Horticulture: Growing food in balance with biodiversity

Cost: Free

Birch Farm, Bideford, Devon, is a market garden based around the idea of natural Farming. Natural farming is a method that tries to grow food in balance with nature and biodiversity. As Welsh Agriculture adapts to a changing climate, rising costs and the transition towards the Sustainable Farming Scheme, approaches like these are becoming increasingly important. Birch farms' methods demonstrate how growers can build resilient, low-input systems that protect nature whilst producing high-quality food.

The farm's practices include Syntropic agriculture, perennial foods, food forests, minimal inputs and fertility systems based on weeds, cover crops and homemade soil fermentations rather than compost and woodchip. Birch Farm also produces its own potting mix that is used to grow all the annual vegetables, reducing costs and increasing self-reliance, skills that align closely with the direction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme

The workshop will be led by Josh Sparkes, Head Gardener at Birch Farm. Josh is recognised as a leading practitioner in Natural Farming, with hands-on experience gained at National Trust Sissinghurst, where he refined his understanding of soil health, perennial systems and ecological growing.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

-            Understand how vegetable polyculture plantings support soil structure, nutrient cycling and natural pest suppression.

-            Understand how weeds can be integrated into cropping systems to support pollinators, ground cover and natural fertility.  

-            Gain practical skills for managing weeds as allies rather than adversaries, reducing labour and input costs.

-            Learn how to create and apply soil inoculants and apply bokashi compost techniques.

-            Learn how Birch Farm formulates its own potting mix and  gain practical propagation skills

-            Explore how perennial crops can deliver stable yields while enhancing biodiversity.

To book your place for this event, register below by 5pm on 24/02/26 or contact horticulture@lantra.co.uk

*Please ensure that you complete all steps in the process from 1 to 4 in order to complete your booking. You will see a "Thank you" message once all steps have been completed.*

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