Home » Sow, Grow, Eat: A programme for teenagers to explore horticulture and cooking

Sow, Grow, Eat: A programme for teenagers to explore horticulture and cooking

Are you aged 13-17 and based in South London?

Are you interested in dipping your toes in the career of a gardener, food grower or chef?

Do you want to explore the life cycle of vegetables from seed to plate?

We are looking for up to eight teenagers to join our FREE ‘Sow, Grow, Eat’ programme, which involves spending one Saturday each month for six months with us at the Garden Museum, sowing, growing, cooking and eating. No prior experience necessary, just an enthusiasm for plants!

About the programme 

The Garden Museum has been awarded a grant to support this new hands-on programme, specifically aimed at young local teenagers aged 13-17.  We aim to welcome individuals who may not have any experience of working with plants, but are keen to find out more and give it a go. It may even be the catalyst for aspirations to a career in horticulture, food growing or working as a chef!

The programme will take place at the Garden Museum over eight sessions from May to October 2024, and tuition will be jointly led by a horticulturist and a food educator from the Garden Museum.

Each session will be split between working in our gardens, and our learning kitchen. For the horticultural aspect participants will learn about planting skills, maintenance and harvesting by working in our ‘Sow, Grow, Eat’ greenhouse, various raised beds, and around the Museum’s garden.

In the learning kitchen participants will take part in a hands on ‘basics in cooking’ session using some of the produce grown at the sessions. From baking and bread dough, to pasta and pizza, sauces and soup, everyone will finish the course with a solid grounding in how to cook, with pro knife skills to boot.

The course will culminate in a celebratory meal for participants families, utilizing all the skills learnt during the programme. Everyone who completes the course will receive a certificate of completion from the Garden Museum.

Course Dates 2024

Saturdays, 9.30am – 1pm

Saturday 4th May, 1st June, 6th July, 3rd August, 7th September, 5th 0ctober

+ there will be an extra horticultural day during the school summer holidays, and a project culmination day (dates tbc). 

Participants should be available to attend as many sessions as possible. Depending on participant numbers we may be open to latecomers joining throughout the year.

The course takes place at the Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7LB.

To apply

We are looking for up to eight participants. To apply please send a short email by Monday 22nd April  2024 to info@gardenmuseum.org.uk with the subject SOW, GROW, EAT telling us a little about you and explaining why you would like to join the programme (max 300-400 words). Successful participants will be notified by Wednesday 24th April 2024.