Biodynamic
Gardens and Farms in the UK offering TrainingBiodynamic
Gardens and Farms in the UK offering Training
Click
on name on map or list below for more
information
NB - not all holdings are shown on the map back
Training places available
| Name of Holding | Total no of places offered |
Places vacant as of July 2008 |
| Ashfield Gardens | 2 | 1 |
| Botton Village | 5 | 2 |
| Camphill Ballybay | 2 | 1 |
| Corbenic Camphill Community | 1 | 1 |
| Coleg Elidyr | 2 | 1 |
| Garvald Farm | ? | ? |
| Hapstead Community | ? | ? |
| Hungary Lane Farm | 1 | 1 |
| Michael Hall Garden | 1 | 1 |
| Newton Dee | 4 | 4 |
| SOUTHERN BD GROUP | ||
| Old Plaw Hatch Farm ( nr Tablehurst) | 4 | 0 |
| Sturts Farm | 3 | 1 |
| Tablehurst Farm | 3 | 1 |
| End of Southern Group | ||
| Pishwanton | 1 | ? |
| Plas Dwbl Farm | 2 | 2 |
| SEVERN VALLEY GROUP: | ||
| Grange Village | 4 | 1 |
| Oaklands Park | 5 | 1 |
| Ruskin Mill | 6 | 3 |
| Fern Verrow | 2 | 1 |
| Stroud Community Agriculture | 1 | 1 |
| VALE HEAD FARM | 3 | 1 |
| WATCHOAK FARM | 2 | 2 |
| End of Severn valley group | ||
| Thornage Hall | 4 | 3 |
Contact: Vivian Griffiths
Camphill Village Trust, Ashfield Gardens, Sugar Loaf Lane, Iverley,
Kidderminster, DY10 3PB
Tel: 01562 700350
Email: viviangriffiths@instantemail.t-mobile.co.uk
Ashfield is a small Camphill Community working with adult residents. It has a
productive market garden that supplies several community houses and a local box
scheme. There are opportunities to participate in the rich and cultural
life of the community and nearby Stourbridge.
BOTTON VILLAGE FARM TRAINING
COURSE
Contact:
Peter van Vliet
Botton
Email: petervvliet@googlemail.com
website: www.camphill.org.uk
·
52ha of forest and woodland
·
225ha of farmland, divided over five autonomous, mixed dairy
farms, including field vegetables
·
1.5ha of intensive vegetable growing (
·
2ha of seed growing/plant breeding (Stormy Hall Seeds)
·
3.5ha of herb/flower garden, soft fruit and ground
maintenance
Since 1955 Botton has provided biodynamic training for young people.
The students, coming on average for two to three years from all over the
world, are given a practical grounding through their day to day work on the
farms and gardens. This is
supplemented by other courses: weekly day-release at a local agricultural
college; national courses organised by the Biodynamic Agricultural Association,
and their own, on-going study of biodynamics.
The students participate fully in the life of the community.
Click Here for FULL DETAILS OF THE BD TRAINING AT BOTTON
Camphill
Ballybay
Contact: Christian Elsholtz & Thomas Horan
Robb Farm, Corrasko, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, Eire
Tel: 00353 429 748182 Email: camphillballybay@eircom.net
Coleg Elidyr Camphill Community
Contact: Ab de Bree
Rhandirwyn, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire,
SA20 ONL
Tel: 01550 760400 Email: abdebree@care4free.net
Coleg Elidry is a 185 acre (75ha) upland farm,
situated in the Welsh hills. The farm consists of a variety of natural
habitats as various soil types are present around the farm. Main
enterprises are: Suckler beef cattle ( Welsh Blacks) , sheep and field
vegetables. Aside from these a small herd of pigs and flock of laying hens
are being established.
Some of the farm is in the Tir Gofal scheme; a welsh grant scheme to encourage biodiversity
and natural habitats. The farm's situation in a remote valley immediately
below the Cambrian Mountains means that a wealth of wildlife and plant species
are to be found. The farm has been run as organic / bd since 1975 and is
at present at a stage of redevelopment with new enterprises being developed.
The farm is part of Coleg Elidyr Camphill Community which is
a further education college for around 40 students with learning difficulties.
The farm has 2 functions: providing a place of learning for the students and
providing the community with farm produce. As the farm is one of the areas where
students receive training we aim to manage the farm in such a way that variety
of work experiences and learning opportunities exist for the students to enjoy
while practicing sound biodynamic farm husbandry.
The apprentice will mainly be concerned with helping the farm
manager with the running of the farm independently of the student's training
programme but may be asked to assist in working together with the students from
time to time.
There is a separate Farm Training Leader on the farm whose responsibility is for
the training of the students to enable the Farm manager and apprentice to manage
the farm independently from the students needs and timetable.
Apart from the farm, the college has a number of different
workshops and land work groups. The farm works together closely with the
vegetable garden, woodland group and estate group. Altogether some 100 people
work at Coleg Elidyr, including the students, making it a sociable, stimulating
environment. The apprentice is invited to fully participate in the life of
the community and can expect a training programme in a variety of farming disciplines.
Corbenic
Camphill Community
Contact: Anneke Kraakman
Trochry, Dunkeld, PH8
ODY
Tel: 01350 723206 Email: office@corbenic.fsnet.co.uk
Contact: Colum Beagan
Garvald Home Farm, Dolphinton, West Linton, EH46 7HJ
Tel: 01968 682238 Email: info@garvaldwest.fsnet.co.uk
A 55 ha farm nestled among the Pentland hills of Southern Scotland. With a long established and beautifully located walled garden, it offers opportunities to gain experience in vegetable and fruit growing, biodynamic seed production as well as livestock management and the growing of field vegetables and forage crops. It operates as part of an educational centre with young people and adults with special needs.
Contact:
Frankie van der Stok
Hapsted Village, Camphill Devon Community, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 OJN Tel:
01364 643515 Email: devon@camphill.newnet.co.uk
A small community in a picturesque setting close to
This small community farm offers unique opportunities for working with all
aspects of a mixed farm, including unusual breeds of livestock, cereals and
vegetables. There is a milking herd of Dexter cattle and a number of crops
are grown for seed.
Apprentices join in with the community and can participate in a rich cultural
life.
HUNGARY LANE FARM
Contact: Joe & Sue Bradley
Hungary Lane Farm, Sutton Bonnigton, Nr Loughborough, Leics. LE12 5NB
Tel: 01509 673897 email: bradley.hungarylanefarm@btopenworld.com
A 110 ha family farm in the open countryside of Leicestershire. Opportunities to experience a mixed biodynamic farm and work with sheep, pigs, and poultry as well as a range of arable crops and field vegetables
MICHAEL
HALL GARDEN
Contact: Dorothea
Leber
Michael Hall School Garden, Forest Row, East
Sussex, RH18 5JA
Email: info@michaelhall.co.uk
A 2.5 acre walled garden within the grounds of the UK's oldest Steiner Waldorf School, situated on the edge of Ashdown Forest. A wide variety of vegetables are grown to supply the school and local shops.
Contact: Gideon Cowen,
Tel: 01224 867737 mobile
number - 07986 749343 Email: g.cowen@lineone.net
A mixed farm of 110 acres in the
It is a centre of the Camphill Village Trust.
Apprentices live and join in with community life and work alongside
people with special needs. The
farm is working towards the ideal of a self-contained individuality. Believing
that home raised stock and feed are more suitable, and therefore,
healthier. It has solar panels for hot water heating, and will soon have a wind
turbine to meet most of it's electricity needs. The farmer is a member of
the online BD discussion group 'bd-now', and is keen to move bio-dynamics into
the 21st century, experimenting with cutting edge BD technology such as the
'field broadcaster'
SOUTHERN BD APPRENTICE TRAINING: Plaw Hatch Farm, Tablehurst Farm, Sturts Farm)
Old
Plaw Hatch Farm
Contact: Tom
Sharpthorne
,
Tel: 01342 810652 Fax: 01342 811478 Email:
info@plawhatchfarm.co.uk
A 60ha community supported farm on the edge of the Ashdown forest. The farm
activities include a dairy herd on MRI cows, pigs, sheep, hens for eggs and some
beef. A dairy processes the milk
into yoghurts, cheeses, cream while some is sold as raw milk in a bottle.
There is a 7 ha garden producing fruit and vegetables.
All produce is sold through the farm shop or the milk round which reaches
out to surrounding villages. Opportunities
exist to work and experience all areas of the farm and garden.
STURTS FARM AND GARDEN
Contact:
Sturts Farm, Three Cross Roads, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 ONF
Tel: 01202 854762 Fax: 01202 554763
Email: office@sturtsfarm.com
A 40ha community farm on the Dorset-Hampshire border linked to the nearby Camphill Sheiling School in Ringwood. All round farming experience is offered in dairy management and field vegetable production as well as fruit, grain and forage crops. Apprentices will work alongside people with special needs and can participate in Camphill's rich cultural life.
TABLEHURST FARM
Enquiries
to: tablehurst_farm@talk21.com
Tel: 01342 823260 or 01342 823536
Address: Tablehurst Farm,
Tablehurst
Farm is a 200ha mixed biodynamic farm in the heart of the
Sussex Weald. An apprenticeship here would offer an exceptionally broad range of
experience and learning for any would-be farmer; we have 60 Sussex beef cows and
their followers, 180 ewes, 15 sows and their progeny, 350 hens, a weekly
throughput of about 180 chickens a week, about 40ha of cereals for feed and
milling for flour, not to mention our house cow, Lucy. (The farm also
subcontracts 8 ha to an orchard enterprise which is run by a Dutch couple).
Apart from livestock husbandry skills, there would be opportunities to gain
experience of machinery with all field work operations and other ancillary
skills like fencing. There would also be an opportunity to learn some butchery
and meat processing skills from our butcher’s shop staff as we process one
beef animal, 4 pigs, 5 lambs and 180 chickens every week.
This is also a farm which has been pioneering a form of
“Community Supported Agriculture” and has forged some strong links with its
local community and consumer base.
END OF SOUTHERN BD APPRENTICE GROUP
Contact: Dr Margaret Colquhoun
Pedlar’s
Way, Gifford, East Lothian, EH41 4JD, Scotland
Tel / Fax: 01620 810259 e-mail: lstrust@gn.apc.org
25ha of mixed woodland and fields, at the edge of the Lammermuir Hills. A smallholding with shorthorn cross cows, Jacob sheep and Cashmere goats as well as a working Clydesdale horse. Vegetable and medicinal herbs are grown and gathered from the wild. garden. There are opportunities for working with a horse and livestock as well as developing skill in woodland management, craft and building. Courses in Goethean landscape, plant and animal observation are offered. The land is owned by the Life Science Trust.
Contact: Andre Kleinjans
Plas Dwbl, Mynachlogddu, Clynderwen, Dyfed, SA66 7SE
Tel: 01994 419352 Email: plasdwbl@yahoo.com
A 40ha mixed farm in a remote location at the foot of the Preseli hills in West Wales. There are opportunities to work with a pedigree herd of Welsh black cattle (beef and stores) and the growing of field vegetables, cereals, and fruit as well as handmilking the house cows (Jersey), making delicious farmhouse cheese and caring for a well stocked garden for home supply. A lively farm community. The farm is owned by the Responsive Earth Trust.
SEVERN VALLEY BIODYNAMIC TRAINING COURSE
Severn different farms and gardens have come together to facilitate a common apprenticeship training programme.
Download:
Contact: Berni Courts
The Biodynamic Apprenticeship Scheme, Ruskin Mill College, The Fisheries, Horsley, Gloucestershire, GL6 0PL
Tel: 01453 837527 Fax: 01453 837535
Email:
: berni.courts@rmc.rmet.org.uk
Website: www.ruskin-mill.org.uk/
The apprentice training
Apprentices work alongside the staff and students on the land for the majority of the time. They take part in regular tutorials to develop their understanding of the natural processes and join in the Severn Valley Biodynamic Training Scheme.
They will live in one of the Ruskin Mill households, together with staff, their families and students on the further education course and may be able to join in some of the varied craft activities available to students. They are expected to take part in the household life. Apprentices will be provided with board, lodging, a weekly allowance and all educational expenses.
The Land
Ruskin Mill is situated within a beautiful valley in the Cotswold Hills. We work two small farms, two market gardens and a woodland all with Demeter certification: Brightside is a grass farm developing a milking herd of the local and rare Gloucester cows. Gables Farm is a 45-acre holding supporting a small single suckler herd of cattle, sheep, Gloucester Old Spot pigs and works with 2 heavy horses.We have Market Gardens both down in the valley in a fertile well worked small area and also at the top of the hill on hungry Cotswold Brash soil, giving a broad range of experience available. The produce goes to our café and canteen and also to our farm shop.
Park Wood is a 25-acre broad-leafed wood, mainly high canopy beech, subject to a sustainable management plan including hazel coppice rotation and a glade system of thinning for the beech. Includes developing nursery and charcoal burning kilns. It also produces timber for the green woodwork carried out at Ruskin Mill.
About Ruskin Mill
The Ruskin Mill building itself is a craft centre open to the public with several workshops leased by craftsmen who produce work of the highest standard. It has a coffee shop and food and crafts shop. Ruskin Mill College is an innovative further education centre providing a range of individualised courses for young people with special learning needs. Frequently, these are young people who have had a traumatic experience of life, education and social relationships. Many come with disturbed patterns of behaviour. Students engage in activities in the workshops and within the landscape where they not only learn new skills but also learn to feel better abut themselves.
Contact: Oaklands Park
Oaklands Park Camphill Community, Newnham-on-Severn, Glos. GL14 1EF
Tel: 01594 516550
Email:
oaklandsgarden@googlemail.com
Website: www.oaklandspark.org.uk
Oaklands Park is a Camphill Community with adults, some of whom have special needs, caring for the environment, work, economic and social life and further education. The community is situated on the western bank of the River Severn, on the edge of the Forest of Dean, near the village of Newnham. It is home to about one hundred people living in 10 extended households and is based on 160 acres of land comprising:
32 acres of woodland
110 acres of grazing/hay/arable farmland
7 acres of horticulture
5 acres of soft fruit/top fruit
6 acres of park/estate
The farm supports a herd of 20 shorthorn dairy cows with followers, 70 sheep plus lambs, 130 chickens and 25 bee hives. As well as supplying our own community, we market vegetables and fruit through a local box scheme and to some retailers.
The community is very concerned with waste water treatment, operating several aquatic waste water treatment plants and is host to ‘Elemental Solutions’, a small firm specialising in water management and effluent treatment.
The community offers a practical training in biodynamic horticulture, agriculture and fruit management, with an emphasis on land work in and for communities. We currently support five apprentices in horticulture and two apprentices on the farm. As we recognise the fundamental importance of the social and spiritual ideas and attitudes underlying the well-being of all agricultural activity and, consequently, our culture and civilisation generally, we expect a willingness to full involvement in all aspects of the community from prospective applicants for the land training.
All apprentices participate in the Severn Valley Biodynamic Land Training Course, a seminar organised jointly by the region and described in detail in a separate leaflet.
Contact: Ian Bailey
The Grange Camphill Community, Newnham, Glos. GL14 1HJ
Tel: 01594 516246 Fax: 01594 516 969
Email: grangeoffice@phonecoop.coop
The Grange is a Camphill Community in which the apprenticeship is an integrated part of our life. Eight families, 38 adults with special needs, around 14 young volunteers are working and living together on a 30 acre property which comprises 20 acres of grassland, 10 acres of estate/parkland, 3 acres of market garden, 2 acres of soft fruit & top fruit, 2 acres of woodland, a small suckler herd, chickens and pigs.
The Grange is Demeter certified and aims to support biodynamic seed production and development.
We have several workshops: land, pottery, basketry, woodwork, house work and an office/shop. We offer a wide range of possibilities for people to develop their potential and the apprenticeship is one of them.
As an apprentice you will be joining our community, live as a member of one of the extended households, receive full board, lodging and pocket money. The cost of the apprenticeship is fully sponsored by the community.
We expect apprentices to be fully involved in the many aspects of our life-sharing community. Your main focus will be learning biodynamic agriculture/horticulture and working with the land team in a social therapeutic way. We aim to maintain our estate and produce vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs and firewood to meet the needs of our community.
You will find this a fascinating way to learn and develop as an individual and as a member of a community. The Grange can support a maximum of 3 apprentices. They all participate fully in the seminars of the Severn Valley Biodynamic Land training course.
Stroud
Community Agriculture
Contact: Laurence
Dungworth
Website: www.stroudcommunityagriculture.org
1 Bungalow, Wynstones Drive, Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire, GL4 0UN.
Tel: 01452 810763. Email: laurencedungworth@yahoo.co.uk
Stroud Community Agriculture currently grows vegetables and raises cows and pigs for 100 families on 23 acres of land on the outskirts of Stroud. Opportunities exist to learn about intensive year-round vegetable production and small-scale beef and pork production. In addition there is very strong community involvement which constitutes an important element of the farm. In the near future we plan to expand both in size and enterprises, thus being able to offer more apprentice opportunities.
FERN VERROW
Contact Jane Scotter
Fern Verrow Vegetables,St. Margaret's,Herefordshire,HR2 0QF
Tel: 01981 510288 Email fernverrow@btopenworld.com
Fern Verrow is a Demeter
certified, privately run thirty acre, smallholding in the foothills of the
Poultry is becoming an increasing part of the holding
with geese, ducks, chickens and laying hens. Everyone working here, tends to
have a very strong interest in biodynamics, and as a group we strive to improve
things biodynamically every year both for the farm and for the individuals that
live and work here. During the winter months (September to April) we have a
regular weekly study group, where we read and discuss the agricultural course,
and other anthroposophical issues.
Apprentices can expect to work very hard alongside a number
of local employees and visiting students. The
accommodation offered is a basic. There is a
workers community kitchen and shower. Transport links are poor; therefore it
would be advantageous if the apprentices had their own transport, although we
can work around this. We
feel that a couple or two like-minded people would thrive better than an
individual. A placement at Fern Verrow may suit someone who does not wish to
learn within a camphill environment, and perhaps is looking to work within a
commercial farm albeit on a small scale. The work is hard and physically tiring,
but to those wanting to learn, and truly get a feel for the biodynamic farm then
Fern Verrow is a great place to be. Two years is a big commitment, so we advise
anyone that might be interested in applying, to come and visit, and perhaps work
a few days to get a good feel of the place and how it runs
VALEHEAD
Contact:
Ed Berger
Glasshouse Biodynamic Training, c/o Valehead farm,
Telephone; reception; 01384 399400 Fax; 01384 399401 Mobile
07977 174 772
Website; www.ruskin-mill.org.uk
E-mail;
ed.berger@ghc.rmet.org.uk
The
Biodynamic Training:
Valehead farm is
situated below extensive National Trust
woodland with a shallow loamy sand soil. Work began converting to a
biodynamic farm and market garden in 2004.
Vegetables are grown on two and half acres, and are partly integrated within the
recently planted fruit trees. The produce goes to an organic vegetable delivery
scheme which runs from the farm as well as to college kitchens and houses. A
wool dying workshop is on the same site and connects the garden to the farm
through the growing of dye plants and the dying of fleece.
The farm itself is also in development and aims to have a small herd of local
breed cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens and a woodland management programme is
run from the farm into the surrounding National Trust woods. The whole site is
32 acres.
Apprentices work largely alongside staff and students and take part in regular
tutorials, study groups and observation sessions.
They live in their own accommodation either on the farm, or in the surrounding
area.
All apprentices are supported by the organisation to partake in the Severn
Valley Training Scheme.
The
College The
Several
business’s and the
WATCHOAK
Contact: Paul Pieterse
Watchoak Farm, Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol,
Avon BS35 1HQ
Tel: 01454 418954 Email: copiet@tiscali.co.uk
Contact: Rudi Bintein
Thornage
Hall, Thornage, Holt,
Camphill Communities East
Anglia in Thornage was established in 1988 and provides a meaningful residential
and working environment for its adult members, some of whom have special needs.
Social, artistic and therapeutic activities are an integral part of life
in Thornage Hall but there is also a strong involvement with land work. The
community is situated in
We are able to
offer opportunities for practical work training in gardening and estate
management. There will be a chance
to work with the animals (mainly shorthorn cross cows and Hebridean sheep) but
the work experience and training will for the moment at least focus on BD
horticultural and general estate practises. We grow a diversity of vegetables,
flowers, herbs, soft and top fruit, some of which is sold from a shop on site.