Our Training
We organise training courses for organic producers, smallholders, and small food producers in Ireland. Participants include those aspiring to convert to organic production, and experienced organic producers who want to improve their skills or diversify into new areas

The increasing consumer demand for local organic produce through box schemes, shops, restaurants and farmers' markets means there is an urgent need and a great opportunity to increase supply in the region. Through our programme of courses, we are aiming to increase production and encourage producers to take advantage of new market opportunities

Check the Course Calendar for scheduled dates and locations. In addition to those specified, courses can be run in other locations if there is sufficient demand. Course can also be 'moved' from one county to another if it appears participants are mainly located in a different county, in order to reduce travel time and costs for the majority. Feel free to call or email us with your queries or suggestions!

The Early Bird Catches The Worm!
All courses are subsidised and this means we can offer them at a very reasonable price. They are held in local training centres and delivered by experienced trainers.

Courses can only be run if the minimum number of participants is met, so to encourage early booking we have arranged a 20% discount on all courses (excluding the post-graduate MSc in Organic Farming). Simply contact WON and send payment to arrive one calendar month ahead of the date of the chosen course.

Take advantage of the early bird discount and confirm your booking as soon as you can!

Customised Training
WON also provides customised training if there is significant interest in particular areas relating to organic farming and food production.

• Existing courses delivered in-house on your own business premises or in your preferred county
• New courses designed and delivered specific to your needs
• Ideas for courses logged, and when there is sufficient demand, delivered in areas of high demand

WON will be happy to help advise, design or co-ordinate training according to your needs.

Business Skills

This programme will be as flexible as possible and content will be based on the needs, aspirations and experience of participants. The programme will be of a practical nature and course material will be designed to reflect challenges facing the organic sector.

€120 (includes lunch) – 5 x 3 hour sessions (evenings)

Introduction, Group Formation & Business Planning
• Traits and Characteristics of organic farmers as Entrepreneurs / Self Assessment (will be used to gather further information for programme development)
• SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of the organic sector (using participants own circumstances / experiences)

Business Planning; a Road Map
• Understanding and preparing Business Plans
• Costing / Pricing, apportioning cost to specific areas of your business
• Identifying most profitable areas of your business

Finance and Financial Planning
• Understanding the terminology of Finance
• Preparing a simple Cash Flow and Profit and Loss Account
• Taxation issues for the Business, VAT, etc
• Record keeping and Basic Book keeping requirements and tipsLegal Structures and Issues
• Understanding Sole Trader, Limited Company and Partnership etc.
• Registering a Business NamePotential Funding, Business Plan Review & Evaluation
• Testing Business Ideas
• Sources of Funding - Key criteria and application process
• Bank, Investors and potential funders’ perspective
• Review of Business Plan Progress for Participants that have worked on plans
• Personal Goal Setting- some definite next steps

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Cheese Making

A two day practical course in all aspects of organic cheesemaking with recipes for cheeses and tasting session.

€60 (includes lunch) – 2 days

• Cheesemaking cultures, equipment and facilities
• Hard cheese production
• Soft cheese production – quark, fresh herb cheese, cheese in oil

Commercial Organic Horticulture

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Computerised Farm Accounts

This course is aimed at farmers /small business to enable participants to understand the concepts of computerised accounts and record keeping.

€60 – 20 hours over 6 evenings

• Preparing a tax return
• Reporting Online (ros system)
• Paper based reporting
• Entitlements
• Vat returns
• Tax emptions
• Allowances
• Other taxation / Exemptions
• Minimising tax liability

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Computer Training

The Western Organic Network is offering a range of IT courses to suit both beginners and advanced users. Course will be tailored to the needs and can be organised locally where there is sufficient demand.

Cost variable depending on course option as is duration

Options include both certified and non-certified courses and may cover:
• Basic introductions to computers
• Web surfing & Email
• Microsoft Office Packages
• Word
• Excel
• Access
• Powerpoint
• Publisher

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Conversion to Organics

This course is designed for people who are interested in converting their existing farm business from conventional to organic and also for new entrants in general. First session indoors, with afternoon session comprising an organic farm walk. Please bring: REPS plans, maps of the land, any other relevant information.

€40 – 1 evening session and 1 farm visit the following week

• The application process
• Drawing up conversion plans
• Organic Standards
• Rotations
• Organic REPS
• Best practices in conversion

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Crop Planning

This course is designed for existing producers who wish to plan their site for the coming growing season. The class is small to allow maximum one-to-one input from the tutor into individual plans. Each participant will have the opportunity to produce a cropping plan for thier own area which includes recommendations of good varieties, sowing dates and rates, successional sowings and possible returns. Please bring outline of your own site.

€40 – 1 day

• Rotations and their importance organics
• Spacing - Crop and Plant spacing and design
• Crop populations
• Record keeping
• Continuity of supply
• Catch cropping
• Markets

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Cut Herb Production

This course will cover the major commercial cut herb varieties in theory and practice. There will also be an opportunity to work in a dedicated cut herb polytunnel.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Herb varieties
• Rotations and equipment
• Pests and diseases
• Growing under cover
• Harvesting, packing, storing, pricing

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Desk Top Publishing

Through an introduction to the key software packages, learn how to design and print documents to promote your business with flyers, posters, adverts and newsletters or to create professional price lists and labels for your produce.

€50 (includes lunch) – 4/5 x 3 hour sessions

• DTP Basics and design principles
• The print process: photocopying, offset litho, working with a printer
• MS Publisher, Pageplus, Coreldraw
• Quark Xpress, Adobe Pagemaker and Indesign
• Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
• Mac and PC compatibility
• Writing, Sub-editing and Copy editing
• Photography , Illustration, Scanning

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Farm Accounts

This course is aimed at farmers /small business to enable participants to manage their accounts manually and to be able to complete and submit basic accounts.

€60 – 20 hours over 6 evening

• Preparing a tax return
• Reporting Online (ros system)
• Paper based reporting
• Entitlements
• Vat returns
• Tax emptions
• Allowances
• Other taxation / Exemptions
• Minimising tax liability

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Fruit Crop Management

This course will cover the practical aspects of basic pruning and grafting and management of both hard and soft fruit trees e.g. nettles, pears, plums, strawberries, gooseberries etc.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day each session

• Optimum pruning time
• Type of cut
• Management options
• Grafting techniques
• Pest & disease
• Sourcing rootstock
• Propagation
• Orchard establishment

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Hedgelaying

Hedges are an extremely valuable resource on the farm – their benefits include biodiversity, shelter, and extending grass season. The course is designed to equip participants with the basic skills in the art of laying hedges. Suitable for novices and those with some experience.

€50 (includes lunch) – 2 days

• Correct use of a billhook
• How to build, stake and bind a laid hedge
• Overview of tools, safety, and hedge selection.

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Homeopathy for Animals

A two day introduction to basic remedies and how to select and apply them. The tutor is an experienced veterinary surgeon who has been a homeopathy practitioner for around 20 years.

€50 (includes lunch) – 2 days

• Philosophy, principles and methods of selecting remedies
• Importance of removal of obstructions and diet
• Photographic and video examples of remedies in action
• Advanced remedy workshops using live case studies

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Integrating Forestry with Organic Farms

This one day course will involve looking at suitable forestry options for organic farms and how to successfully integrate suitable land with an emphasis on wood fuel options, enhanced biodiversity and livestock shelter with new grant options.

€10 – 1 day

• Site selection
• New grant system
• Organic/forestry integration
• Species selection
• Options

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Introduction to Alternative Energy

This one day course will cover the installation, costings, outputs of a variety of alternative energy systems.

€40 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Installation and costs
• Solar panels
• Water heating
• Wind turbines
• Wood fired boilers and heat pump

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Introduction to Bee Keeping

Learn how to produce honey for home use and sale, what equipment is needed, and how to manage, harvest and process the hives. No live bees will be involved.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Buying and locating a hive and colony
• Equipment, feeding and management
• Disease prevention and control
• Harvesting and processing
• Organic standards
• Advantages of bees to insects and pollination

A more intensive 3 day course will be held in Donegal (€60).

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Introduction to Farmers’ Markets

This course is aimed at anyone interested in setting up a Farmers’ Market or attending a Farmers’ Market as a stallholder.

€10 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Introduction to Farmers’ Market - Irish and European comparisons, consumer approach, value to local trading centres
• Setting up a successful market - Location, size, stall holders selection, cost, customer base, funding, size level.
• Managing a Farmers’ Market – Promotions and product range, code of conduct, management and ownership, income, training, insurance
• Operating in a Farmers’ market - The issues, product quality, stallholder’s legal and ethical requirements

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Introduction to Organic Farming

Theory based course on organic farming using a learning CD and involving course work. The course is certified by Scottish Agriculture College.

€80 – 80 hours total

The course covers the following topics
• Introduction to Organic farming
• Certification
• Crop Rotation Soil & Nutrients
• Grass and Forage Management
• Crop Husbandry
• Livestock Husbandry
• Organic Farming for the Smallholder
• Conversion planning for profitability

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Introduction to Organic Medicinal Plant Growing

This two day course is designed to introduce growers to medicinal plants and herbs, covering theoretical aspects and practical techniques.

€50 (includes lunch) – 2 days

Day 1:
• Definition and classification
• Plant metabolism and main active ingredients.
• Growing of medicinal plants.

Day 2:
• Harvesting
• Post-harvest and storing
• Marketing
• Health and safety aspects

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Livestock - Grassland & Soil Management

One day course to enable farmers to increase grassland production for fodder and thereby reduce reliance on external feed inputs.

€20 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Flora in pastures and diversity
• Soil structure
• Grass seeding
• Clover swards
• Fodder production

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Livestock - Veterinary Management

One day course for cattle and sheep livestock producers, and examining best practice in management of organic livestock health. The course will cover conventional permitted remedies that are useful in an organic system.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Disease Control and Prevention
• Breeding
• Nutrition – including trace elements
• Stress Management
• Parasitology (fluke, worm etc)
• Standards and Veterinary Certification
• Pregnancy and Neo Natal Health

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Machinery for Horticulture

This course aims to provide practical knowledge and skills on the suitability of specialised machinery suitable for using in an outdoor situation and in polythene tunnels. Demonstrations will include how to use seeders, rotivators and walk behind tractors.

€10 – 1 day

• Overview of Tools
• Practical demonstration on equipment
• Light maintenance
• Machinery
• Choosing correct machinery

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Marketing Skills for Organic Producers

This course aims to provide practical knowledge and skills to enable participants to develop an effective Marketing Plan for their business. The programme is intended to increase and improve the marketing skills of the network overall for the benefit of all members.

€40 (includes lunch) – 1 day course or 2 evening sessions

• Customer Oriented Approach to Marketing
• Legislation & Legal Obligations of Producer / Vendor
• Branding & Packaging, Labels & Logo’s, Pricing Strategies
• Logistics, Finance, Accounts & Funding Agencies
• Marketing Plan

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MSc/PGDip in Organic Farming

This course is studied part time through on-line distance learning. This allows those in continuing employment or with family commitments to participate. With the exception of several weekend schools and a short study tour, the learning is carried out in the student’s own home or workplace.

There are eight taught modules providing a range of technical, marketing, management, work experience and professional skills development. A study tour is also used to visit a range of organic and conventional farms as well as businesses operating in the organic food supply and distribution chain.

Organic Crop Production
This module will provide an understanding of methods of crop production for arable and vegetable field crops, with particular reference to organic farming in the UK. Developing an understanding of breeding, establishment, nutrition, protection, harvesting and storage in the context of organic crop production of field crops.

Organic Farming Profession
This module will provide an overview of the philosophy, principles, history and development of the organic farming industry. The organic standards will be introduced and the ways in which they are used to regulate the organic food and farming industry at UK, European and world levels will be covered.

Organic Forage and Livestock Production
This module will provide an understanding of the role of forage legumes in organic systems and describe grassland management systems that maximise the contribution of legumes. Students will also be given an understanding of the organic approach to livestock production, particularly in terms of animal welfare, preventative health management and nutrition.

Soils and Nutrient Cycling
This module will aim to provide the students with the tools to manage their soils optimally. Ultimately, they should be able to describe soil properties, evaluate soil fertility and assess management requirements in the context of organic farming. Providing an understanding of the chemical, physical and biological features of soil fertility and nutrient cycling. Developing practical skills in soil assessment and whole farm nutrient budgeting.

Organic Farming Case Study
This module will improve the student’s ability to undertake whole farm analysis and in particular organic conversion planning. Whole farm analysis involves a range of skills and examination of a wide range of issues: technical, financial, marketing and environmental.

Organic Farming Work Placement
This module will allow students to become familiar with an organisation or business in the organic food and farming sector during a 6-week (or equivalent) work placement. The student will gather relevant and unique material to enable them to carry out a technical and business analysis and make recommendations for future development of the organisation or business in question.

Issues in Organic Farming
This module provides an overview of the principles of environmental management in the context of organic agriculture, helping students gain an appreciation of the potential impacts of agricultural enterprises on the environment, measures for minimising such impacts, and opportunities for incorporating positive environmental management measures into farm business plans. Includes a 3-day study tour

Marketing and Business Management in the Organic Farming Sector
This module will provide an understanding of the concepts, principles and techniques involved in marketing management and how they are applied in the context of the organic farming sector. Financial accounts are one source of information regarding an organic business, and aid the process of planning and control.

MSc Project (taken following successful completion of taught modules)
Provides an opportunity for in-depth individual research on a topic related to organic farming

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Organic Egg Production

This is a practical course designed for those wishing to start or expand small-scale egg production. It is run on an organic egg farm in Dromahair, Co Leitrim, and covers point-of-lay to end-of-lay.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Expected egg numbers, feed usage, saleable eggs
• Point-of-lay pullets-breed & source, body-weight, disposal of end-of-lay hens
• Housing, equipment and lighting
• Grazing and stocking density
• Disease and behavioural problems
• Fixed and variable costs
• Record keeping
• Marketing of eggs & marketing regulations
• Organic Regulations and Restrictions

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Organic Horticulture

Practical course on growing and producing organic vegetables and fruit. This course is suitable for new entrants and those who wish to learn how to grow more efficiently and effectively.

€160 (includes lunch) – 7 days (one day per fortnight)

One day of training in each of the following:
• Protected cropping
• Outdoor vegetables and herbs and fruit
• Pests and diseases
• Cultivations/bed systems
• Fertility Management
• Marketing

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Organic Pig Production

This course is aimed at producers interested in rearing pigs and those currently producing pork conventionally on a small scale who wish to convert to organic production.

€60 (includes lunch) – 2 days

• Organic Farming versus conventional Systems
• Sales & Markets
• Processing – including pork, bacon, ham, sausages
• Labelling, distribution & packaging
• Land management & REPS
• Husbandry - Breeds, feeding, parasites and disease, fencing , weights, housing, densities
• Costings – including overheads, certification fees, transport, slaughter, processing
• Income - including livestock sales, REPS, stud, land management, product and culls

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Organic REPs

This one day course is aimed at REPS Planners who wish to improve their understanding of organic production to help them give the best advice to clients. Please note this course can be run in any venue throughout the country.

€60 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• EU Regulations
• Organic certification bodies
• The application process and timescale
• Conversion plans and conversion issues
• Stocking, feeding, housing
• Veterinary treatments
• Rotations
• Organic standards

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Organic Salad Production

This course will cover all aspects of choosing, growing and managing a wide range of salad crops.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Salad varieties
• Sowing, spacing, rotation and feeding
• Pests and diseases
• Growing under cover
• Harvesting, packing, storing, pricing

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Organic Livestock Autumn Seminar

Part 1: Farm Walk, Co Monaghan
Part 2: In the Local Hotel 5.30 - 8pm

The Autumn Seminar will commence with a farm walk on a beef and lamb finishing unit. The farm has been organic since the late 1990s and has successfully developed markets for its livestock and has consistently produced organic beef in line with the best conventional beef finishers. The farm is one of the major suppliers of Livestock to Leitrim Organic Farmers Co Op.

The farm walk will look at practical aspects of organic farming concentrating on the benefits of breed selection, housing, autumn grassland management and winter fodder requirements and fertility building.

The second half of the seminar will be indoors and will involve the following:

Light Refreshments / Tea Coffee

• Open discussion on all aspects of the visited Farm Enterprise
• Winter feed issues
• Home mixing of rations
• The necessity to supply a market 365 day a year
– presentation by John Brennan (Leitrim Organic Farmers Co Op)
• Housing Systems
– Role of straw and woodchips and other options for bedding

A Bus can be organised for members of the Roscommon Livestock Network. It is essential that people book for this event as we need to know numbers for food and if they require transport.

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Organic Livestock Spring Seminar

The Spring Seminar will focus on:

Organic Beef/ Lamb sales
• Beef & Lamb contracts
• Small scale processor needs

Livestock Breeding
• Special emphasis on choice of breeds e.g. Aberdeen Angus
• Carcass Evaluation
• Finishing weights
• Animal Welfare Guidelines

Other Supports
• Livestock training
• Reps 4 for Organic Farmers
• Scheme of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector
• Role of forestry on an organic Farms (Forestry Environmental Protection Scheme)

This Seminar will be held in The Bush Hotel Carrick On Shannon on the 14th of March at 7pm and will be a vital part of planning the development of organic livestock enterprises over the next 5 years. The evening will include presentations from expert breeders.

The event is sponsored by Leitrim Organic Farmers Co Op and is free to all to attend.

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Pest, Disease & Weed Control in Organic Horticulture

An organic approach to pest, disease control and weed control – including traditional practices, permitted applications to mechanical techniques.

€20 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Minimising incidence of pests and diseases
• Use of Soil Improvement, Composting, Crop Rotations
• Organically permitted natural chemicals, biological controls and barriers

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Polytunnel Erection

Practical course on choosing, siting and erecting a polythene tunnel.

€10 – 2 days

• Site selection
• Choosing a tunnel
• Erecting frame
• Methods of fixing plastic
• Suppliers

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Protected Cropping

This course will teach how to make the most of a polytunnel, how to plan production within the tunnel.

€40 (inlcudes lunch) – 1 day

• Advantages of polytunnels
• Maximising sunlight
• Ensuring capital equipment is suitable
• Propagation in the polytunnel
• Polytunnel crop planning (and crop planning within the tunnel)
• Spacing
• Potential Income from polytunnel crops and how to estimate your own

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Train The Trainer

Suitable for those interested in becoming a full or part time trainer. This course will provide practical knowledge and skills to enable participants to use a systematic approach to training and mentoring trainees, and building confidence. Accredited to FETAC Level 6. This course involves individual trainee short projects.

€220 (includes lunch) – 3.5 days (over several weeks)

• Introductions, objectives, and agenda
• Adult learning principles & best practice
• Systematic training approach
• Writing SMART training objectives
• Job analysis
• Design and development of training materials
• Choosing the best delivery method for your trainees
• Assessment of performance and training evaluation
• Planning implementation

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Vegetable Crop Profiles

During this course we will be looking at the growing requirements, yields and seasons for a broad range of vegetable crops. The course will take into consideration what different crops may be in high demand but are under-supplied, in order to encourage production of crops that are desirable in the market place.

€30 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Vegetable and herb profiles
• Sowing dates
• Fertility requirements
• Choice of varieties
• Possible pest and disease

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Vegetable Box Design

This one day course will explore the basic requirements for setting up a box scheme.

€20 (includes lunch) – 1 day

• Initial planning
• What are the basic vegtables required
• Sourcing additional supply
• Presentation
• Delivery
• Linking with other growers
• Targeting customers
• How to increases sales
• Simple market initiatives

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