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Educational Programmes
– husbandry in action

Having spent the first year working to improve the land, applying the principles of husbandry and developing the market garden enterprise and veg-box scheme, we have simultaneously created the best sort of 'class-room' from which the Husbandry School can deliver its knowledge and experience, that is the land itself – though during inclement weather we do have a wonderful, super-sized yurt as an indoor teaching space.

Close associations
The Husbandry School has formed close links with the prestigeous Ashburton Cookery School.

We have already been providing fresh produce from our fields for use in the Ashburton Cookery School kitchens, and from Spring 2008 we will also be hosting educational field visits for their cookery students.

These field visits will:
• Introduce students to husbandry principles, in the use of wind, water, shelter, and soils in producing food.

• Introduce students to husbandry practices, firmly rooted in the Devon tradition.

We are able to show:
• The advantages of growing ancient, rare and heritage varieties of food crops, and the nutritional benefits of using these.

• the importance of nourishing the soil. As well as material generated on our own land we also use composts made by Teignbridge District Council from the garden and kitchen waste collected in and around Ashburton. Building and maintaining a whole balanced soil ecology is essential and leads to nutritional benefits of the crops grown.

• The intelligent use of all water supplies on the land, including our own spring water, in growing produce. Good water management includes the use of drainage and irrigation ditches and leats which take water from where it is in excess, store it, and then deliver it for irrigation where it is needed.

• the importance and effectiveness of companion planting, rotation of crops, and maintaining a wide diversity of plants.

• How all these factors and others can combine to increase the quality and nutritional benefits of the ingredients on their journey from field to kitchen to dining table.

We're very much looking forward to seeing how our association with the Ashburton Cookery School develops throughout 2008, and how our teaching programme can be developed to create a truly holistic approach to food education.

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The Husbandry School is also an affiliated member of the Wholesome Foods Association, and we will promoting the practice and principles of the Wholesome Food Association to our students.

Please visit their website to see how the WFA in many ways offers a better and more responsible alternative to the current organic movement, and provides solutions to problems inherent in relying on an external governing body to provide 'organic status'.