Small Farm Training Group 
Course details
Honey Extraction - Ben and Maggi Pratt
11 September 2008, Hailsham
7.30pm - 9.30pm
A good introduction to honey extraction and the other products of a hive. A stand alone course, suitable for anyone interested in keeping bees.
Course fee: £15
Introduction to Smallholding - Sharron Murfin
11 October 2008, Chelwood Gate
10.00am – 4.00pm
Sharron will explain all you need to know about smallholding from “starting small to getting carried away!” The course will include chicken (including hatching), sheep (stock tasks and equipment), piglets, ducks and a sally around the vegetable plot!
Course fee: £20
Get knotted! - Peter Castle
12 October 2008, Broad Oak
10.00am - 1.00pm
'Knots and lines, blocks and tackle, ground anchors etc. their usage in an agricultural setting.' This course not only covers the basic 'knots and lines' and general 'rope usage' but how to lift and move heavy weights, either by block and tackle, levers or 'Spanish Windlass' etc. etc.
Course fee: £15
Introduction to Poultry - Jason and Kerry Weller
18 October 2008,
Catsfield
9.30am -
12.30pm
Learn about the basics of keeping poultry from experienced keepers…suitable housing, feeding, the poultry year, routines, health, pest and disease control and information. For those new to poultry keeping, or those in need of a refresher.
Course fee: £15
Fungi Identification - Anne Yarrow
19 October 2008, Wilderness Wood
11.00am - 12.30pm
Woodland Fungi – death or dinner? Walk looking for different types of fungi, identifying mushrooms and toadstool, with the emphasis on edible and poisonous ones.
Course fee: £9
Paperwork for Smallholders - Sharron Murfin
23 October 2008, Chelwood Gate
7.00pm - 9.00pm
This evening course will tackle the paperwork, rules and regulations required for the smallholder to keep poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle.
Course fee: £15
Introduction to pigs - David Lewis
8 November 2008, Forest Row
10.00am - 12.30pm
A course for anyone considering keeping piglets for the first time. Includes buying a weaner and keeping it to pork killing weight, approx 20 weeks, this course will cover the legal requirements as well as the practicalities such as housing and what's needed. Please note that keeping boars and sows and breeding are not covered in this course.
Course fee: £15
Making Hazel Hurdles - John Waller
9 November 2008, Edenbridge
9.30am - 4.30pm
Make a hazel hurdle to take home; the morning will be spent cutting and splitting hazel before you practice the traditional craft of hazel hurdle making. Cost includes materials and workshop facilities.
Course fee: £30 + £15 for materials
Theory of Beekeeping - Ben and Maggi Pratt
13 November 2008, Hailsham
7.30pm - 9.30pm
An evening course, for anyone interested in keeping bees, which will cover the life cycle of the honey bee, the beekeeper’s year, beekeeping equipment, types of hive and where to site them.
Course fee: £15
Visit to Diamond Fibres - Roger Mobsby
15 November 2008, Horam
10.00am - 12.00pm
A chance to enjoy a guided tour around Diamond Fibres, the place for spinners and fibre freaks of all kinds! Let Roger spin you a yarn as he shows you round the workshop.
Course fee: £10
Poultry – from the yard to the oven - Roy Stevens
22 November 2008, Chiddingly
9.30am - 12.00pm
Following the extraordinary success of this course last term, Roy has been good enough to run another! Bring along your own hen, if you have one, or we can provide one so that you can learn how to humanely slaughter, pluck and dress your bird. Alternatively, you are welcome to come along and observe!
Course fee:
£15
Chainsaw Maintenance - Peter Castle
23 November 2008, Broad Oak
10.00am - 1.00pm
Course covering basic components of a chainsaw and how to maintain them, including safety features, dismantling and servicing a chainsaw. Bring your own saw and files.
Course fee: £15
Cost is per person for SFTG members. Non-members are welcome to attend courses. The cost for each course is 1.5 times the members' fee.
Pre-booking is essential. Please download and complete the booking form (pdf), or for further information, please contact Jane Straughan.