This course combines scientific understanding of microbiology and practical experience to help bring soils back to life.

The course will have a combination of theory about soil microbiology food web and how this effects plant nutrition and health. It will then take a look at various samples under the microscope to help further understand the life the soil contains. It will also have a practical section where you can learn to grow microbes effectively using methods of composting and how you can restore the soil.

You will learn:

• Importance of soil Microbiology
• Effects on plant nutrition
• Soil microbiology effects throughout our planet
• Live microscope session
• Learn to cultivate microbes
• Practical compost demonstration

Who is this for?

Farmers, Growers, horticulturalists, gardeners and permaculture growers, or anyone interested in soil!

Key Information

Date - Saturday 27th July from 9.30am – 5pm

Location - Troed yr Harn, Talgarth. We operate a car-free campus and we will meet at Talgarth Car Park at 9:30am to walk up to the campus together. If you have mobility issues, then please contact us and we will arrange for you to be able to drive to the campus.

The walk from the carpark to the campus is a lovely 35 min walk, over farmland and through woods, with a fairly steep incline at the end. Walking together is a great way to prepare for the learning and get to know the other participants.

We will walk down at 4pm, so expect to be back at the carpark just before 5pm.

Course Instructor

Jake Corin - a certified laboratory technician with Dr Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web Organization. He follows a multidisciplinary approach towards regenerative agriculture that inspires towards a more climate resilient and ecologically aligned future. He has experience on ecological projects with training in dryland restoration techniques to reverse desertification processes occurring in many parts of the world. This has provided him with essential skills to build resilience into UK agricultural systems, including the use of soil microscopy to guide soil regeneration.

What you need:

• We will provide coffee, tea, cows and oat milk; please bring a water bottle and packed lunch.
• Sturdy shoes and waterproofs/warm clothing suitable for the season and being outside.
• Please bring a notebook
• You can also bring soil/compost samples to look at under the microscope

Age limit - You must be 16 years old or above to take part in this course for safety reasons. Under 18s should be accompanied by an adult.

How much does it cost?

We aim for our short courses to be as accessible as possible by removing finance as a barrier to learn. We also have to ensure that we can cover material and teaching costs. To do so, we operate a Pay What You Can ticket model. We ask you to select one of 5 ticket options based on your individual financial circumstances:

Low wage – Reduced rate: £50

Mid wage - True cost: £80

High wage – Pay it forward: £120

Philanthropist - Gifting a donation to the college to support future courses & bursaries: £300

Free - Fully-funded

If you are unable to pay for the course and would like to be considered for a free place, then please send an email to info@blackmountainscollege.uk. You will be contacted by a member of our team 2 weeks prior to the course starting. Please note that once tickets are sold out, we can no longer accept bursary applications.

Please note that spaces on all our courses are limited. We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please view details on our pricing structure here for suggestions of what rate to pay

Refund Policy

We will refund a 50% of your ticket until 4 weeks prior to the course start. After that tickets are non-refundable. Depending on the uptake of the course we hold the right to cancel it, in which case you will be refunded. In cases of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances that force us to cancel the course, you will also be refunded.

Accessibility

This course is rated as 1 (most accessible) on our scale of accessibility. Read more about our accessibility policy here.

Please see our booking terms & conditions upon checkout for more information.

We will be doing some practical and surveying work around the farm buildings moving over rough ground, with steep slopes so this is less suitable for those with mobility issues, but we will be able to make adjustments, so please contact us with any concerns.