Propagating plants for food forests
This course will teach you how to propagate plants and especially woody species. None other than Food Boss Martijn Aalbrecht will show you, in three days spread over the season, all aspects of the propagation of woody species. He helps more and more food forest owners on their way with their food forest, knows a lot about plants and plant propagation and is -not unimportantly- a gifted teacher.
The locations are at Martijn Aalbrecht in Hengelo, food forest Thuishaven Zeewolde, and nursery De Koperwiek in Hazerswoude.
In these three days of classes you will get a lot of theory each day, but you will also actively practice. We will provide all materials (knives, rootstocks, tape, etc) and you will take your own cuttings, graft, marcot and oculate, and take care of the plants.
At the end you are certainly not yet an accomplished grower, but you can do the simpler propagation methods just fine by yourself and you can continue practicing for the more complex techniques. People who want to continue learning as a professional breeder after this course we can help them further on their way.
Day 1 will take place at Kwekerij de Koperwiek in Hazerswoude
Friday, September 25, 2026
This day is about winter cuttings and oculating trees.
In the theory of winter cuttings, we look at the technique of collecting the right cutting materials. Which plants are suitable for winter cuttings, how to collect cuttings wood and how best to cuttings? What advantages does a greenhouse have and can you also take cuttings outdoors in the open ground?
In addition, the theory of oculating is covered. What is germination and what are the main differences from grafting? When do you opt for grafting and when for oculating?
In the afternoon, you'll get to work oculating some trees yourself. Two fruit trees you may take home. At the end of the afternoon there will be an excursion to nursery De Koperwiek where we will look in practice at the difference between grafted and oculated trees.
Day 2 will take place at the Voedselboss in Hengelo
Friday, March 5, 2027
What techniques are used to propagate plants and why do we apply them? We then go deeper into the theory of grafting. We discuss why many trees and shrubs are grafted and what the advantages and disadvantages of this are. We look at the different types of rootstocks and why there is so much diversity in rootstocks. We also explain what a scion is and how to harvest and store it.
In the afternoon we will get to work grafting trees ourselves and you will get to graft two real fruit trees to take home that day. At the end of the afternoon we will visit the food forest and see specifically if we can recognize the grafted trees and what this says about the tree.
Day 3 will take place at the Thuishaven food forest Thuishaven Zeewolde
Friday, June 18, 2027
What are the different ways of sowing perennial crops? We cover different techniques such as stratification and scarification. What is plant layering and what species do you apply this technique to?
We also look at the technique of summer cuttings. What is summer cutting and what makes this way of cutting different from winter cutting?
In addition, we look at the care of the grafted trees from the first lesson. Have the saplings taken root and how do you grow them properly?
In the afternoon, Martijn will show you how to marcott plants and you will practice it yourself. Of course, we will also visit the food forest and specifically go there to see the techniques covered in practice.
Summary and investment
We record all class days. So, should you unexpectedly have to stay home, we record the whole day. You can always watch all the theory back and still get a lot out of it.
With this course, we offer you a digital course environment (the digital classroom) in which not only all course material can be found, but also extra theory and additional information. You can also easily find each other here.
The cost for the entire course is €575, excluding VAT.
This includes all materials and a vegetarian/vegan lunch. If you have any other dietary requirements, please let us know and we will provide a delicious lunch.
We deliver this course according to our terms of delivery. They are simple and clear, so please read them.
If you are unable to pay the training fee in one go, or if you work for an organization that uses invoicing, please feel freeto contact us.
