Open call for Capital Growth’s London 2023 food growing training calendar now live!

Capital Growth’s annual Training Programme has been running in-person sessions for many years but moved online at the start of the pandemic. Last year, as restrictions lifted, in-person training resumed again. This year, the programme returns to hosting exclusively in-person sessions based on participant feedback. 

The 2023 training season will run from March to October and will be divided into a longer Spring/Summer and a shorter Autumn cycle. Spring/Summer training will run from mid-March to end-July and the Autumn training from the beginning of September to end-October (excluding bank holidays and school breaks). 

As part of this year’s training season, Capital Growth will be bringing Londoners a Masterclass series with veteran trainers from across the network delivering monthly in-depth sessions through spring. Trainers have already been identified for these sessions and they will be aimed at those who already have experience with food growing on the following four topics: 

1. Composting 
2. Understanding the soil food web to maximise yield 
3. Water-efficient irrigation techniques 
4. Forest garden design 

Alongside the Masterclass series, there will be the Taster Series with food growing training topics listed below: 

• Tool care and tool sharpening 
• Growing according to school term times 
• Garden design and closed loop systems 
• Soil health 
• Companion planting 
• Growing legumes specifically for drying 
• Forest farming 
• Drought resilient crop varieties 
• How to work with London heavy clay soil 
• Plant pest and disease management 
• Mushroom cultivation 

How to apply 
If you would like to apply to be a part of this year's Capital Growth training calendar, you can find all the information needed within the application form to send your session proposal. The application form can be found on the member dashboard of your garden profile on the Good to Grow platform or download it directly here. 

Important deadlines to keep in mind are: 

Spring/Summer Training Application Deadline: Fri 17 Feb 

Autumn Training Application Deadline: Fri 9 Jun 

If you have any questions you’d like to clarify beforehand or would like to request any additional support with completing this application, please reach out to mayya@sustainweb.org. 

If you are not yet a member of Capital Growth, you can join the network for free to make the most of a range of membership benefits whether you grow food in London at a school, home, allotment, or community garden.