We are happy to share the Growing Food & Community training programme is back for 2026-2027, with an expanded programme of workshops aimed at empowering local people interested in supporting community food growing and preserving and natural dying.
Do you have a great idea for a community food project? Are you already running a community growing space and want to take it to the next level? Or perhaps you are interested in learning more about how climate change is affecting growing conditions and potential access to food in North Lancashire?
This year, we are running 18 sessions on a wide range of topics related to local food growing, preserving, community governance and natural dying. These will be supported by a range of experienced local trainers and will be hosted at Summerhouse Community Farm (the new home of the Plot’s market garden and FarmStart training) and Claver Hill community food project (a six acre site which hosts a range of growing project) as well as other spots around the District.
Why Growing Food & Community?
At FoodFutures, we see being able to grow food, preserve and share food at a community level as an important part of building resilience for the future.
Growing Food & Community began in 2022 as a series of workshops developed by the Plot and ClaverHill community food project, with support from the National Lottery Community Fund, to share ideas and skills with local people interested in community growing and other community food initiatives. And thanks to generous local funding, we are able to bring an expansion of this popular series of events back for 2026-2027.
Who Are These Workshops For?
Anyone with an interest in local growing or community food resilience!
These sessions provide a useful starting point for anyone setting up a local community food initiative or growing space, people already involved in community growing and looking for new skills, and individuals with an interest in growing and preserving their own food! These sessions also consider the impact of climate change on growing conditions and how we can adapt to the changing North Lancashire climate.
How Do I Sign Up?
The sessions are listed on the What’s On section on the FoodFutures website and booking is essential.
In 2026-2027 the programme includes:
- July 2026: Pest and Weed Management.
- August 2026: Harvesting and Packaging Produce, Working with Volunteers to Establish and Develop a community food project.
- September 2026: Fermenting workshop, Foraging workshop, Intro to Permaculture Design, Introduction to Preserving Produce.
- October 2026: Understanding soil life & fertility, Plants for Natural Dyes, Crop Planning for a Northern Climate, Introduction to Facilitation and Sociocracy.
- November 2026: Hedge laying, Intro to no-dig growing.
- December 2026: Hedge laying practice!
- January 2027: Tool upkeep and maintenance.
- February 2027: Introduction to Seed Saving, Fruit Tree and Fruit Bush Pruning.
- March 2027: Plant Propagation, Fruit Tree Grafting.
To get more involved in FoodFutures, or to share information about your project, see here: foodfutures.org.uk/get-involved/ or join an upcoming Food Champion induction session.
