We are offering residential courses in 2010.

Course 1 - 'A Taste of a Lincolnshire Smallholding'

Course 2 - 'Art in the Garden'- Working with willow.

Each course includes tuition, 2 nights bed and breakfast in our ensuite rooms, with a 4 course dinner on 1 night and 2 lunches, plus limitless tea and coffee.

The fully inclusive price is £185 per person.

'A Taste of a Lincolnshire Smallholding'

As Chairman of 'The Lincolnshire Smallholders and Self Sufficiency Club,ex teacher, and chef/owner at a successful London restaurant I have often been asked to run a course on what we do on our smallholding.............so here is your chance to sample a 'Taste of a Lincolnshire Smallholding'.

Many of us have thought how great it would be to move to our beautiful countryside and raise some animals and grow our own vegetables. To be more in control of what we eat and know how it has been produced.

We are a DEFRA registered smallholding, and practice organic growing methods, and raise our animals using the highest welfare standards.

Here at Kingthorpe Manor Farm, we produce our own vegetables, fruit, eggs, preserves and livestock for our ourselves and guests.

This short course gives you the opportunity to find out exactly what is involved in leading 'The Good Life', and it's not all pea pod wine and pigs wrecking your neighbour's garden!

This course will give those of you who are planning an 'escape' from your current life, the opportunity to dip your toe into a Lincolnshire Smallholding.

On arrival guests will be greeted with a welcoming pot of tea or coffee, and homemade cake. After settling in to your room, there will be an opportunity to look around our smallholding, and meet some of the animals and fellow course attendees. The evening will be spent at your leisure.

The following morning will give early risers the chance to feed the animals before breakfast.

The course runs 10am - 4pm each day.

Day 1; Our presenter is John Hankinson, who has been a smallholder for some 30 years. John has a wealth of experience and knowledge in animal husbandry, and will discuss keeping a wide variety of animals from hens to goats.

Lunch will be served at 12.30pm. Tea at 4pm during question time, plus dinner at 7pm.

Guests will be offered the opportunity to view 2 interesting films on chicken and duck keeping in the sitting room after dinner.

Day 2; Our presenter is Patrick Britton, who has been a smallholder for just 5 years, and understands the pitfalls awaiting the 'new smallholder', from practical experience! We shall be involved in some 'hands on' work in the vegetable garden and greenhouse, as well as with the animals; chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, geese, goats, and pigs. We will also look at animal housing. There will also be the opportunity to look at our 'green technologies', and the costs and benefits involved. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your aspirations, and seek advice on finding suitable properties and legislation.

Lunch will be served at 12.30pm. Tea at 4pm during question time, before guests prepare for departure.

Lincolnshire is the undiscovered gem of England, with some of its most fertile soil, and is the ideal place to become a smallholder, with properties at reasonable prices.

Course dates;

June

Midweek course - Arrive Tuesday 1st , depart Thursday 3rd
The midweek course is on Wednesday and Thursday, 10am - 4pm

Weekend course - Arrive Friday 4th, depart Sunday 6th
The weekend course is on Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 4pm.

If these dates are not suitable for you, we can offer dates more appropriate to your requirements.

For details of accommodation please see below and the other pages on our website.




'Art in the Garden'

You will learn how to make simple, beautiful willow sculptures and practical plant supports to enhance your garden, on our 2 day residential courses.The maximum size of the teaching groups is 6, so you can be assured of plenty of one to one tuition.

Suitable for complete beginners, and all equipment and materials are provided.

You will have the opportunity on the first day to make one or more plant supports, a flat wall trellis and an upright obelisk from decorative willow and hazel. You will learn basic weaving techniques.

On the second day we will be creating either chickens, or other birds, or a small to medium-sized sphere, or both if you have time! These require a free-form approach to the weaving, and we can incorporate different types and colours of willow.

Along the way we will talk about the different types of willow available and how they are grown, harvested and treated, and how they can be used. There will be books about willow sculpture and basket making available for you to enjoy during your stay.

Our tutor, Alison, is renowned for her work with willow and has an extensive background in horticulture and teaching art. She has been working with willow for some 10 years, and has worked to create the largest living willow sculpture in Lincolnshire, as well as growing her own willow on her allotment.
You can find out more about Alison, and her work on her website;

www.lincolnwillow.co.uk

If you would like to book a place or places, please contact us, and supply an address so we can send you a booking form.

For students attending on their own, accommodation is in a shared, large 3 bedded ensuite room.

Course dates 2010;

All midweek courses are on Wednesday & Thursday from 10am-4pm.
All weekend courses are on Saturday & Sunday from 10am-4pm.

July

Midweek course - Arrive Tuesday 6th, Depart Thursday 8th.
Weekend course - Arrive Friday 9th, Depart Sunday 11th.

August

Midweek course - Arrive Tuesday 3rd, Depart Thursday 5th.
Weekend course - Arrive Friday 6th, Depart Sunday 8th.

September

Midweek course - Arrive Tuesday 7th, Depart Thursday 9th.
Weekend course - Arrive Friday 10th, Depart Sunday 12th.