Establishing a Small-Scale Market Garden (¼ Acre Model)

Four-day introduction to the practical, technical, and commercial foundations of establishing a small-scale market garden. Whether you're a new entrant to market gardening, a smallholder or land-based entrepreneur exploring sustainable pathways, a hospitality grower or chef-developing a farm-to-table enterprise, or part of a community growing project or CSA initiative, this course is designed to support your journey. It also welcomes learners keen to develop regenerative horticulture enterprises grounded in practical skills and ecological principles. Deliverd by Claire Hannington-Williams; a grower, designer, and educator with over a decade of experience across organic and permaculture systems, holding Certificates in Horticulture, Permaculture Design, and Advanced Permaculture. Her background includes three years as head grower at Green Michelin Star restaurant 'Crocadon Farm' and prior work as a field-to-table chef informing her seasonal approach. She currently restores and manages growing spaces at Lower Hewood Farm in Dorset, running a local veg box scheme, agroforestry projects, and on-farm education events. Guest tutors will include: • Tim Williams for soil health and management, and how to apply large scale management principles to small scale production. Interpreting soil tests and unlocking your soil’s potential. • Ashley Wheeler from Trill Farm Garden, speaking about building and sustaining a successful commercial growing enterprise in Devon. Programme The programme moves from context to practice to planning. The concept plan is proposed for Day 4 so you get a full understanding of your soil, market, and growing system before you look at the design process. Days 2 and 3 will take place on local working farms. • Day 1: The big picture - Context, vision, enterprise and site reading • Day 2: Assets and needs - Soil health, plant health, fertility building, and infrastructure (Lower Hewood Farm) • Day 3: Keys to success and longevity - Growing systems, tools, biodiversity, business and community (Trill Farm Garden) • Day 4: Planning and design - Business planning and the concept plan