Growing Food at Home - Afternoon group

Dates: 20th Nov, 11th Dec, 12 Feb, 26 Feb, 12 Mar

Time:  Afternoon 2pm to 5pm (includes half an hour of tea and social time at the end) 

Facilitator: Joel Delahunty from Free Company

Funder: ECCAN

Note: For the best experience, we invite you to take part in the full series of 5 sessions if possible. Please book all sessions ahead to ensure your place is reserved!

Growing Food at Home

The Planetary Healing Centre is excited to launch this project in partnership with The Free Company funded by the Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN).

Part of a climate resilience project (Nov 2025 – Mar 2026), this project is for participants to gather, get to know one another, learn and plan what we will grow this season and begin to think about growing for the coming year at home.

We’ll explore soil health, composting, and seed planning and growing in a supported environment. The programme will support you to grow on windowsills, balconies, small gardens, allotments, bags, boxes, pots, etc. Lets get creative together!

All levels welcome; no prior experience needed.

What to Expect:

• Welcome circle & introductions
• Interactive workshop: composting, soil preparation, planting, etc.
• Grow‑plan mapping
• Materials overview & support
• Refreshment, sharing, reflection, journaling

What to bring: Please bring a packed lunch, flask of something hot, water, notebook, pen, outdoors shoes, warm clothes and come prepared for all weather.

We Provide: gloves, seed trays, hot refreshments, lifts, a project support worker and a fantastic teacher.

ABOUT JOEL AND THE FREE COMPANY

Joel has been the head grower at the Free Company for 3 years now, There he focusses on agroecological market gardening (farming alongside nature without the use of any chemicals) 

The Free Company are leaders in sustainable farming, food growing and food education. They bring deep expertise in growing food generatively and running practical workshops in a farm setting. 

20 NOVEMBER 2025

Meeting 1: Soil, Composting

Goals:

• Learn about soil health, composting basics
• Finalise distribution of materials
• Begin preparing for first sowings
• Connect with seasonal cycles and the earth

• On-site learning (Free Company)
• Indoor composting ideas
• Potting demo + how to prepare trays
• Continue home set-ups with Planetary Healing project support worker

11 DECEMBER 2025

Meeting 2: Crop/plant selection - Growing Intentions

Goals:

Work through 10 different varieties and different growing and harvest considerations. 

Gathering Goals: Reflect and celebrate seasonal rhythms.

Deepen group connection, support and encouragement

Intention Setting: What do we hope to grow at home, seed swap. recipe share, etc

12 FEBRUARY 2026

Meeting 3: Seed Starting Indoors

Goals:

• Begin early sowings indoors (tomatoes, chillies, leafy greens)
• Learn how to chit seed potatoes
• Build confidence for the spring growing season

Indoor Sowing & Chitting Workshop

• Sow seeds in trays/pots (with supports for home set-up)
• Demo: Chitting potatoes (place in light to sprout)
• Peer support and troubleshooting
• Group check-in and journaling

26 FEVEREIRO 2026

Meeting 4: Outdoor Planting

Goals:

• Plant chitted potatoes in bags or garden soil
• Sow spring greens, onion sets, or salad
• Celebrate growth, learning, and community
• Showcase creative outputs (journals, photos)

• Tattie planting day (outdoors or in bags)
• Sow additional spring crops

12 MARCH 2026

Meeting 5: End of March - Final Gathering & Celebration

• Celebration meal or picnic (using herbs/greens if ready)
• Story circle: What I’ve learned
• Creative share: photos, drawings, journals
• Future planting plans, future involvement options

Ongoing Throughout the Programme

• WhatsApp group for peer sharing, updates, and questions
• Home support/check-ins by sessional worker
• Free transport from Balerno to Free Company
• Creative documentation encouraged (photos, journals, drawings)
• Accessible and inclusive; free to participants with optional donations

Outcomes

• Reduce carbon footprint through local, organic food growing
• Improve mental health through nature-based, seasonal learning
• Support biodiversity and climate action (e.g. composting, organic methods)
• Build resilience among people affected by trauma, barriers linked to low income, or health conditions
• Foster community and peer support, reduce isolation
• Lay foundations for ongoing food-growing projects or volunteer pathways

IMPORTANT INFO

Note: Each date needs to be booked separately. For a comprehensive learning, we recommend you book your place for the whole project.

CAR LIFT SHARE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1146040586448542

QUESTIONS ? If you have any questions before or on the day regarding this event, please text: 075 0443 8763.

If you need any other support or have any concerns please contact our office on email holistic@planetary-healing or text: 075 0443 8763.

DONATIONS: Our work is made possible by our funders, supporting access for those facing financial hardship and wellbeing challenges. If that’s you, please book a FREE space. If however, you are someone who can contribute, it helps us cover core costs that usually are not supported by funders. Cash donation on the day is also okay.

WHERE : Meet at the Free Company, Cockdurno Farm, Balerno, EH14 7HZ. Bus 44 / 44A. At the village, stop at the third bus stop after the roundabout. From there, enter Cockburnhill Road and walk for approximately 10 minutes, turn left following the sign for Free Company. Google map will take you there if you use the postcode.

PARKING: Free parking.

EMAIL REMINDER: You will get an email reminder of your event 3 days before it. Please make sure you add holistic@planetary-healing.org to your email address book or safe senders list. Also keep a regular eye on your inbox and spam folders as sometimes our emails end up there. This way you won't miss out on any important updates regarding your booking.

NOTE: On your arrival, please feel free to let us know your preferred pronouns (e.g. he/him, she/her, they/them) and what name you would like us to refer to you by.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Space is limited, so if for any reason you need to cancel, please let us know asap, so we can free up the space for others on the waiting list. Due to the amount of work involved, donations are non-refundable.

PHOTOS: Occasionally we take group pictures for promotions, reports, funders, newsletter and social media. If you would prefer not to be in the picture, please communicate this to the facilitator on arrival.