Organic Fruit and Veg Growing for School Teachers
A free 5-day summer course at Laurelbank Farm, Saintfield, Co. Down
17–21 August 2026
Could you grow a generation of food growers?
Imagine your pupils understanding where food comes from — not from a poster on the wall, but because they grew it, harvested it, and ate it themselves. Imagine a school garden that actually works, year after year, without depending on one heroic member of staff or a one-off grant.
That's what this course is about.
What is this course?
This is a free, hands-on, 5-day training course for primary and secondary school teachers, held at Laurelbank Farm — a 7-acre organically certified farm outside Saintfield in County Down.
Over five days you'll get your hands dirty (literally) learning the practical skills to grow organic fruit and vegetables in a school setting: soil health, composting, crop planning around school terms, growing from seed, pest management, harvesting, and food safety. Half the time will be in the field, half in the classroom. Every day we'll make and share a simple lunch together using produce from the farm.
It's free to attend. Basic camping on the farm is available if you need it, and travel bursaries are available for those who need support getting here.
But here's the thing — this is a pilot.
We're not going to pretend we have all the answers. We think teacher training is a missing link in getting organic and agroecological growing properly embedded in schools — but we want to find out if that's true, and what actually works.
So as well as learning to grow, you'll be helping us understand: what are the real barriers to school growing projects? Does a course like this actually make a difference? What do teachers need to make it stick?
You'll hear from us again in January 2027 and July 2027 — a short survey each time to find out how things are going back at school. Your experience and insights will directly shape how this programme develops.
This is collaborative, honest, and a little bit experimental. If that sounds good to you, read on.
What you'll learn
The principles of organic growing and why they matter
How to understand and improve your soil
Composting, mulching, and no-dig methods
Planning a vegetable garden around school terms and holidays
Growing from seed and transplanting
Organic pest, weed, and disease management
Harvesting, storage, and food safety in school settings
How to bring all of this into your teaching
Practical details
📅 Monday 17 – Friday 21 August 2026
🕙 10am–4pm most days (early start Wednesday 8am; Friday finish at 3pm)
📍 Laurelbank Farm, 121 Middle Road, Saintfield, County Down, BT24 7LS
👩🏫 Up to 16 places available
💷 Free to attend
🏕️ Optional basic camping on the farm (with kitchen and shower access)
✈️ Travel bursaries available
Who is this for?
Primary or secondary school teachers based in Northern Ireland who want to get growing — whether you're starting from scratch or trying to rescue a neglected raised bed. You don't need any previous growing experience. You just need curiosity, enthusiasm, and a free week in August.
Ready to apply?
You will be able to apply online very shortly. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 10th July 2026.
And we'll be in touch to let you know if you have a place as soon as possible after that date.
If we receive more applications than places — which we hope we do — we'll select a mix of:
Primary and secondary teachers
Schools that are new to growing, schools where growing has lapsed, and schools with established projects
Teachers from a range of locations across Northern Ireland
We want a diverse group, because that makes the learning richer for everyone.
Any questions? Drop Jo a line at jo@laurelbankfarm.org