Robin will introduce and explain the key principles of Biodynamics, principles that can be applied at any scale of growing from window box to farm. These principles include working closely with natural cycles, working with special herbal preparations made from local plants, and considering the health of the farm (and allotment) as if it is an organism in its own right.

He will show examples of how he has applied these principles on the allotment as well as the vineyard, and discuss natural methods used to reduce diseases, improve soil, help with plant resilience, and increase the quality of the produce.

Robin Snowdon and his wife Georgina Harvey planted Limeburn Hill Biodynamic Vineyard near Chew Magna in 2015, and Robin now works full time managing the vineyard and making the wine. He originally trained and worked as a Landscape Architect, in the UK and Austria, and then as a lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire on their Masters in Landscape Architecture programme.

Robin’s interest in Biodynamic Agriculture developed as a consequence of setting up the vineyard, and grew from the desire to find a way of growing produce in as natural and sustainable a way as possible.

When Robin & Georgina moved to the Chew Valley in 2016 they rented an allotment and since then have been applying the principles and practices of biodynamics in that context as well.