Frederic Thomas

We had a great day at Penn Croft farm in Hampshire, UK, learning from Frederic Thomas, a leader in conservation agroecology and regenerative farming.

Classroom based learning on regen techniques and plant nutrition with Frederic and with Steve Townsend from Soil First Farming.

Discussions on how to prepare a new block for planting – whether to cultivate the soil or to plant vines direct into the existing sward…*spoiler alert* it’s definitely not chopping up everything you’ve already got there if you’ve got a healthy ecosystem.

Then a vineyard tour to look at the difference between roller-crimping and flailing the cover crop, to talk about compost applications and to generally peer at the soil, looking for earthworms and other fauna.

A fascinating, if slightly damp, day out!

Thank you to Simon Porter at Penn Croft for organising the day and inviting us along.