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With Neil Courtier, your knowledgeable and enthusiastic tutor for the evening, you will learn in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere what you looking at, tasting and sniffing. As we work our way through eight divers wine styles you will:

• Learn about tasting technique and how to recognise when wine is in good condition
• What makes a wine food friendly
• The basics of matching food to wine.

Wine as a subject should be approachable, enjoyable, informative and fun! Our events are always designed to increase the confidence of individuals and make wine knowledge available to all.  Neil has a particular interest in matching food & wine, a topic that is often included in  tastings here at Depden Farm Shop, as regulars will know.   He is a regular speaker and presenter on the wine tasting circuit, which includes delivering sessions to wine societies and at food & drink shows, such as the London International Wine & Spirit Trade Fair, the BBC Good Food Show, etc.

Neil is a  holder of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma, the Certificate of Education for Lecturers, an Associate Member of The Institute of Wines & Spirits & a Full Member of the Association of Wine Educators.

Course Details:

Thursday 20th June 7pm-9pm

Cost £25 per person

Depden Members Offer:  Book by June 2nd and get for two places for £39 (please book in person in the shop)

To book a place call into the shop, book on line via Bigbarn or drop me an email in the box below and we can take it from there.

The Small Scale Shepherd

Sat 27th April and Sat 5th October

“We would just like to say a big thanks to you both for the excellent day we had yesterday. From your knowledge and tips to the food and fantastic, welcoming atmosphere you both gave. We feel very much more confident in getting some sheep now and would thoroughly recommend the course to others. We would also come back if you ever offered any other courses of interest to us.”  AM-Suffolk

Full day course.

Who would benefit from this course

Got a bit of land and wondering about a few sheep for lamb? Or do you have an orchard that you’re tired of mowing? What ever the reason you are thinking about how to keep sheep, this day is for you – its a hands on and practical introduction to sheep husbandry. We’ll start with looking at breed choice and key requirements and then move onto feeding and nutrition. Working our way through the shepherds year we’ll cover basic sheep husbandry and key health issues . There will be lots of hands on sheep handling and chance to perform some of the routine tasks, like dagging and foot trimming —don’t worry they are used to it and soon you will be too!

An outline of the course programme can be found here.

Time: 10am – 4pm

Cost: £75 (£120 for two people booking together)

Includes hand outs, coffee/tea and pastries on arrival, a light lunch and afternoon tea.

Please book in person in the shop or on line via Bigbarn.

Back Yard  Chicken Keeping

Sat 23rd March and Sat 21st September

Half day course.

Fancy a few chucks in the garden for eggs? There’s a bit more to it than buy a couple of ex-batts and coop at the local show – as the people that ask us to take them off their hands will testify. Don’t make the same mistakes and get your chicken keeping off to a flying start with the half day course for the novice. Understanding the different breeds, their housing and feeding needs together with knowledge of common diseases and their control will ensure your hens are happy and stress free (and you will be too).

An outline of the course programme can be found here.

Time: 10am – 1pm

Cost: £45 (£70 for two people booking together)

Includes hand outs, coffee/tea and pastries on arrival.

Please book in person in the shop or on line via Bigbarn.

Pigs for Sausage Lovers

Sat 22nd June and Sat Oct 19th

Full day course.

An introduction to pig keeping and making sausages for beginners and dreamers. This course will give you the knowledge need to know to keep a couple of weaners to slaughter weight and the confidence to do it well. It will also give you an introduction to sausage making on a domestic scale. A good mix of discussion and hands on practice will ensure you’ll go away with all you need to know to grow your own sausage sandwich. A practical hands on day on our small farm.

An outline of the course programme can be found here.

Time: 10am – 4pm

Cost: £75 (£120 for two people booking together)

Includes hand outs, coffee/tea and pastries on arrival.

Please book in person in the shop or on line via Bigbarn.

Bank Holiday Monday 27th May and Sat 7th September

“We would just like to say a big thanks to you both for the excellent day we had yesterday. From your knowledge and tips to the food and fantastic, welcoming atmosphere you both gave. We feel very much more confident in getting some sheep now and would thoroughly recommend the course to others. We would also come back if you ever offered any other courses of interest to us.” AM Suffolk

How to book?

Book in person in the shop, on line via Big Barn or simply send me an email via the comments box below and we’ll take it from there.

Who would benefit from this course?

Do you have a few acres you’re wondering how best to use? Fancy keeping some livestock but don’t know where to start?  Are you concerned about the legalities and paperwork involved? Or perhaps you just fancy a fun day on a model smallholding learning new things… If so, then this course is for you.

What does the course involve?

An introduction to smallholding for beginners and those still thinking about it, giving you an insight into the running of smallholding. Fun and informative, the day promises conversation with like-minded people guided by us and our experience of running Rookery Farm, our six acre holding just outside Bury St Edmunds.

A good mix of discussion and hands on practice will ensure you’ll go away with a good understanding of the legal issues, and licensing requirements, sheep and pig keeping basics, poultry keeping, land management and growing your own.  We’ll finish with a session on ways of making money (or at least not losing too much!)  A practical hands on day on our smallholding.

Times:  10am – 4pm

The course fee includes morning coffee,  lunch and afternoon tea and cakes.

Price £75.  (£120 for two people booking together)

Groups are kept to around 6 to ensure that you all get the attention you need for a fulfilling and fun day.

Book in person in the shop, on line via Big Barn or simply send me an email via the comments box below and we’ll take it from there.

We also offer a bespoke course if these dates don’t suit you, get in touch.

A series of three half day courses led by Rachel Marsh,  a qualified horticulturalist and garden designer.  Come to as many or as few as you like.  Each course costs £55, including refreshments and a light lunch.  Book all three courses for £145.

Detailed descriptions of each are below.

How to book:

1) In person in the shop (Open Wed – Sat 9.30am -5pm, Sun 10am – 4pm)

2) Using your credit or debit card on line via Bigbarn

3) Or simplt drop me an email via the comments box at the bottom of this page and we’ll take it from there.

Plant propagation -  Wed 17th April

10am – 1pm

On this course you will learn how to grow your own plants using a variety of propagation techniques, from the basic to the more unusual. Producing your own plants is hugely satisfying as well as being economical. You will learn the importance of providing the right conditions to get the best results as well as learning some basic plant science so you can understand more about how things work. This course will include some opportunity for practical experience so you can take away with you the ability to confidently carry out propagation at home.

• Learning from nature –Looking at the diverse ways in which plants propagate themselves, including suckering, division, tip rooting, seeding.
• Tools and equipment- The growing environment including greenhouses and cold frames. Looking at the advantages/disadvantages of each. Useful tools and other equipment such as secateurs, pots, plugs, composts, capillary matting.
• Hygiene, pests and diseases-Prevention and cure. E.g. red spider mite, aphids, virus, damping off.
• Types of Cuttings- soft wood, hardwood, evergreens.
• Seeds- types, structure and function, how to collect and store, seed treatments such as scarification and hot water treatments.
• Other methods of propagation – Some less usual methods such as stooling, dropping and air layering.
• Practical sessions to include taking cuttings, container sowing and leaf propagation.

Creative Vegetable Growing

Wed 15th May,  10am-1pm

This course will explore the potential of using vegetables to create a garden which is both productive and pleasing to the eye. We will look at the basic principles of vegetable growing and discuss different techniques, as well as looking at ways of incorporating decorative elements into the plot. We will touch on some of the basic science behind creating the right environment for success, including soil management, how to sow and grow and water saving techniques.

• Introduction – the history of vegetable growing, from necessity to pleasure.
• The growing plan – deciding what to grow, and what to consider. How to work with what you have.
• Space saving techniques – vertical growing, intercropping.
• Pests and diseases – prevention and cure of some of the common ones.
• The benefits of companion planting.
• Useful plants and combinations and a look at herbs.
• Adding ornamental elements – Boundaries, edging, focal points and permanent planting.
• Watering and water saving techniques.
• Practical sessions may include sowing techniques and planting.

Gardening for beginners – We June 19th 10am – 1pm

It can be daunting when you first start out in gardening and hard to know where to begin. On this course you will learn from an experienced gardener so you can get things right from the start. Learn about tools and techniques, when and how to use them. You will learn the basic science behind the principles so that you can understand the reasons why things are done as they are. Get to know who are your friends and foes in the garden and how to deal with them. This course will cover the basics in both the ornamental and productive garden.

• Essential tools – what you need and how and when to use it. Other useful items to keep in the shed eg chemicals and organic alternatives.
• Safety and self preservation – looking after yourself and safe working environments
• Planning the garden – assessing the plot and factors to consider
• Vegetable growing – Easy vegetables for a successful start
• Understanding plants – Names and groupings. Eg annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials. The binomial system.
• Top easy plants to grow
• Pruning basics – the golden rules, tools and techniques.
• Know your enemy – pests, diseases and weed identification. What to do about them.
• Soil – why it is so important. Identifying different types and learning how to get the best from it.
• Practical sessions may include sowing techniques, preparing a seed bed and how to plant.