NOTS are delighted to provide funding for an exciting 1-week course in Practical Homesteading on-site at the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School, Organic Farm and Gardens.

This one week immersive course will run 4 times in 2025, and will cover homesteading as a way of living and working regeneratively.

The course, anchored in sustainable food production and consumption will introduce you to core homesteading activities such food growing (fruit, vegetables and herbs), rearing poultry for eggs and meat, beekeeping, preserving and fermentation, bread making and micro-dairying.

We will also look at the business of homesteading and how students can apply homesteading activities to new business ventures or diversifying current business activity.

Lunch every day at the world famous Ballymaloe Cookery School will ensure you’re all set for a great week of learning.

• DATES: Choose from 4 sessions options throughout the year
  • May 12th – 16th
  • June 9th – 13th
  • June 30th – July 4th
  • October 20th – 24th
• TIMES: 9.00am to 5.00pm each day
• VENUE: Ballymaloe Cookery School, Organic Farm and Gardens, Shanagarry, Co Cork
• COST: €1,425 when you sign up through NOTS (this is more than €600 off the full course price)
• PARTICIPANTS: Limited (Sign up ASAP to confirm your place)

Please note – to qualify for the NOTS rate, you must be a) resident in Ireland; and b) employed in any sector (either full-time or part-time). If you are not currently in employment – please sign up directly through Ballymaloe Cookery School.

What You’ll Learn:

• The benefits of homesteading to people, planet and pocket
• The Homesteading Mindset
• Growing food – planning and design for all spaces (acres and containers), soil health, fruit, vegetable and herb growing
• Preserving and Fermentation
• Water and the Land – water harvesting and reeds beds
• Making Butter, Yogurt and Cheese
• Bread making (sourdough and others)
• Homesteading as a business

Course Elements / Breakdown:

• Indoor and Outdoor Classroom Learning
• Tours of the organic farm, gardens and greenhouses
• Afternoon Cookery Demonstration
• Practical sessions on soil, compost, seed sowing, orchard planting etc.
• Practical cooking session
• Visit to Mahon Point Farmers Market
• Q&A sessions throughout the day as we review each session and put theory into practice

Sign up for your chosen  ASAP below – please note course places are limited so sign up ASAP to confirm your place. Any questions, email us at info@nots.ie.