It’s great to see the sun rise…

We all get up early.

But no one minds when there’s such a full day ahead.

Breakfast

We help ourselves to cereal, toast, fruit, yoghurt and porridge.

On the last day we have a late breakfast after an 'egg making' demonstration.

If we've made sausages, we eat those with our eggs, Benedict or scrambled...



Team Work

We’re divided into two groups.

The first group takes the van to the field, while the others make lunch.

Field work includes planting, harvesting and weeding. Or foraging, milking, sausage-making. Or preserving, apple pressing.

It depends on the course, the venue and the season.

In the kitchen, we learn the basics.  How to chop an onion, peel a pumpkin, make simple dishes. We also explore more unusual ingredients and using more ambitious techniques. We keep our work stations tidy and the kitchen clean.

Lunch

Everyone eats together.

The first group washes up while the others put on their wellies.

The Afternoon

Now the second group takes the van to the field, the vegetable patch, the orchard - or to see the packing house or help with the cattle.

The mornings' activities are repeated.

The first group cooks supper. Sometimes two cooks will make the same dish and we compare, analyse and compete. One person is on bread duty. All our bread and biscuits are home-made.

Guest Speakers

In the evening, we invite a guest speaker. Someone involved in growing, producing, selling food - a beekeeper or a farmer for example. Or an expert on the politics of agriculture, a fair-trade fashion designer.

Supper

We all eat supper together with our guest speaker. That's our way of thanking them for their time. The second group will wash up.

Entertainment

If we're not too tired, we watch a food-related movie. This connection to food can be strong as in Food Inc. or slight like Delicatessen. But it must be in there somewhere. We're quite strict about that. (Suggestions and offerings are very welcome.)


Sometimes we play games. Or we might go for an escorted night-time bat-walk.

Or you might just want to go to sleep.

Lights Out

Lights out is at 11 o'clock.

The Next Day

The two groups swap their morning/afternoon slots, so that everyone makes the same amount of lunches and suppers.

Family And Friends

At the end of the course we invite friends and family for a meal. It might be brunch, or lunch. But it is quite a celebration.