ECBI - Edinburgh Community Backgreens Initiative - Providing Greenspace for the Community

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ECBI HomeCoursesGrow Your Own

Encouraging folk to grow their own fruit and veg in backgreens and other spaces is a big goal of ours.  We can help with installing raised beds and with classes to get you started.  We have two types of class which you can attend.  You might also be interested in going to one of our Dig For Victory classes.

Six Week Introductory Grow Your Own Course
(Please Note: Due to funding, are not planning any GYO courses at this time, but we do intend to restart as soon as our funding circumstances change.  To be kept informed please join www.digforvictoryedinburgh.org.uk).

ECBA's Grow Your Own course is intended to give a practical training in growing your own fruit and vegetables.   It is useful for growers of all levels but particularly for beginners.   We're not expecting for folk to become self-sufficient in food, but believe that it is a positive step to at least grow a wee bit, whether in a window box, raised bed or allotment. 

The six week course costs £60 and is held on weekends or weekday evenings throughout the growing season, a three hour workshop is taught each week.  There are approximately twelve students in each class.   The course is very hands on, four raised beds are built from scratch at the start of the course, and then planted up.  See here for more information on the Course Structure. 

See the Course Timetable for the dates of  six week Grow Your Own Courses.

Monthly Grow Your Own Class
The monthly classes are held on Saturday mornings at several community backgreen sites across the city.   Everyone is welcome to attend.  The classes cost £6/session and will cover the tasks you should be doing in your growing space during the coming month, there are plenty opportunities to ask for advice specific to your own situation.  If you would like a class to be set up at your community backgreen, please contact us.


Booking A Course/Class
To book the course contact ECBA on 0131 243 2698 or email.  You can pay for the six week course by cash at our office at 5 Rose Street (please call us to arrange), by cheque or by debit or by PayPal (you don't need to have a PayPal account).  You pay for the monthly class in cash on the day.

Cancellation Policy: We will give a full refund for cancellations, if notice of two weeks or more is given, or the place can be filled before the start of the course.  Otherwise we will refund 50% of the fee.

Raised Beds
We can also help with installing raised beds in your backgreen.. see here


Images From Previous Courses
The images below are from previous Grow Your Own courses.