Fircroft College of Adult Education

Learning via propagation

This project relates to the development of the Colleges 6 acre site. In collaboration with a local charity, Spring to Life, the College has developed a food growing project. Through a mother garden concept, knowledge and seedlings were shared freely from Spring to Life to the College. Partnering with the Birmingham Community Payback Scheme, the college used the knowledge and man power to create a vegetable garden. The college now has a 3 year plan whereby 75% of its ingredients used in the college kitchens will come from the College grounds.

The College has also developed a programme of learning called Mother Garden Bootcamp which provides practical skills and knowledge to be taught to adults in the community. The best part is that the seedlings and plants that are grown on the course, can be taken home. It is this process of propagation which allows adults to take what they have learnt, as well as the plants home to start their own gardens.

Top 3 Learnings

1. The health and wellbeing benefits of working outside and working with likeminded people is immeasurable.
2. The impact on individuals and local communities is immense when working together, sharing knowledge and resources.
3. Propagating knowledge and resources are a powerful and sustainable method of working.