Reserve your place at the National Masters Conference 2012 at Ryton Gardens.

We’re inviting volunteers from across the country to share top-tips for supporting communities to grow their own food and make lovely compost.

View the Masters Conference flyer (links opens PDF)

Read about the National Masters Conference 2011

NEW for Garden Organic Master Gardeners

Please click here to reserve your place with your local co-ordinator.

We’ll then send you a booking form with details and for you to choose your workshop preferences. We’ll also be arranging shared transport to Ryton Gardens.

When? Saturday 30th June 2012.

Where? The beautiful Ryton Gardens in Warwickshire, home to the UK’s leading organic growing charity, Garden Organic.

What? Leading UK speakers, unique workshops, expert guides, and much more with over 200 volunteers expected. This is your conference. Please get in touch here to share your ideas.

Who? Master Gardeners, Master Composters, Compost Gurus, Gardening Champions, and any other volunteer involved in promoting gardening or composting

How much?

Places are FREE for Master Gardeners for the all day event including lunch and refreshments.

£44 + VAT for friends and family. £84 + VAT for CPD places.
Please contact us for exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.

Come for the cake!

See photos from our National Masters conference 2011

Find out who won the Master Gardener Awards…

See latest news from Ryton Gardens

What else is Garden Organic doing…?

Saturday 12th May AGM and Members’ conference ‘Growing from the Roots’ at Ryton Gardens in Warwickshire – the home of Garden Organic.

10am to 5.00pm

Join us at the Garden Organic AGM (10.30), followed by ‘Growing from the Roots’ (11.30) a conference on how Garden Organic, our members and supporters can play a role in creating local, sustainable communities. Featuring a gardeners’ question time session with Alys Fowler and James Wong.

Sunday 13th May Members’ experience day at Ryton Gardens in Warwickshire

10am to 4pm

Enjoy an exclusive, member only experience with the Garden Organic experts. Spend the day in the beautiful surroundings of Ryton Gardens and enjoy exclusive garden tours, master classes and workshops.

Visit Garden Organic’s event page for booking details

See what else is on at Ryton Gardens

Due to popular demand, we’re delighted to invite Master Gardeners to another specialist training day to help people grow in schools.

From every group of Master Gardeners, several volunteers want to help pupils, parents, teachers, and the wider community grow their own food in school and at home.

This is great! So we’ve invited experts from the Food For Life Partnership to host a special course at Ryton Gardens in Warwickshire – the home of Garden Organic.

COURSE FULL!
(updated 26 April 2012)

But please do register your interest for the waiting list by emailing Philip Turvil using the contact form here

Course open to Master Gardeners in Warwickshire, London, Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Click here for details about volunteering.

Cut off date for registration: 8 May 2012.

Travel expenses paid.

The lovely Master Composters are also invited! Their local co-ordinators will be in touch in selected areas.

Course outline

1. Essentials for working with schools : actively working with teachers and young people – and doing presentations.
2. Crops that do and don’t work in school
3. How to sustain and grow school food gardening

Please click here to read about our previous school courses in June and October 2011.

Click here for school growing advice from national charity, Garden Organic

Link image to read about our 2011 schools training

Garden Organic is inviting our networks of volunteer Master Gardeners and local food growers to champion the Big Jubilee Lunch.

As the UK’s leading organic growing charity, we use innovation and inspiration to get more people growing in the most sustainable way.

This fourth annual Big Lunch, an initiative by the Eden Project, proudly supports The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Sunday 3rd June 2012.

What’s happening?

The aim is to get as many people in the UK as possible to have lunch with their neighbours, for a few hours of community, friendship, fun and of course some lunch. About 2 million people got involved last year.

Master Gardener project manager, Philip Turvil, said: “For this unique occasion, we’re engaging our enthusiastic local champions to grow and share food with their mentored communities. Our London and county network are swapping seeds and growing tips to get ready for the Big Lunch.”

Philip added: “With only a few months until this year’s Big Lunch, there’s no better time for locals to get out in the garden and plant their favourite plate-fillers. From carrots and beetroot to peas and spring onions, there’s a whole host of tasty food at your fingertips which can help to create a fantastic spread for a Big Lunch.”

Three ways to get involved

1. Click here to tell us about your ideas for the Big Jubilee Lunch – and any top growing tips

2. Click here for more information and FREE Pack or call 0845 850 8181

3. Become a Big Lunch Champion (link opens PDF)

The Big Lunch team are looking for volunteers to help grow the success of the campaign by promoting the initiative in their local area.

Big Lunch Champions can get involved by spreading the word, going along to promotional events, distributing materials and providing support to communities organising a Big Lunch.

To find out more about becoming a Big Lunch Champion, please contact camilla.baker@thebiglunch.com or call 0207 255 6468