Centre for Nature Literacy and Enterprise (CNLE)

Getting started on growing your own food

Are you determined to learn the art of growing but have yet to find a strategy on how and where to begin? If this is true, then join us for our series of 4 modules designed specifically to launch anyone quickly into the world of horticulture and growing your own food. This series will give you not just the hows, but the in-depth whys behind many methods used by professional gardeners and teachers within the green movement. The curriculum is also structured in a way to include wider information surrounding the discipline of horticulture, so as to give participants a more wholistic, practical and sustainable foundation in gardening. Participants will also experience practical hands-on activities in class and enjoy bringing various gardening projects home to practice.

The topics covered in the course include:

• Module 1: Introduction to Soil & Soil Science Theory
  • where you learn about the relationship between soil & life;
  • take a glimpse into the ecosystem in soil; and
  • understand why good soil is critical to sustaining a healthy and organic garden
   
• Module 2: Mixing the Perfect farming Soil, Intro to Plant Physiology & Seed Theory
  • where you get your hands dirty and learn to mix the perfect soil;
  • understand parts and functions of plants
  • understand more about seed harvest and storage; and
  • plant some seeds to take home
   
• Module 3: Plant Propagation
  • where you learn about the many methods of "breeding" plants; and
  • try out the more common methods like stem cutting, marcotting and grafting etc.
   
• Module 4: Introduction to Local Edible Plants 
  • where you will be introduced to over 30 local edible plants;
  • learn where to find them, how grow them at home; and the health benefits of eating them

Learn to be a plant doctor and pest buster

Following many successful runs of the Gardener’s Basic where participants got to learn about plant propagation, soil science and local edible plants, this next workshop dives into the next crucial stage of plant management – why do plants/trees fall sick, how to prevent, diagnose and keep your plants happy, healthy and productive without the use of harmful chemicals. The curriculum is structured in a way to include wider information surrounding the discipline of horticulture, so as to give participants a more wholistic, practical and sustainable foundation in gardening. 

You will learn about:

• Module 1: Combating Pests & Disease Organically
• Module 2: Plant Health, Deficiencies & Fertility
• Module 3: Designing Potted Landscapes for Balconies & Gardens
• Module 4: Plant Foraging

Learn to build a sustainable garden that micmics Mother nature 

Have you ever wanted to learn how to build a sustainable garden that mimics Mother Nature? Or do you desire to know creative strategies that can help reduce the amount of maintenance, watering and weeding required by your plants?

Permaculture, which is short for "Permanent Agriculture" is a system of agricultural and design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. Permaculture is now a growing global movement that has changed many people's lives on a fundamental level. 

Come and join us for a crash course into the field of Permaculture. We hope to equip everyday individuals with realistic design strategies to quickly create ecologically sound and sustainable planting areas.

The aim of this course is to help participants gain a basic understanding of Permaculture's guiding ethics, principles and design methodology, so as to be applied to gardening and urban landscaping projects. Participants will leave with the knowledge and confidence needed to begin designing meaningful edible landscapes in their own homes or for their community, whatever the scale, yes even in small balcony gardens!

 The course aims to share the following:

1. To learn and apply the fundamental concepts and philosophy of Permaculture
2. To explore existing designs and agriculture strategies used by Permaculture farms world wide
3. To experience designing a community garden based on Permaculture design principles.

In this 2-day workshop, you will learn about:

• Origins of Permaculture & where it is heading

•  Ethics and design principles of Permaculture

•  Concepts of Permaculture

•  Design strategies in Permaculture

•  Application of Permaculture to Singapore's urban & tropical context

•  Table-top design exercise & presentations

•  Hands-on learning

We keep our class size small for optimal learning and interactive experience. Seats are limited so do sign up now to reserve your spot. 

*All graduates of our permaculture workshop will be given priority to participate in our Farm Build courses - where participants actually gets to roll up their sleeves and build a garden/farm from scratch!  

1-Day Masterclass on Nutrition Agriculture By a Practicing Agronomist

Ever found yourself asking what kind of fertilizer to use? Have you accidentally killed your plants with the wrong kind of fertilizer? Or wondered why pests always come to infest your precious pots of greens? Here is your chance to learn real in-depth knowledge from an experienced agronomist and practicing horticulture consultant. Come and learn about the correlation between plant nutrition and the ability to combat pests and diseases naturally.

In our Gardener’s Series, we only scrapped the surface of soil studies and the horticultural sciences. However, in this 1-day masterclass on Nutrition Agriculture, we will dig deeper into the professional knowledge of agriculture science. We will be breaking down the intricate ways different minerals work in tandem to resist, repel and control pests and disease.

If you want to bring your knowledge of organic pests control and plant health to a whole new level, then this is an opportunity not to be missed! There are no pre-requisites for this masterclass, but the class’ content is definitely not for the faint-minded. Be prepared for many “Ah-ha” moments and little epiphanies regarding why our plants keep dying or getting sick.

Sunday mornings @ Lower Pierce Reservoir

Missing your days of youth, where you had less stress? Wishing to take a break from your urban office environment to roam freely in Nature? Or maybe you are just craving inspiration from Mother Nature.

If you are yearning for a break, freedom to explore or just an adventure doing something new, then join our guides to venture into the forest as we remind you of the joys of free-spirited learning and creative play that we all intrinsically crave for in life. Forget structured curricula and teacher-led instruction. This is school revamped – turned inside out and brought to the real outdoors.

Whether you’re an avid hiker, a regular bird-watcher, or just the average 9-5 desk worker pining for some fresh air, we welcome you to explore the forest with us under the world unique style of teaching by the global movement – Forest School. Only here, we bring Forest School to the professional working crowd and teenagers. Embrace your child-like curiosity again by allowing it to guide you as you learn a wide spectrum of skills such as jungle navigation, obstacle crossing, wildlife and plant recognition and so much more.

Come and fall in love with Nature again through Forest School (Pro). No special prior knowledge is needed. You just need an open heart and mind.

We curate, you discover. Free your inner adventurer!

School Holidays Special - Learning About Microgreens

Two burgeoning education centres, CNLE and Brain Matter, are coming together to bring an exciting new Eco-science programme for children between 6-12 years old. There will be a high-energy treasure hunt in a real local urban farm that will be sure to stimulate all senses while teaching the art of observation and plant identification.

Participants will also learn the techniques required to create and care for their own miniature edible garden that can thrive in small urban spaces like your home window or balcony.

So, come and join us for a meaningful time of bonding and fun as we inspire our next generation of ecologically literate citizens.

School Holidays Special - Learning About Soil Science

Two burgeoning education centres, CNLE and Brain Matter, are coming together to bring an exciting new Eco-science programme for children between 6-12 years old.

We will delve into the wonders of soil and the web of life that it nurtures. Equipped with a scientific understanding of how soil actually works, everyone will literally dig in as we solidify theoretical knowledge through the fun filled activity of mixing the perfect soil combination for an edible plant – which can be adopted and brought home for further nurturing.

So, come and join us for a meaningful time of bonding and fun as we inspire our next generation of ecologically literate citizens.

Ever gone into garden nurseries and didn't know where or what to buy to get your home garden started right?

How do you know which brands to trust and which to leave aside? If these are your stress points when getting materials for your dream garden, then join the Project33 community for a lovely morning of retail therapy, with a green twist! There will be a guided tour by season plant shoppers who will share some insider knowledge on how to shop smart. After which we will enjoy exploring a unique community farm space in Singapore and maybe enjoy a cup of coffee while doing so.

As a token of appreciation for your support, we will be giving everyone who shows up a 10% Worldfarm discount voucher which can be used on the day itself for any purchases you make. So bring your shopping bags. For those who spend above S$200, Worldfarm delivers for free!