A host of free courses get underway this winter for those wanting to start or strengthen community agriculture schemes.

Soil Association projects manager Bonnie Hewson said: “Whatever type of scheme you are involved with or considering, there are courses for you, from marketing to scaling up production.
“Those who don’t yet have a scheme up and running are welcome to attend to see how other models are working and to learn more from course leaders. All courses are free but should be booked in advance.”
Community supported agriculture is a growing movement where groups join forces with farmers or farm themselves. There are dozens of schemes running in the UK and about 2,000 in America. For more details click here www.soilassociation.org/csa.aspx

Course details as follows:

CSA horticultural mentoring – 11 January 2010
11am – 3pm at Harbarrow and Metherell Agricultural Society, near Callington, Cornwall

Tim Deane will be providing advice on: rotations, fertility building, crop planning and growing a wide variety of produce for weekly CSA ‘shares’. The events will be specifically focussed on these two sites, but there will be also an opportunity for other questions. Please let me know when you book if there are other areas of organic horticultural production you would like to be covered on the day.

Please contact Traci Lewis on tlewis@soilassociation.org to book a place at either of the horticultural mentoring events in Cornwall – please include your name, address, contact number in order to reserve your place at either of these events. They are both free of charge and refreshments are provided.

Marketing for CSAs – 23 January 2010
10am – 4pm at Tiger 11 Community Centre, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 8ND
This workshop will be led by Rob Greenland (Social Business Consulting)
Marketing is all about building relationships; it doesn’t have to be complicated, and it needn’t involve spending loads of money, but you do need to think things through. Monkey Business takes you through a step-by-step plan for marketing your local food business. We take you back to basics – asking you to think about what it is you offer, who you want to offer it to, and what they’ll get out of it. Thinking those things through will help you to come up with some key messages – and then (and only then) you can think about what’s often called ‘marketing’ e.g. websites, flyers, PR, word of mouth recommendations etc. With lots of other people running similar businesses at the workshop, we’re sure that you’ll leave with plenty of good, achievable ideas for building long-lasting relationships with your CSA members.
For more information and to book a place, please contact Kirstin Glendinning on kglendinning@soilassociation.org

CSA Horticultural Mentoring “Grow More Veg – Scaling up your Horticultural Production” – 27 January 2010
North East Organic Growers, West Sleekburn Farm, Bomarsund, Bedlington NE22 7AD
•Do you grow on a small scale or with a community group?
•Are you interested in increasing your production?
Then come to this event for help with crop planning and rotations, managing volunteer labour and machinery needs when you can’t do everything by hand.
For more information and to book a place email lnunn@soilassociation.org

Getting your CSA finances straight – 25 February 2010
10.00-4.00pm at Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS

This day will cover tools and terms for managing your CSA’s finances including an introduction to financial jargon – margin/ net profit/ gross profit, budgeting – cash flow and profit and loss templates will be provided, financial control – basic bookkeeping/ accounting and a look at production costs. No previous financial management experience is needed. There will also be time for networking.
For more information and to book a FREE place, contact Lisa Nunn lnunn@soilassociation.org

Building Community and CSA Administration – 27 February 2010
From 10am – 4pm at The Guild of Makers, Sheffield

Led by local food consultant Nick Weir (Stroud Community Agriculture, StroudCo, f3), this workshop will look at:
How to run effective CSA meetings
How to communicate with the whole CSA membership
Administration systems for running a CSA smoothly
Additional social activities to help build community in you CSA
It will be a very interactive session, involving participants in facilitated discussions.
For more information and to book a place, please contact Kirstin Glendinning on kglendinning@soilassociation.org

CSA Training and networking day – 18 March 2010
10.00-4.00pm Emerson College, Forest Row, East Sussex

This day is for CSAs who don’t yet have a business plan in order to help you clarify your aims, objectives and priorities and to help you start to form a realistic plan from your group’s various enthusiasms. There will be time for networking and a brief farm walk at the inspirational CSA, Tablehurst Farm.
For more information and to book a place email Lisa Nunn, email: lnunn@soilassociation.org

Crop planning, pig and poultry-keeping – 27 March, 2010
From 10am – 4pm at Loxley Valley Community Farm, Sheffield

This workshop will look at three main topics:
1. Crop planning for CSAs
2. Rearing organic hens
3. Rearing pigs for pork
For more information and to book a place, please contact Kirstin Glendinning on kglendinning@soilassociation.org
The day will involve some practical activities, so please bring appropriate clothing and footwear.