The Experimental Edible Garden

with Alison Jenkins

Friday 10 April 2026

Friday 15 May 2026

10am - 4pm (arrive at 9.30 for coffee/tea)

£150

Group Size - 6 people

What does an experimental edible garden look like and how does it’s management differ from that of a conventional kitchen garden?

Our relationship with the natural world has become disconnected and we need to adapt, explore new approaches, and relearn old practices that are more about collaboration than control.

Growing some of your own food is a good place to start. There’s an intimate sense of reciprocity in eating plants that you have grown in soil that you have nurtured. A healthy ecosystem of microbial life in the soil ensures that your crops are dense with complex nutrients, supporting your own health and well being, creating a relationship of mutual exchange, of reciprocity.

We’ll begin the day by taking a holistic look at the how the issue of finding ways to feed ourselves has changed over time and the impact that has on the environment and our personal health. We’ll look at practical ways to revitalise our gardens by building soil health, increasing biodiversity and reviving old skills such as seed saving. We’ll also look at a range of plants you can grow to increase the diversity of your diet throughout the year.

We’ll also discuss how ideas from permaculture, biodynamics, regenerative farming, garden design and forest gardening might be woven through an approach to edible gardening to create a space which is loose, experimental, dynamic, productive and looks good.

We’ll round up with tea and cake and time to answer any questions you have about your own garden at the end of the day. 

Lunch 

Alison will prepare a delicous vegetarian lunch featuring produce from the garden and scrumptious savoury tarts made for us by Beth, the Freerange Chef. There will be home made biscuits on arrival and we will round up the day with tea and home made cake to ensure that your day will be as nourishing as it is informative. If you have any specific dietary requests do let us know on the booking form.

What to Bring

Check the weather forecast before you travel and ensure you bring appropriate clothing, whether that’s waterproofs or sun hats, or possibly both!  You may wish to bring a notebook, camera and water bottle too.

Getting Here

Directions will be emailed to you a couple of weeks before the workshop. Use Damson Farm rather than the postcode on Google Maps.

Cancellation policy

As a small business it’s not sustainable to offer refunds. However if you need to cancel your place up to 28 days before the event you will be offered a credit towards another workshop.   After that time, the offer only applies if I’ve been able to re-sell the place. It’s not possible to promote cancelled places for re-sale less than 4 days before the event.