Partipants were warned that “This is an intensive course, not for office workers” and worked really hard, starting in the cool morning and ending close to sunset. Sebastian Scott, the facilitator, began each topic with an in-class introduction, and then sent people into the field to teach and practice what had been learnt. Everyone got a chance to ask questions, to teach a group and experience every practical technique before returning to class to reflect.

Topics covered included principles of sustainable agriculture, conservation farming methods, ploughing with animals, zero-tillage methods, nitrogen fixing, basin digging, planting, timing and spacing of crops, soil health, composting, green manure, manure teas and agro-forestry.

One day participants visited Moses Mulenga on his small-scale farm, where he produces five times the national average of maize per hectare, with fewer expensive inputs.

Particpants left with heads bursting with new ideas, a chaka hoe, nitrogen-fixing seeds, manuals and the belief that they could make a real difference back home by adapting food growing practices to mitigate some of the effects of climate change and ensuring food security in their communities.

We've created a photo diary of the event.