It's so common for weekend newspapers, magazines and morning shows to feature some green tip/sustainable living piece - we all want to be greener and the media are entertaining our minds with the details of how we could go about it. But how often do watch or read a ‘how to' and fail ‘to do'? Most of us would have to admit a lot.

What if you were given a list of practical courses that didn't cost the earth (literally), promised to be fun and educational? The Soil Association, with the support of the Daylesford Foundation, has launched a series of 300 courses which could be your ticket to self-sufficiency.

From one-day introduction courses to longer professional level courses there's sure to be something of interest here that will enrich your understanding of sustainability and improve your practical skill set. Farm school makes learning easy and accessible to everyone.

Some of the kitchen courses include preserving pickles and jams, to cheese making, curing meat and gluten free baking. Growing courses include planning your kitchen garden to learning the best seasonal and organic techniques. Smallholding courses include keeping your own chickens, bees, sheep and pigs and the self-sufficiencies gained from doing so - honey and eggs for a start. Seasonal and special courses include herbal medicine making, woollen spinning, woodwork for beginners, soap making, willow garden sculpture creating and stone walling.

One student who attended the attended the Butter me up! Class at Wester Lawrenceton Farm gives us an idea of how fulfilling these courses are: "I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed myself. The day was both stimulating and relaxing. And the resultant butter and baking were delicious... I'm wondering why I didn't join years ago."

Courses are held across the UK in Somerset, Wallingford, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Devon, Kent, Shropshire, Sheffield, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

For the full list of courses, locations and prices (Soil Association members receive 25% off the cost of all farm school courses) visit the Soil Associations Organic Farm School webpage here.