|
We run these courses at our farm office just outside Newbury. Courses cost £60 per day, inclusive of lunch and course materials. Partners are offered a 20% discount. A deposit is required.
Farms Direct offer the following courses;
1. Thinking of Starting a Smallholding in France
Take a week out with us around France to meet others who have done it and find out how. All inclusive travel and accomodation with translation
Next date: 22 - 29 July 2006
Come with us on an exclusive trip around Normandy and discover the wealth of rural properties on offer. In conjunction with French officials, we have devised a course that not only puts you in touch with land agents, but also leads you through the beaurocracy of buying a small farm in France.
Our week long programme captures the essence of living and integrating into another culture, incorporating visits to farms and markets and even meeting those Brits who have already made the move.
With links to all areas of farming we are able to offer both a flexible and comprehensive programme that aims to give a real taste of living in France.
Included within the package:
- Full accommodation for 6 nights in French hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner;
- All travel arrangements. Minibus from Newbury and ferry to France via Portsmouth;
- Tickets to Mt St Michel Abbey and other attractions;
- Full time translation with documents in English.
All inclusive price £767 per person.
Limited to a maximum of 12. We are unable to take bookings for children. Please advise of any special needs. Bookings are currently being taken. Deposits of £250 per person are required.
2. Starting & Running a Smallholding (£120)
A most valuable starting point for would be smallholders.
Next course: 24-25 June 2006 and 17-18 Sept 2006
Day 1
- Introduction- Domestic and health and safety issues
- Review of colleagues experience and expectations
- What is a smallholding?
- How and where to buy, how much to expect to pay
-
Registration and planning concerns
- Skills of a smallholder
- Legislation affecting smallholders
- Typical costs and returns associated with various enterprises
- Group walk around a smallholding /informal discussions
- Machinery overview
- Buildings - design and considerations
Day 2
- Animal welfare and record keeping
- Practical husbandry tasks- worming, foot trimming & ear tagging
- Storage of medicines and chemicals
- Practical horticulture tasks
- What is organic?
- Marketing your products and formulating a business plan
- Adding value to your product
- Grants and contacts
- Group discussions and conclusions
3. Christmas Poultry Production (£120)
Next course: 20-21 May 2006
Day 1
- Introduction- Domestic and health and safety issues
- Review of colleagues experience and expectations
- Welfare and health and safety
- Poultry breeds, selection and sourcing
- Care of day olds, heat lamps, housing etc
- Poultry ailments and diseases
- Poultry feeds, organic production?
- Free range/ housing
- Marketing your produce
- Typical returns
Day 2
- Humane slaughter
- Plucking by hand and machine - practical
- Wet plucking
- Hanging for flavour and tenderness
- Eviseration and preparation for table - practical
- Packing for sale/ transport
- Adding value to your product
- Group discussions and conclusions
4. Outdoor Pigs
Find out how from a 'Food Hero' with her Saddlebacks!
Next course: 17-18 June 2006
(£120)
- Introduction to day and colleagues
- Pig breeds , selection and sourcing
- Welfare and health and safety
- Housing
- Feeding
- Management and breeding
- Practical- handling and stock tasks
- Diseases and ailments- prevention and cure
- Transport
- Regulations and paperwork
- Typical returns
5. Lambing
Next course: to be announced (£120)
A very hands on course for both newcomers and novice sheep producers.
- Introduction to weekend and review of colleague’s experience
- Welfare and health and safety
- Sheep breeds
- Management and breeding
- Housing
- Feeding pre and post lambing
- Practical- ewes: handling, tagging, foot trimming, worming
- Lambs: iodine navels, docking/castration, stomach tubes, taking temperature, bottle feeding
- Diseases and ailments- prevention and cure: twin lamb, prolapse, entropian etc.
- Storage of medicines
- Transport
- Regulations and paperwork
- Typical returns
For outdoor practicals, overalls and safety shoes/Wellingtons should be worn.
Course notes provided.
All meals supplied.
Accommodation available if required - local hotels, b&b, camping etc.
6. Keeping Sheep (£120)
All you need to know to get your flock up and running!
Next date: 20 - 21 August 2006
A two day course aiming to give the novice a broad understanding of the practicalities of keeping sheep for pleasure or profit.
- Outline of weekend
- Domestic and health and safety issues
- Review of experience and requirements of the course
- Sheep breeds- choosing the right breed for your business or area
- Sourcing sheep- what to look for
- Transport and movement licenses – associated paperwork
- Practical - sheep handling and assessing condition
- The shepherding year- a flock programme
- Practical – foot trimming, ear tagging and worming
- Grazing management and supplementary feeding
- Fencing for sheep, electric and stock netting- practical
- Lambing
- Selecting sheep for market or slaughter
- Where to sell your sheep
- Adding value to your products, wool, skins and meat products
- Typical returns
We are also running courses on;
Click here to download the Course Registration Form (PDF file)
|
