Small Farm Training Group 
Course details
Poultry – from the yard to the oven - Roy Stevens, Chiddingly
Sunday 17 January,
9.30am – 12pm
Learn how to humanely slaughter, pluck and dress a bird. Birds will be provided for you to practice or just come along and observe.
Course fee: £15
NEW Managing small beef cattle herds and sheep flocks
Dr Elwyn D Rees ADAS,
Cade Street, funded by Seeda
Tuesday 19 January,
10am - 3pm
A course aimed at the fairly experienced keeper, to maximize your animal health and welfare
Course fee: FREE
NEW Understanding Pig Health Managing the reproductive female Beginners Guide to AI & Demonstration - Odelle Walker ADAS, Battle funded by Seeda
Thursday 21 January,
10am - 3.30pm
From what to look for when buying a pig to common diseases, worming, vaccination, productivity and pig health.
Course fee: FREE
Tool Sharpening - Peter Castle, Broad Oak
Sunday 24 January,
9am-12pm
Ensure your tools are sharp, safe and efficient for the spring. Bring any problem tools with you and learn about steels and how to sharpen different tools.
Course fee: £15
Coppicing - Dave Truran, Gallops Wood
Saturday 30 January,
9am - 4pm
Spend the day in a hazel coppice, learning and practicing the useful art of coppicing.
Course fee: £35
NEW Better Safe than Sorry – Essential Food Safety for Small Producers and Market Stall Holders - Suzanne Goss, Chiddingly
Saturday 6 February,
10am - 1pm
This course will cover controlling hazards, making and manufacturing food at home, food transport and displaying your produce.
Course fee: £25
Introduction to Poultry - Jason Weller, Battle
Saturday 13 February,
9.30am – 1.30pm
Learn the basics of keeping poultry from setting up your chicken house to care and pests and disease control.
Course fee: £15
Hedgelaying - Dave Truran, venue TBC
Saturday 20 February,
9am - 4pm
Hedge layer Dave Truran will explain the how and why of hedge laying, look at the tools used and show you how it’s done before you have a go.
Course Fee: £35
Bricklaying - Dave Bartter, Isfield
Sunday 28 February,
10am - 4pm
Basic brick laying for beginners. This course will cover how to get started, mixing mortar, tools needed, different bonds and patterns of brickwork
Course Fee: £20
Understanding Chicken in Small Flocks - ADAS, 10am - 3.30pm
Thursday 4 March, Plumpton College, Lewes,
Friday 5 March, Netherfield (Plumpton College), Battle
Tuesday 9th March,
Sparsholt College, Winchester, Hampshire
ADAS is delivering a series of workshops as part of the Livestock Health South East Project. These events, aimed at small scale poultry keepers, will focus on:
· The bird – welfare, handling, behaviours, anatomy
· Housing and environment – what they need and like
· Egg laying – why, how, where, feeding, light, the egg
· Rearing – fertile eggs, chicks
· Meat birds – type, housing, brooding, growing, slaughter
· Health – common ailments
Meetings start at 10am and run until 3.30pm in an informal atmosphere. Food and refreshments will be provided. Please reserve your place through Kerry Weller.
Introduction to keeping Pigs - David Lewis, Forest Row
Saturday 13 March,
10am – 12.30pm
For anyone considering keeping pigs for meat. Includes buying a weaner and care till pork killing weight. This course will cover the legal requirements as well as practicalities such as housing. Please note this will not cover keeping boars and breeding.
course fee: £15
The Truth about Renewables - Martin (Solarwind), Catsfield
Tuesday 16 March,
7.30pm - 9.30pm
A talk through the jungle of renewable energy, from a practical point of view. Martin (an enthusiastic semi-retired specialist) will talk about what actually works and what is best avoided!
Course fee: £15
The basics of Cattle Keeping - John and Pat Garratt, Haywards Heath
Thursday 25 March,
7.30pm - 9pm
An evening course looking at how cattle are kept in winter, discussing the different ways of feeding (especially in winter) and a chance to see the herd. Focusing on Dexters but including other breeds as well.
Course Fee: £15
Charcoal Making - Peter Castle, Broad Oak
Saturday 27 March,
9am – 4pm
Small scale charcoal production using old oil drums. A long day but each person should take home a sack full of charcoal. Whilst the Charcoal cools in the afternoon the time will be spent practicing woodland crafts such as bronze/pewter casting &/or cleaving.
Course fee: £35
NEW Sow farrowing and Litter management - Odelle Walker, ADAS
Two dates: Wednesday 7 April, Plumpton; Thursday 8 April, Netherfield
10am - 3.30pm
One-day course: a look at sow farrowing, including housing, feeding and problems, litter Management and feeding for success.
Course fee: FREE
Beekeeping Practical - Ben Pratt, Chiddingly
Saturday 10 April,
10am – 2pm
A stand alone course looking at the practical side of beekeeping. Including a re-cap of the theory of beekeeping and a demonstration of opening up a hive (weather dependant).
course fee: £15
Longwools for added value from fleece/sheep to shawl
Julia Desch, Rushlake Green
Saturday 10 April, 2pm - 4.30pm
An informal opportunity to walk around the farm, see the Black Wensleydales and discuss anything from hand clipping to final products
Course fee: £15
Grassland Management - Dave Bartter, Isfield
Sunday 18 April,
10am - 4pm
A day on grassland management – what makes good management, good grassland, grazing and hay. Including fertilizer and farmyard manure spreading, harrowing and topping.
Course fee: £20
Trip to Canine Partners - Canine Partners, Midhurst
Monday 19 April,
1.30pm - 3pm
A chance to visit the training centre to see a demonstration of the dogs in training, a short film and an opportunity to meet the staff,
volunteers and partners
FREE
Introduction to Smallholding - Sharron Murfin, Chelwood Gate
Saturday 24 April,
10am – 4pm
Learn the basics for keeping sheep, pigs and poultry to provide food on a small scale, and how to fit it all in around a working day.
Course fee: £20
Bread & Doughnut making - Roger Chamberlain, Chiddingly
Sunday 25 April,
10am - 4pm
A practical course covering making dough by hand and machine, dough proving, moulding, shaping and doughnut frying and eating! At the end of the course, you will each have made and moulded a loaf to take home and bake.
Course fee: £20
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 Kerry Weller.