The Agroecology Learning Collective In-Person Gathering

This all-day event will be focused on exploring and building on opportunities within work-based and practical agroecological training.

The event will open at 9.30am with coffee and registrations, for a 10.00am start. We are aiming for this to be an engaging and interactive day, with plenty of opportunity for you to expand your learning, as well as bring your knowledge and skills to address movement wide opportunities and challenges. For most of the day, there will be two different sessions to choose from to try and make it as relevant to people as possible.

We also recognise that some of the best chats happen in-between sessions, and have planned a long lunch break for this purpose, as well as optional drinks after the event which you are welcome to stay for after the event finishes.

The event is free to attend and lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please let us know on the ticket booking form if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. 

Summary schedule

You can see more information about each session at the bottom of the event

• 09.30 - 10.00 Arrivals and registration
• 10.00 - 10.30 Welcome and opening
• 10:30 - 11.00 Keynote: Jonathan Code - Agroecology in Mainstream Education: Widening Awareness and Deepening Practice
• 11.00 - 11.15 Coffee break
• 11.15 - 12.45 Choose between two sessions:
  • Session 1: Agroecology and Universities - can new relationships be formed and how?
  • Session 2: What are the different training models and what’s right for you?
• 12.45 - 14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00 - 15.30 Choose between two sessions:
  • Session 3: How can you work with local Government to build local agroecological training opportunities?
  • Session 4: Train the Trainer - how to be a better trainer
• 15.30 - 15.45 Coffee break
• 15.45 - 16.45 Session 5: How do we organise and create a thriving network?
• 16.45 - 17.00 Wrap up and next steps
• 17.00 - 19.00 Social/networking drinks

Who is the event for?

This event is for trainers, colleges, educators, farmers and anyone else involved in agroecological training. Whether you’re an established trainer/training provider, or someone interested in setting up something new, we think there’ll be something relevant for you.

Travel bursary

We acknowledge this is a long way for some people to travel, so have a travel bursary pot to help cover costs if this is prohibitive for you. There is no strict criteria for this, but it is limited in size and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Please email hello@agroecologylearning.org.uk if you would like to apply for a bursary.

About the venue:

We are based at Bridge 5 Mill, a centre for social change and event space in the heart of Manchester. The venue is a 20 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, and close to tram and bus stops, and we encourage people to travel by public transport where possible. There is information on location, including parking, on their website. We have created a liftshare spreadsheet to help those who are driving to offer lifts/those needing lifts to request them. 

Accessibility

This venue is accessible and has lift access to the event space.

Session descriptions

Keynote: Jonathan Code - Agroecology in Mainstream Education: Widening Awareness and Deepening Practice

Jonathan is the Programme Lead on the MSc Agroecology programme at RAU and senior lecturer in Sustainable Land Mangement. His educational research has focused on integrative and trans-disciplinary approaches to education and the role that these can play in the contemporary educational landscape.

Session1: Agroecology and Universities - can new relationships be formed and how?

How can universities include embodied learning and farm based training? Do people even care about universities? Do people want an academic credential? How can universities support and be activists for agroecology? Hear from three different leading academics - Nathan Einbinder, Aryo Feldman and Jonathan Code - about some of these issues, then join in discussions about topics like how we can incorporate different learning styles and peer to peer learning, and how we can bridge the gap between formal and informal learning.

Session 2. What are the different training models and what’s right for you?

Are you looking at developing training on your farm or through your organisation? Interested to hear about the different models that are available and work out what might be a good fit for you. We’ll have five different models as part of the session, and you’ll be able to rotate between three of them to hear how they work and ask questions. From funding to risk assessments, quality assurance to insurance, it’s a great opportunity to pick the brains of some of the leaders in the training sphere.

Featuring:

• Accredited training with Organic Lea and the Apricot Centre
• The Biodynamic Agricultural College work-based training
• Apprenticeships with the LWA & Ash and Elm Horticulture
• The OGA Training Network
• Pasture for Life Skills Development Programme

Session 3: How can you work with local Government to build local agroecological training opportunities?

During this session we’ll be hearing about how the devolution white paper and subsequent changes in policy has allowed councils to have more flexibility on how they spend their budget, including on developing green skills. We’ll hear from South West Devon Council who've used their funding flexibly to fund places like the Apricot Centre, then divide into groups to explore methods and tactics for working with councils in different regions.

Session 4. Train the Trainer - led by Rachel Phillips from the Apricot Centre

Do you deliver on-farm or practical training? Would you like to develop your skills as a trainer? This session will cover:

• Different learning styles and barriers to learning
• Effective types of instruction and the role of feedback
• Reflecting on your own learning as a trainer
• Agroecological training methods and peer-to-peer learning

Session 5: How do we organise and create a thriving network

This is your opportunity to contribute to the development of TALC as a network. We’ll be exploring questions such as how would membership work and what subgroups and working groups does TALC need? How do we communicate and work together as a network? What comms, website functions and resources do we want TALC to produce?