Learning
The Soil Association is dedicated to rebuilding food production on a more sustainable, resilient basis. But this won't happen without community and individual action. Buying local and organic is a way to support less energy intensive agriculture, but we can all go further and start to reconnect more fully with our food and environment by growing our own vegetables or keeping our own chickens.
The Soil Association is helping to teach people the skills to support this action.
Organic Farm School
The Soil Association's Organic Farm School, supported by the Daylesford Foundation, is a series of hands-on courses in growing your own food, rearing animals, cooking and rural crafts. The courses cater to all skill levels and provide the opportunity to learn from organic farmers with personal experience - from a one-day basic introduction to more professional expertise - in bee-keeping, chicken keeping, vegetable growing, willow weaving, hedge laying or dry stone walling, and many others.
Apprenticeship scheme
Developed in close partnership with our growers, the Soil Association Organic Apprenticeship Scheme is a two year work-based placement with an organic farmer or grower. Combined with a series of structured seminars throughout the two years - designed to build upon the practical knowledge you will gain out in the field - the aim of the Organic Apprenticeship Scheme is to produce well-rounded and experienced individuals with specialist skills and a broad knowledge of organic agriculture and food businesses.
Food for Life Partnership
We have been helping schools create a healthy food culture in their community for many years now. We want young people to understand where food comes from and how the choices they make have an effect of their health and the health of the planet. We offer a host of support to schools through the Food for Life Partnership in order to rebuild food communities from the bottom up.