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A workers’ cooperative growing food on London’s edge in the Lea Valley

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We are a Garden of Sanctuary

OrganicLea is somewhere that everyone – the workers' co-operative members, volunteers and the wider community – can learn what it's like to seek sanctuary. This includes people who came to the UK as refugees or are seeking asylum. We come together to create a safe space where people feel valued. No one is left out and everyone is encouraged to join in with the joy of growing, distributing and preparing food.

Transforming the food system

OrganicLea is creating a fair, sustainable food system in north-east London and beyond. We work towards a system that’s fair for everyone and good for the planet. We believe that land, seeds and water shouldn’t be controlled by big companies or markets, but by people in the community. Our goal is to help create networks […]

Volunteer at OrganicLea

We offer general volunteer inductions as well as taster sessions for referrals. We currently have 4 different opportunities for this at Hawkwood: Horticultural assistants, Buddies, Box pack volunteers and kitchen volunteers.

Join the box scheme

We deliver affordable local, seasonal organic fruit and veg bags to pick-up points in your neighbourhood from £9.10 per week. Delivery to pick-up points helps us keep emissions and costs down, plus helps build local community.

What’s new

What’s in your bag, March 23rd 2026

March 23, 2026 / March 26, 2026 by Laura

This week’s (w/c March 23rd) listing of delicious seasonal vegetables and fruit, and where they came from. Bag contents Large Veg bags have Manitou or Charlotte potatoes, dirty carrots, onions, wild garlic, spinach, savoy cabbage, radish, beetroot, leeks No potato bags have: celeriac Standard Veg bags have Manitou or Charlotte potatoes, dirty carrots, onions, wild garlic, rainbow or […]

Job Opportunity: Community Organiser

March 13, 2026 by Marlene Barrett

Waltham Forest Food Growers Network Community Organiser (3 days per week) We are looking for someone to support the development of the Waltham Forest Food Growers Network (WF FGN) as it takes its next steps to becoming a formal, powerful, member-led organisation for community food growers in the borough. The network has developed from grassroots […]

Permaculture Design course

February 18, 2026 / March 2, 2026 by Marlene Barrett

Another world is possible! Run by Spiralseed and hosted at OrganicLea, this permaculture design course is all about helping you design a better life, community, and world. It runs over six weekends, from spring through to autumn 2026, at the 12-acre Hawkwood Nursery, on the edge of Epping Forest. Course details You’ll learn practical ways […]

Take a Level 1 course this spring

February 18, 2026 / March 2, 2026 by Clare

OrganicLea runs a range of Level 1 and Level 2, City and Guilds, horticulture courses throughout the year from the Hawkwood Nursery, in Chingford, London. We currently have places available on a course starting in late February. Practical Horticultural Skills – food growing Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am – 4.30pm 28 February, 1 March, 21 March, […]

Traineeships 2026

February 10, 2026 / February 11, 2026 by Marlene Barrett

We’re looking for 8 or 9 new volunteer trainees this year to join OrganicLea for a supported learning placement. You’ll come to Hawkwood Nursery in Chingford, London, one day a week for nine months where a mentor from our workers’ cooperative will help you build your skills in your chosen area. We offer travel expenses […]

Spring term 2026

February 10, 2026 / February 11, 2026 by Marlene Barrett

Forest Time is OrganicLea’s own Forest School for families, run on our beautiful 12-acre food-growing site Hawkwood Nursery. Join us for the new-season Friday morning sessions, from 9.45 to 11.45am, perfect for pre-schoolers (walking up to age 4) and their grown-ups. Younger siblings are welcome too! What to expect at the sessions Our sessions help […]

Featured pages

Fun at forest school

Forest Time is a forest school for families held in the woodland area of Hawkwood Plant Nursery in Chingford. Hawkwood is in the London borough of Waltham Forest. The site borders the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, and is an ideal setting for young children to become familiar with the natural world. The forest school […]

The importance of pollinators

Pollination is essential for plant reproduction, but pollinating insects such as bees, wasps and butterflies are under threat. They are affected by climate change, pesticides, disease, and the way land is used for agriculture. Perhaps the biggest problem for pollinators is modern, intensive farming. ‘Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a […]

Take an accredited course

We are pleased to let you know that we are holding two Level 2 introduction and assessment sessions in June. You only need to attend one session, and both sessions will cover all the Level 2 courses that we will be running.

Upcoming courses and events

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