Market Gardening Business Skills Course

This unique and interactive one-day intensive course is designed to get you thinking strategically about running a market garden as a business. Participants will be encouraged to share their challenges and solutions, and real financial data will be provided. 

The course is ideal for those looking to start a market garden enterprise and those who are already up and running but seek business support and inspiration. 

Enjoy a tour and Q&A in the Cotswold Market Garden, and engage with workshop sessions in the event barn covering:

• Access to land
• Business structures
• Business models inc. joint ventures
• Business planning tips
• Routes to market
• Marketing
• Sales
• Diversification
• Funding and finance
• Investment
• Cash flow
• Record keeping
• Entrepreneurial skills and mindset
• Efficiency and profitability
• Managing labour
• Teamwork and communication
• Getting help and more information

The 'Market Gardening Business Skills' course is led by James Butterworth and Jonty Brunyee.

James is founder and Head Grower at Cotswold Market Garden. He is an expert in organic veg growing and the host of the Organic Grower Podcast. He is responsible for keeping local chefs, hungry families and home cooks in our community supplied with the finest organic produce. James was an academic before he developed the business.  He understands and is keen to share the realities of setting up and growing a sucessful market garden. 

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Jonty is an award winning farmer, educator in farm business management and agroecology, and a mentor/consultant. He is passionate about food, nature, people and big ideas! He is also co-founder of Emergent Generation, a diverse network of young people working together to build an agroecological food system and regenerative future. Jonty and wife Mel run Conygree Farm - the home of Cotswold Market Garden. 

Cotswold Market Garden is a 2.5 acre joint venture between James, Jonty and Mel established in 2019.  The garden now employs 3FTEs and has a turnover of over £85k. Throughout the year the team grow around 50 types of vegetable and around 100 varieties mainly following no-dig principles. Produce is sold through a veg box delivery scheme; local shops, pubs and restaurants; a monthly produce market, and a pop-up farm shop at Conygree.  The team also run a big organic plant sale in the spring and knowledge sharing events. 

The standard ticket price is £95 but members of Emergent Generation are invited to buy a subsidised ticket (thanks to FiPL funding) at just £25 per person.  Tickets are limited - so be quick!

Lunch and refreshments using produce from the garden and farm are included in the ticket price.