Selfsufficientish Courses what do you want?

[Andy Hamilton]

Very good idea about making stuff, I had overlooked that. Haybox oven and pot in pot cooler are pretty easy really and would not take much time but the solar stuff takes more time so yep to include a few things could make a good course.

[Tony]

Hi Andy,

I think the cost of courses being around £30- £40 per day is about as fair as you can get it, and as you say around 10-15 people max, a point to keep in mind is that at the maxim number of 15 people your probably going to need two people as part of the team or your going to get tired and not able to fully stay on line as to what your going to do.

From what I have read so far on the site, I think the idea of making use of a piece of land that can be a focal point for various subject matters covered here would be a good starting point, and the beginning point for growing the educational courses that will come from having it as a regular place that people can remember as a location.

regards

tony

[mrsflibble]

oo yeah, the haybox thing for me too.


I'd be more than willing to travel as long as you can tell me how to get from the train station to where we're eventually going to be at as you being in bristol I'd be using my GWR staffpass and getting some freeness out of it.

[QuakerBear]

MummyBear and I recently went on a chicken keeping introduction course organised by Omlette and I have to say it was very good. Maybe you could do a similar course where you introduced a more advanced topic to compleate beginners just as a taster.

I've also seen a course advertised called making old clothes into new. I think many people would be interested in that and it would appeal to crafters as well as Ishers.

On one course I went on the chap hosting baked scones for us which we had with his homemade jam. It was lovely, a really nice finnishing touch and felt just like a tea party.

[prison break fan]

Glad to hear it is all taking shape. Daughter and I could probable manage Bristol to start with. Wouldn't it be wonderful countrywide! Maybe next year. Looking forward to it already! pbf

[linzibean]

Bristol would be good for me, I can easily get there on the train from the in-laws place :)

[Peggy Sue]

What about linking up with local Adult Education centres, they often offer cheap locations/subsidies. You could even offer weekends. There's one near us that does a fri night til Sun teatime ofr around £150-£200 depending on subject costs, groups of 10ish, to include accomodation & food so it's a great weekend away.

That way people who are miles away could make the effort. You could do lots of subjects, an fternoon jam making, evening on the homebrew (if you see what I mean..), morning on r,r,r, etc.

I used to do wine tasting weekends on one of these places, it was like a holiday for the skint!

[KellyB]

I'd be up for traveling to Bristol once we have moved back to Cornwall though then it's not too far I bet my sister would be up for it too. Basic Organic growing, Reduce Reuse Recycle & Foraging - Herb identification, mushroom identification and all other wild foods would interest me

[Wombat]

Very good idea about making stuff, I had overlooked that. Haybox oven and pot in pot cooler are pretty easy really and would not take much time but the solar stuff takes more time so yep to include a few things could make a good course.

Making a solar oven out of two cardboard boxes can be done in a couple of hours with a minimum of skill and equipment, but works fairly well. Might be an easy way in Andy?

Nev

[KellyB]

When you do these courses would it be an idea to film them so that those living too far away can at least buy a DVD???

[Andy Hamilton]

Not sure about DVD although we might just put some stuff up for free on Youtube and the like will have to see what happens - that is if we have time!

It looks like we will start with a bit of foraging course after we had 200 people turn up to the last free one . We are still working out the final details but we should have one next month at some point and another in November and it will be in Bristol. Please PM or email me if you want a place.

[Christine]

Hmm - in Sheffield, so tricky getting to Bristol...

If you ever feel like taking a course or two on the road to Sheffield, let me know and I'll contact some local organisations that might be interested in hosting and promoting (I work organising and delivering training for voluntary sector organisations in Sheffield/S Yorks, so I have a few contacts and could do some promotion through work, too).
I know for sure that you could get an audience on foraging - but focus on weeds and plants rather than mushrooms/fungi, as there are fewer dangerous potential errors!
Northern College might work in partnership with you on a weekend and I agree that low energy solutions would be a great topic to include.

[lsm1066]

Not sure about DVD although we might just put some stuff up for free on Youtube and the like will have to see what happens - that is if we have time!

It looks like we will start with a bit of foraging course after we had 200 people turn up to the last free one . We are still working out the final details but we should have one next month at some point and another in November and it will be in Bristol. Please PM or email me if you want a place.

Happy to put you up if you fancy doing a "Foraging on The Wash" course
Lynne

[Big Al]

http://www.rivercottage.net/Events37~30 ... aging.aspx

Look at the cost of tickets at the bottom of the page.........

[Wombat]

Ouch! Well I for one won't be going on any of their courses!

Nev