint Gervais as well as out in the vegetable 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 vegetable 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 vegetable 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.