Course Description
Join us at Síolta Chroí and explore regenerative food growing with resident grower Karen Jeffares!
Karen Jeffares has been developing the vegetable garden at Síolta Chroí since moving on-site in 2019 and began a no-dig garden on the land. Prior to this she had experience in growing organic food, sustainability and land management at her family home and in work placements on farms and community initiatives in Ireland and overseas. She is passionate about growing nutritious, chemical-free food and as part of the team at Síolta Chroí has been exploring regenerative growing methods that work in harmony with nature to provide abundant, healthy food for her family, Síolta Chroí course participants, and members of the wider community.
Who is the course for?
This engaging and practical workshop is ideal for anyone with an interest in growing their own food who would like to stock up on skills, ideas and inspiration to feed them on this fascinating journey! The course is suitable for anyone with an interest in growing their own food! If you are a complete beginner or have already been growing for some time, you will get the chance to go deeper and have some questions answered. People with gardens of all sizes (even patios and windowboxes!) are welcome.
Some of the topics that will be covered on the day include:
🌱 Creating and maintaining healthy soil.
🌿 Seeds and seed planting– Master the art of sowing seeds correctly, ensuring strong germination and healthy plant growth. You’ll also learn about transplanting seedlings and direct seeding.
🔄 Crop rotation – Rotating crops helps maintain soil health and prevent pests. We will also introduce polycropping, a technique that involves growing different plants together for better yields and biodiversity.
🌻 Perennial and annual plants and systems– Learn the differences between these plant types and how to integrate both into your garden for long-term productivity.
🐛 Management of pests & diseases – Discover the most common garden pests and diseases, and how to manage them using natural, chemical-free methods.
🌎 Farming with nature – biodiversity and habitat creation in the vegetable garden – Instead of fighting against natural processes, we’ll discuss ways to work with nature to create a resilient, low-maintenance garden.
📅 Date: Saturday 21st March 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Síolta Chroí Carrickmacross Monaghan (eircode available after booking)
Sliding scale payment option. If the cost is a barrier for you to join please email gareth@sioltachroi.ie and request the scholarship form.
