Farm Videos

James Long in Conversation with Matt Dunwell


This is an hour long interview with Matt Dunwell recorded in June 2020 as part of the Pacific Change series of interviews started at the beginning of 'lockdown'.   Pacific Change run by James Long, an ex BBC correspondent, looks for people who are involved in positive change engaging them in a relaxed conversation that has time and space to explore ideas in depth. Here, Matt Dunwell talks about the journey that led him to Ragmans Lane, the Global Alliance and down deep into the microbial underworld. 

 

Permaculture on the Farm

This video was filmed in May 2019 by Maddy Harland, editor of Permaculture Magazine and her partner Tim Harland.

They interview Matt about the development of the farm over the years, broad-scale permaculture and explore the landscape.

Sit back and enjoy!

 

This is a nice short video filmed by Hannah Steenbergen from the Sustainable Food Trust that captures a bit of Ragmans.  Filmed in the summer of 2016, it is a brief tour of the farm with commentry from Matt Dunwell.  Some of the activities have changed since then - we have stopped selling mushroom logs and are making less apple juice in order to focus on our teaching programme.  Two local farmers, James and Will lived in the farmhouse and mob grazed their sheep on the farm for 2 years (2017-2019).

Ragmans is always changing, but we still think the video gives a flavour of what we are about.

 

 

 

  • Biofertilisers to build Living Systems Online Course

    Course Postponed until 2021 - sorry for inconvenience

    This course has been postponed, we will post new dates when available.

    Learn how to regenerate farm and garden systems using biofertiliser and mineral broths. 

    We have worked hard to take the benefits of a residential course into an online experience. Theory sessions will have ample time for discussion, slide shows and powerpoint. Practical sessions will be delivered through step by step video clips allowing ample time for interpretation. There will also be exercises for students to do themselves in-between course dates, making this in some ways more interactive than a weekend residential. 

    first session 9.30 - 12.45  Understanding ecosystem function and the role of microbiology, organic matter and minerals within living systems. This session gives the student a good theoretical base in order to understand the practical sessions that follow. In this way the preparations can be adapted to local situations if needed.  There are many biological products coming onto the market, the purpose of this course is to enable growers to make their own inputs saving money and producing superior products. The session will end with a homework practical to make a Lactic Acid Bacteria serum to study next week.

    second session 9.30 - 12.45  Microbes, ferments and biofertilisers. How to collect microbes to make Solid Native Microbe (SNM) mix - the ‘mother’ for many preparations. Using video and discussion we take you through the process of collection, preparation and storage of native microbes. We then use some mature SNM to make a biofertiliser ferment that can be used at any scale as a foliar feed. We end the session with a discussion about applications for biofertilsier use. Students are encouraged to make SNM as the homework for week 2 and there will be time for feedback at the beginning of the third session. 

    Third session 9.30 - 12.45 Plant health, pests, disease and the use of minerals. Enhanced photosynthesis and optimum system health depends on high levels of available organic matter, active microbiology in the soil and a full range of minerals. This session looks in detail at the limiting factors to healthy systems and how this is expressed as disease and pest attack. There will be a mixture of theory of plant metabolism, and video practicals showing how to make hot and cold mineral broths to build resilience in living systems. Students will be encouraged to make their own simple insect repellant as this weeks homework. 

    Fourth Session 9.30 - 12.45 we take time in this session to answer specific questions, using Q&A and breakout groups drawing together learning over the past three weeks. There is also space for two more ‘recipes’; using humus hydrolate and seed coating. We look at resources that are specific to your site and end the course by creating a fertilisation programme that you can tweak to suit your situation. 

    Who should attend: Gardeners,  growers and farmers

     "I have a good basis now on how to and what use can be applied. Excited to try"

    "Great all round picture of soil biology to support understanding of practices"

    "Can't wait to get started"

     

     To register interest - please email info@ragmans.co.uk - thanks!

     

    The Biofertiliser Handbook (ebook) by Juanfran Lopez will be available to all course participants included in course fee. 

    Please see Juanfran's website - https://juanfranlopez.com for examples of his work.


    We also stock Jairo Restrepo's book on biofetilisers

    The ABC of Organic Agriculture by Jairo Restrepo CLICK HERE


    •