Join Head Gardener Josh Sparkes and his team at The Collective at Woolsery's Birch Farm, for a two day course dedicated to learning about the importance of sustainable farming practices, soil health, and the benefits of natural farming and gardening methods. In this workshop you will learn how to make different fermentations for plant and soil health along with different methods of soil inoculation using microbes from your local surroundings. Never has there been such an important time to give people back the power to grow their own food and beautiful gardens and we aim to give you the skills and the confidence to do so without needing any expensive fertilisers or composts.
On second day we can cover more of our practical methods for soil health. It will include how we build and amend our Japanese raised beds for planting for the season. There will be an in-depth discussion on spraying and soil drenches and the tools we use to do so. We will also build and start a Biochar burn and give a practical demonstration on how to charge it. There will also be an IMO placement demonstration where we will place an IMO box in the woods to collect soil microbes. And finally we will discuss the making and use of worm and Bokashi composting which we use to process food and farm waste and turn into our own farm made potting mix
The course is built on makeing fermented anaerobic plant and soil feeds inspired by methods from KNF and Jadam while combining with the principles of Japanese Natural Farming.
Birch Farm has come to be known as one of the leading practitioners of this and we have spent the past 5 years developing and modifying these methods to be more suited to our climate and seasons.
During the workshop you will learn how to make different plant feeds and soil solutions and how to use them including;
- An in-depth demonstration on making fermented composts using IMO
- How to create Bokashi and worm composters while also teaching you how to make your own Bokashi bran
- The day will also involve many lessons and aspects of natural farming, soil development and land regeneration.
- Placement of IMO boxes in the woods
- Biochar burn and charge and discussion on how to make your own TLUD burner
- Soil preparations for the growing season
- How to spray inoculants on your garden or farm
- Opportunity to discuss with the farms growers about our soil management methods
Lunch will be provided both days, along refreshments.
Please make sure to bring coats, dress in layers and have wet weather gear, as part of each day will be spent outside. It is important that you are able to stay warm and dry.
A 20% discount will be offered on all accomodations booked at The Collective at Woolsery, our hotel located walking distance to the farm, as well as 5% off at The Farmers Arms, Woolsery Fish & Chips and J Andrew Shop during your visit with us.
