Grow with us
Our ‘Year in the Garden’ course empowers urban growers like you to do more with their growing space – booking now open for 2026!
Are you dreaming of a growing space filled with fresh food, bursting with flowers, and bustling with life?
We’re on a mission to empower more urban growers, so in 2026 we’re offering an amazing ten month growing course. As we progress through the year together you’ll develop as a grower, learning to create a beautiful and productive space that works for you.
Registration opens Monday 24th November
What does the course include?
💬 Access to a whatsapp group to ask questions, troubleshoot problems, and celebrate successes!
What else can you expect from this course?
🌍 A focus on planet-friendly practices and a gentle, holistic approach to caring for your garden.
💚 Small group learning with plenty of time for your questions and discussion.
🪴City-dweller friendly techniques and crops suitable for smaller spaces, busy lives, and limited budgets.
Who is this course suitable for?
This course is perfect for complete beginners or improvers, and we think this course will suit anyone who feels less confident in the garden, or wants to do more with their growing space. It’s also a good fit for anyone who wants to explore how gardening can support wellbeing, nurture wildlife, and bring joy!
On this course we won’t be learning Latin names, there’s no one ‘correct’ way to garden, and we celebrate the wild and messy beauty of nature and our lives.
What will you learn each month?
📅 February: Planning for a year in the garden: a deep dive into understanding your growing space, exploring what you need from it, and creating your own growing calendar.
🌱 March: Starting and caring for seeds. Learn what different seeds need and get hands on with a range of seed starting methods.
🪴April: Next steps! potting on, planting out, and plant care. Learn to help your seedlings thrive as we explore positioning, feeding and more.
🪱 May: Soil care and composting. Nurture and nourish healthy soil, creating your own compost, and discover the magic of mulching.
🌦️ June: Climate resilient gardening. Develop strategies to keep growing through shifting seasons and extreme weather, including polycultures and edible perennials. Plus we’ll dig into the question of gardening as gentle activism.
🪲 July: Pest management and gardening for wildlife. Learn to combine natural and gentle pest management techniques with wildlife gardening for a thriving garden. Plus we’ll start preparations for Autumn sowings of vegetables and flowers and update our personal garden plans.
September: Harvesting, storing and preserving. Discover when and how to harvest and store different crops and feel confident about preserving your produce.
🍅 October: Seed saving and propagation from cuttings. Try different seed saving, processing and storage techniques, and learn to successfully take cuttings to create new plants… for free!
🌷 November: Winter tasks and spring colour. As the year winds down we’ll learn how to nourish and prepare our garden for the next growing season, and explore the wonder of spring bulbs for a garden full of colour next spring.
❄️ December: Celebrate and reflect. We’ll share a meal, reflect on our learning and everything we’ve achieved, and craft a herbal gardener’s hand salve from the garden
Registration opens Monday 24th November
Course costs
How much does the course cost?
The total cost for the year will be £600 – that includes 30 hours of in-person tuition, resources, seeds and whatsapp support outside of the sessions. Squirrel Supporters can unlock a special price of £500.
As we are a social enterprise, by choosing to join this course you’re helping support our work in our community – thank you.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! You’ll have the option to pay the full cost upfront, or to choose either four instalments of £150 or ten instalments of £60.
Please note that if you choose to pay in instalments you do commit to paying the full cost of the course; it is not possible to only pay for individual sessions. Please see our T&Cs for more info.
Is there any support to cover course costs?
We are offering two free spaces for eligible applicants. To apply you must live in the CF24 postcode area and meet one of the following criteria:
- you’re a full time student
- you are currently unwaged/ low waged
- you are an asylum seeker or refugee
You must also commit to attending the full year of the course (illness/ emergencies allowing of course!) Free places are available on a first come, first serve basis, and are dependent on the course taking enough bookings to go ahead. To apply for a free place please email Hannah on hannah@greensquirrel.co.uk for an application form or call 07542 074303 to arrange a time to collect a paper copy.
Who are we?
We love to grow food, flowers, and dye and medicinal plants. We both get very excited about exploring ways to grow that are accessible, productive, and beautiful while nourishing the soil, supporting wildlife, and wasting as little as possible.
We also find growing to be an incredibly effective way of protecting our wellbeing: time in the garden gets us moving, creates space to think, and connects us with the seasons.
Together we have grown everywhere from our small urban gardens in Splott to community street planters, city farms and allotments, and we now grow on two acres at Bryn Ysgafn Farm in the Rhymney Valley.
Got questions?
We’ve answered common questions below, but please get in touch if you need more information.
What dates will the sessions be held in 2026?
All sessions are held on Saturday mornings, 10am – 1pm. February 21st, March 21st, April 18th, May 16th, June 27th, July 18th – then a break for August – then September 19th, October 17th, November 14th, and December 5th.
Can I join as a total beginner?
We’d love for you to join! This course doesn’t assume you’ve done any growing before so it’s perfect for beginners.
What happens if I can’t come on one of the dates?
You’ll still be able to pick your seeds at the next session, and the resources from the session will still be available to you. For one off or occasional missed sessions you can also ‘send a friend’ in your place! Just nominate a friend or family member to attend for you, let us know to expect them.
Where are the sessions held?
We meet at Railway Gardens, our community garden space in Splott, Cardiff. We have an indoor training room, an outdoor classroom, greenhouses, and a mini polytunnel. We also have accessible toilets and there is plenty of on street parking less than 1 minute away.
What’s the whatsapp group for? Do I have to join?
We totally understand that you might not want to join the whatsapp group; there’s no pressure to do so, and no key information will be shared solely on the group. The whatsapp group is intended as a friendly, supportive space where everyone can share progress, ask questions, swap ideas and keep in touch between sessions.
Do I need to bring anything?
All tools and materials will be provided: if you have your own garden tools you prefer to use for a specific task please do bring them along. Please wear comfortable clothes that you can do practical tasks in. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are provided.
Interested in joining us?
Registration opens on Monday 23rd Novembe 2025. Spaces are limited and we expect to book up quick to check our website and socials on Monday 24th to secure your place.