Piccolo Orto CIC (meaning Little Vegetable Garden in Italian) is a new market garden and forest school site based at Carlees Farm.
Founded by passionate gardener and outdoor educator Jenny Cucco, the project will offer forest school sessions, regenerative gardening workshops, and outdoor wellbeing experiences for people of all ages.
Piccolo Orto CIC was founded by passionate gardener and outdoor educator Jenny Cucco (Image: Piccolo Orto CIC) However, for this new project to thrive, Jenny has now launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise £15,000 to build a nurturing place where children and adults can reconnect with nature, food and themselves.
You can see the Crowdfunder campaign here: Piccolo Orto Forest School and Market Garden – a Community crowdfunding project in Helston by Jennifer Cucco
“I’ve seen firsthand the transformational impact that working the soil, lighting a fire, or simply sitting in a forest can have, especially for children and adults who feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or overlooked,” Jenny said.
With years of experience in organic growing, and most recently in the role of Outdoor Education Lead at Nansloe Academy in Helston, Jenny has developed Piccolo Orto CIC as a haven for accessible learning.
The Kitchen Garden (Image: Piccolo Orto CIC) The project will offer forest school sessions, regenerative gardening workshops, and outdoor wellbeing experiences for people of all ages.
“We believe that getting outside, getting our hands in soil, and working together can be powerful medicine – especially in a world where so many are feeling isolated, anxious, or digitally overwhelmed.
“This project is about healing, growing, and connection.
“Every donation, no matter how small, is helping us sow hope.”
If donations reach the £15,000 target, it will fund essential infrastructure and resources to bring Piccolo Orto to life. These include:
A yurt and a forest school canopy
A lockable tool shed, child-friendly tools, wheelbarrows and growing supplies
Fencing and crop protection
An undercover canopy
Essential forest school equipment
“This isn’t just about tools and shelters,” Jenny emphasises, “it’s about creating a space where children feel safe, curious, and free to grow.”
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Jenny also shared what a typical day at Piccolo Orto could look like if enough funds are raised. She said: “You arrive at the market garden and settle in with a cup of tea around the table. We talk through the day’s plan—maybe sowing salad leaves, building compost bays, or harvesting kale and chard for lunch.
The project will offer forest school sessions, regenerative gardening workshops, and outdoor wellbeing experiences for people of all ages. (Image: Piccolo Orto CIC) “During the late morning, we get stuck into the work—tending the soil, planting, weeding, and harvesting. There’s laughter, learning, and muddy hands.
“At lunchtime, we take our harvest and walk a few minutes into the woods. There, we gather fallen wood, light a fire, and boil water in the Kelly kettle. We eat and rest around the fire circle under the trees.
“And in the afternoon, the forest becomes our classroom: whittling, den building, cooking on the fire, natural dyeing, storytelling, weaving, learning the names of plants and trees. We wind down feeling grounded, nourished, and calm.”
“This project is about healing, growing, and connection, Jenny said (Image: Piccolo Orto CIC) In addition, Jenny is soon launching the ‘Harvest & Huddle Sessions’. These sessions are for children aged three to 16 and will give young ones the space to explore, get muddy and learn through doing.
Jenny added that these sessions are “perfect for homeschoolers, SEND learners, or anyone needing a little more nature in their lives.”