Thurso Grows launch virtual "Get into Growing Group"

Local community group Thurso Grows is launching a virtual “Get into Growing Group” that will run for five sessions in January and February this year. The idea behind the free online course is to encourage and support new food growers in the Highlands to get to grips with starting and evolving their skills this spring.

The community gardens based in Ormlie, Thurso have thrived this year, despite the obvious challenges, and the team have spent the year working with volunteers at the gardens growing huge amounts of produce, teaming up with The Highland Council on turning Sir John Square into a wonderful temporary community vegetable garden and running bi-monthly market stalls giving away locally grown veg by donation. The group also gave out 50 salad planters and countless tomato and chilli plants so that local people could get involved in growing at home, and were overwhelmed by the local response to getting growing – hence the idea and offer of the online course.

As well as practical gardening Thurso Grows have worked with some local groups that included food courses with the job centre in Wick, potato planting with local schools, gardening with students at North Highland College, online food cooking and waste reduction sessions. The group have also worked to promote healthy eating by giving out 'cook at home' meal bags for use during courses using delicious local ingredients.

Thurso Grows Project Co-Ordinator, Sharon Dismore said:

“We are hoping the courses offer a small, supportive environment to local people wanting to get into gardening.

Its going to be free, simple, fun and informative and our aim is to plant a seed – so people feel encouraged and enthused to give it a go – knowing they have a local support group that can help them as their journey begins!

Even though January and February are the darkest months of the year – they are the best times to start planning for Spring and imagining all the amazing food and fun you can have once the light returns.”

Thurso Grows is funded by the the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund, which allows the workshops to be provided free of charge. All participants are asked to fill out a short questionnaire regarding their experience before and after the workshops.

Workshop dates:

Free “Introduction to vegetable growing” Saturday morning from 10am via the online platform Zoom. 45 minutes per session:

Saturday 16th Jan - Intro to Veg Growing
Saturday 23rd Jan - Tools and Techniques
Saturday 30th Jan - Site Design Choices
Saturday 6th Feb - Seeds and Plant Sourcing
Saturday 13th Feb - Gardeners Q time (1 hour)

For more information and to sign up please email sharon@thursocdt.co.uk