2024 sees renewed focus for Countryways CIC’s Inspired to Grow project, following on from its success last year, with a series of growing workshops and cookery masterclasses on the farm using home-grown veg and locally sourced produce. Once the growing season gets underway, there are plans for youngsters to focus on growing an array of heritage and colourful varieties of fruit and vegetables such as blue skinned potatoes and red onions dating back to the 1900s.
Part of our vision for the Inspired to Grow Project is to use the foods grown in the polytunnel to create tasty seasonal meals, to encourage people to try new things, and to reduce waste through thrifty and clever cooking. They will be covering topics such as one-pot meals, mushroom recipes as an alternative protein source, and fermenting and preserving. The Inspired to Grow Project was enabled through funding by Heart of Bucks, and the free workshops are available to young people who may be facing challenges in their lives for whatever reason, aged 13-18 in the local area.

Inspired to Grow is a our new growing project, helped with funding from Heart of Bucks, which aims to build confidence in young people and communities to have fun sustainably growing diverse and nourishing varieties of heritage plants, and to explore the important connection between fungi, soil and biodiversity. By having the opportunity to grow and learn about fruit and vegetables, we also hope to have a positive impact on both people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Our full course schedule and details of how to book are below:

Please note, course content is subject to change depending on the weather and growing conditions.
More details will be added to each course nearer its start date.
Thursday 9th May, 5-6.30pm – Polytunnel growing: tbc
Wednesday 15 May, 5-6.30pm – Cookery workshop: farm to fork, jointing a chicken, speedy chicken biryani, posh eggy spinach bread, 3 ingredient flatbread. To book visit: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DAKZ
Sunday 9th June – Open Farm Sunday, 12.30 – 4.30pm (tbc). See our working farm in action, meet the farmer, listen to farm talks, join a guided farm walk, watch the sheep-dog demo and more. Book your free tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DGPJ