Leitrim welcomes Charles Dowding: A pioneer in ‘No Dig’ gardening

Internationally acclaimed British gardener and author Charles Dowding, a pioneer of modern "No Dig" gardening and organic soil management, will be visiting the Organic Centre in Leitrim this October.

Dowding is seen as a trailblazer in the growing world, when it comes to exploring new pathways.

He is hosting two one-day events on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27. 

Dowding is often seen as the 'guru' of No Dig. 

With 40 years of vegetable growing and ‘no dig’ experimentation he shares his results through his teaching, his extremely popular 'YouTube channel, and as a prolific author, through his books. 

Questioning traditional wisdom and being curious is according to Dowding, a healthy mindset.

No dig involves an inherent appreciation of life in the soil that is helping plants to grow, and every time a spade or fork goes into the soil he would advocate, causes a lot of disruption.

The No-dig method of caring for vegetable beds is seen as good for increasing crop output with less labour involved, but is also a great benefit to the soil and the wider environment. Dowding has observed that the number of weeds which grow with no-dig is fewer than with conventional gardening when its soil has been disturbed. 

Other identified advantages of the no-dig approach include improved drainage, and is also seen as significantly better for the environment. 

Soil that is dug is exposed to the elements and releases CO2, whereas the No Dig approach is beneficial, trapping significant levels of carbon in the soil. 

With regards to every gardener's enemy, Dowding sees the No Dig model as a good way to combat slugs, as less damage to the soil potentially ensures that the slugs' predators like ground beetles survive to eat the slugs larva.

The Organic Centre in Rossinver is close to Charles Dowding's heart, a teaching hub itself since 1995, and a place that he first started coming to many years ago.

“I find the Organic Centre is such a great place for teaching and learning because there are so many capabilities for demonstrating and gardening,” Dowding explained.

Celebrate Leitrim’s Apple Day Harvest Festival at the Organic Centre

Organic Centre's Apple Day will take place on September 29 from 12pm until 4pm, featuring a variety of stalls, talks and tours.

“I really like the energy of the Organic Centre, it’s a super friendly place where I feel at home teaching many people all about no dig growing,” he added.

The two day single day courses are coming at a perfect time in the calendar year for potential participants including those who wish to convert to the No Dig model.

“I’m running two separate No Dig course days and I really encourage people to sign up and join us. You can really learn a lot in one day and seeing it really helps to understand.

“Autumn is a great time to learn these methods so you have more chance to get beds ready, smother weeds and have fewer slugs,” Dowding concluded.

For those interested in attending this highly sought after opportunity, book through www.theorganiccentre.ie or ring 0719854338.

READ NEXT - Leitrim Sporting Clubs to benefit from Record €250m Government Sports Fund