Step by Step Introduction to Biodynamic Gardening Workshops, Feb-July 2022 at 7 venues across the UK

Grow Your Own is becoming ever more popular; there is growing recognition, too, that being outdoors, getting in touch with Nature is hugely beneficial and brings many positive health and wellbeing rewards.
Now you can experience both, plus the power and vitality of biodynamic gardening, and discover its benefits for yourself.

Comprising of 6 x 1-day sessions from Feb to July 2022 this course is a great way to learn about all the biodynamic principles and practices and enable you to put them into action in your own garden or allotment.

The courses take place at Ruskin Mill Trust biodynamic gardens and are run by their experienced biodynamic gardeners.
For more information about Ruskin Mill Trust  see  http://www.rmt.org

What course participants have said:
” I really enjoyed the course, its content, the approach and the location in such a lovely garden. I liked the spirit of sharing – whether that was biodynamic practice, experience, access to the space or its produce, ie the lovely homegrown lunches”
”  I would also like to say how much I enjoyed the inspirational step by step course. Although I have had an allotment for several years and have always aimed to grow organically, this course has opened my eyes to so much more. My only regret is that I had not discovered the biodynamic way a lot earlier”
“ One of my greatest joys now is coming back from a Step by Step day and putting into practice some of the many strategies that I am learning.  Embedding the concepts in the day-to-day running of my plot with an immediacy that is already having an effect on me, on the crops that I am growing, and hopefully in the long term, on the soil and diversity of plants and wildlife in the area. I am forming a noticeably different relationship with the plot and with the growing process, which I find truly wonderful”

These courses are being offered free of charge; please note that in exchange,  participants are asked to commit to attending all 6 sessions and complete feedback sheets at the end of each session which will contribute to the ongoing research that began 3 years ago

A simple, tasty, homemade vegetarian biodynamic lunch will be served.  The cost of lunch is  £5 per session / £30 for all 6 – to be paid at the time of booking.
Places are strictly limited so we advise booking early!

Course Locations & Dates  – Click on the venue of your choice for more details about the tutors, directions to the venue and for easy online booking.
You can also book by contacting the BDA Office  E: Office@biodynamic.org.uk  Tel:  01453 759501
Timings – All sessions run from  09.45 am -15.00 pm

East Lothian:   Fairhill Rise, Pishwanton Woods, Longyester, Gifford, EH41 4FH
Dates: 13 February, 13 March, 24 April,  22 May, 19 June, 17 July 2022  NB this course takes place on Sundays

Cumbria: The Plot, Urswick Road, Ulverston LA12 9LL. & Brantwood, East of Lake Coniston
Dates:  27^th Feb,  27^th March,  24^th April,  29^th May,  26th June,  31^st July NB takes place on last Sunday of the month
The Course is based at The Plot and begins there in February with visits to Brantwood in April and May

North East England  Clervaux Trust, Jolby Lane, Croft-on-Tees DL2 2TF
Dates: 26 Feb,  19 Mar,  23 Apr, 14 May. 18 Jun, 23 July

West Wales:  Coleg Plas Dwbl, Mynachlog-ddu,, Clynderwen SA66 7SE
Dates: 26th Feb, 19th March, 30th April, 21st May, 11 June & 9th July 2022

North Wales:  Trigonos, Plas Baladeulyn  Nantlle, Caernarfon Wales, LL54 6BW
Dates:  26th Feb, 19th March, 30th April, 21st May, 11 June & 9th July 2022

Gloucestershire:  Upper Grange, Lovedays Mead, Stroud GL5 1XB
Dates: 26th Feb, 19th March, 30th April, 21st May, 11 June & 9th July 2022

Worcestershire / South Staffs   – Valehead Farm, Compton Rd, Kinver, DY8 5NJ
Dates: 26th Feb, 19th March, 30th April, 21st May, 11 June & 9th July 2022

Course Outline :

Day 1
Seed connects with Soil

• Observation exercise – the seed
• A brief overview of the course
• The seed as a microcosm
• Soil – basic soil science, silica-clay-lime processes, soil testing
• Soil health – fertility building, digging and no-till and cultivation methods
• Compost – understanding the composting process, creating a compost pile, different methods
• Compost preparations – the science and application
• The seed touches the soil
• Practical: seed sowing

Day 2
Planning our garden

• Observation exercise
• Genius loci – the spirit of place
• What, where, how?
• Root-leaf-flower-fruit
• Practical: planning a rotation
• Practical: preparing a seed bed (if possible, otherwise in April)
• Rotations and layout
• Companion planting and complementary practices
• Stirring and spraying the Horn Manure preparation (500)

Day 3
The Plant between the Sun and Earth

• Observation exercise
• The plant, the planets and their place on the Earth (form and substance, elemental relationships)
• Plant propagation –sowing the seed, bed preparation, direct sowing and transplanting
• Lunar rhythms and the BD sowing calendar
• Practical: pricking out and planting out
• Weeds: who are they, what do they tell us and how to we establish a happy relationship?

Day 4
The Biodynamic Preparations

• Observation exercise
• The birth of the biodynamic movement – history, herstory and today
• Stirring and spraying the Horn Silica preparation (501)
• Making the BD preparations (Horn Silica, , dandelion, yarrow, , CPP)
• Infrastructure, tools and equipment for the home garden and allotment

Day 5
Tending the garden

• Observation exercise
• Garden health, plant health and plant care
• Preparation making: Chamomile, Equisetum (horsetail)
• Working with daily and seasonal rhythms and conditions
• Watering; cultivating, harvesting, crop covers
• Foliar feeds, liquid manures and other home-made solutions

Day 6
The garden as an organism

• Observation exercise
• The garden organism – the farm organism and individuality
• Biodiversity in the garden (above and below ground) – the role of flowers, insects, birds and bees
• Creating habitats for insects, birds, mammals and worms with trees, hedges and ponds, etc.
• Earth-Water-Air/Light-Warmth/Fire
• The seed and seed saving
• Storing and processing principles