Highlights from The Organic Growers Gathering 2023. Talks, Workshops, Live music, food and celebration! An incredible sun filled weekend of networking among growers celebrating the organic horticultural movement!
Filmed and Edited by Alfie Warren-Knight
Raam Singh from Preta Carbon discusses ‘The Wonders of Biochar’ on the Radish Beets stage at OGG24. Discussing the uses and benefits of biochar in horticultural growing systems. His own experiments and findings as well as those of others. And also how to create your own biochar for improving your soil and plant life.
Jayne Arnold from Oxton Organics talk about her experiments and experience with winter cover crops and discusses how important they are for maintaining and improving soil structure.
Organic Research Centre (ORC) Isi Mackintosh and Greg Pilley from Stroud Brewery hosted a talk session which outlined the current organic UK grown hops and beer market, the impact climate change is going to have on hop growing which will lead into the need to trial organic hop varieties. Thy also talked about the field lab, which ORC led research on, the outcomes from it and what we want to do next/future of organic hop growing in the UK.
Seb Mayfield, Head of Growth at Ooooby
Putting ‘small-scale’ back at the heart of our food system.
We believe that societies function best when individuals, families and communities are independent, autonomous and self-reliant. In this way, we can all contribute from a place of strength to build decentralised local economies. Small-scale, ecologically-sound food production and trade is an optimal foundational layer for healthy local economies.
Our friendly team will set you up with a custom website, shopfront and optimised delivery routes.
Rebecca Laughton - Horticulture Campaigns Co-ordinator at Land Workers Alliance
Rebecca has many years of experience in organic market gardening, farming and research relating to small scale agriculture and low impact planning, and is author of "Surviving and Thriving on the Land" (Green Books 2008) and “A Matter of Scale: The productivity and financial viability of small farms (20ha and less)” 2017.
She focuses on advocacy and research for the LWA Horticulture Campaign, and is the lead facilitator for the Growing the Goods Horticulture ELMS Test and Trial. The latter is a Defra contract, to look at ways the diverse range of organic and conventional growers could access payments through the new Environmental Land Management Schemes.
Stockfree Organic, Panel Discussion with Tamara Schiopu, Dan Graham and Frederik Bonestroo of Vegan Organic Network.
For over 25 years, the Vegan Organic Network Charity has been supporting farmers, growers and gardeners on how to grow food in an organic way without using any animal inputs (hence stock-free) and instead using plant-based fertilisers and kinder methods which respects animals, supports wildlife and nourishes more people per hectare
Sophia Lysaczenko & Justine Gens Co-op Members and Co-Directors, H*mpen Organic.
H*mpen Organic is a not-for-profit workers’ co-operative, based in Oxfordshire, since 2015. Our mission is to grow and cultivate UK based organic hemp for the health of the people, rural communities and the land.
https://www.hempen.co.uk
Romilly Swann of The Outside Dyers
Naturally dyed goods, historically authentic colours and research into past and future use of natural dyes.
We are a small group of friends and family who have combined our varied skills to produce vibrantly coloured naturally dyed goods. Our dye house and workshop is based next to the Thames at Hardwick Estate in Oxfordshire. We also have a mobile demonstration dye house and shop that travels to events across the country.
We are an environmentally minded organisation that wishes to promote the use of natural dyes. We aim to tread lightly on the earth and are always seeking ways to make our small scale business as ethical and responsible as possible. We grow and gather most of our dye stuffs from our garden, allotments and surrounding countryside. Dye stuffs from elsewhere are sourced as responsibly as possible. We use water from our well for dyeing and rinsing which is recycled into withy beds. We have a small flock of Shetland and Boreray sheep which are great fun and provide fleece for our range of felting wool and homespun yarn.
Comedy & Spirituality; the turbulant ecstasy and anxieties of human existance seen through the lens of a developing plant. From seed through to death and onwards exploring rebirth and beyond.
Quick-witted Andrew Clover captivates the crowd around the Radish Beets stage at The Organic Growers Gathering 2024 with his spontaneous jam band. Taking them on an unexpected, humerous, playful journey. As he unpacks the experience of a humble plant as it responds to its interactions with its environment, connecting us as growers to the food we grow, leading us to acknowledge the similarities and perculiarities of this Earthly existance.