Apricot Centre learning session. Credit: Apricot Centre
Free courses for budding regenerative farmers and growers
The Apricot Centre is offering free Skills Bootcamp courses for Devon residents in organic regenerative agriculture and permaculture, and free yearlong courses for anyone within feasible geographical reach.
The Apricot Centre CIC is an organic, regenerative, Biodynamic, permaculture-designed farm and education centre in Dartington, Devon. They offer accredited, fully funded short and long courses in organic regenerative agriculture and agroecology practices for both new entrants and established farmers and growers - welcoming applications from all diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Currents offerings are:
Level 2 Skills Bootcamp in organic regenerative agriculture
When: Wednesdays 2 Sept - 25 November 2026
Where: Apricot Centre CIC, Huxhams Cross Farm, Dartington, Devon
Cost: FREE for Devon residents (few spaces for Cornwall), subject to Skills Bootcamps funding criteria (application of learning to business)
A foundational 13-week course in organic regenerative agriculture that covers soil ecology, plant ecology, agroforestry, agroecology, business diversification, an introduction to permaculture, livestock management, Biodynamics and business skills, as well as a practical day of seed-saving. The course is great for anyone starting out or converting to organic regenerative farming, and is a good foundation for further training and education. The course is certified and accredited by Crossfields as a Level 2.
More information is available online.
Level 3 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological Systems Design
When: Wednesdays 6 May - 29 July 2026
Where: Apricot Centre CIC, Huxhams Cross Farm, Dartington, Devon
Cost: FREE for Devon residents (few spaces for Cornwall), subject to Skills Bootcamps funding criteria (application of learning to business)
The course is a fully-funded Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) with a focus on designing agroecology systems and applying permaculture and regenerative business principles. The course is a deep dive into permaculture, including people and the built environment, as well as looking at business skills, culminating in a PDC design assignment. The course is certified and accredited by Crossfields as a Level 3, and also provides a PDC from the Permaculture Association.
More information is available online.
Level 4 Skills Bootcamp in Agroecological Systems Design
When: Wednesdays 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2027
Where: Apricot Centre CIC, Huxhams Cross Farm, Dartington, Devon
Cost: FREE for Devon residents (few spaces for Cornwall), subject to Skills Bootcamps funding criteria (application of learning to business)
The course focuses on business development, planning and marketing in the context of agroecological enterprise with an added application of permaculture design to the process, culminating in a design assigment that can be applied directly to participant's existing business or future ideas. The course is certified and accredited by Crossfields as a Level 4.
More information is available online.
To find out more about the Apricot Centre visit their website.
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