GROW TOGETHER… ORGANICALLY!
Saturday 5th December 2026, 9am
What a year for Charles Dowding! Not only has he been tending to his epic no-dig market garden, Homeacres in Somerset, and campaigning to get farmers an landowners on board with his Future Gardeners initiative to get more children growing veg…. he has also been bringing two new books into the world.
First up is ‘Grow Together’ - a compilation of his research on companion planting and mixed vegetable growing, based on decades of experiments. The book explores 50 combinations of vegetables that grow productively together. Next (due for release in October) is the long awaited second volume of ‘Organic Gardening: The Basics of No Dig Growing’. In fact by the time December comes around his 2027 vegetable sowing calendar will also be available!
We can’t wait to welcome Charles back to Rural Voices since he was our very first speaker back in 2024. He’ll be delving into the content of his new publications, updating us on his exploits at Homeacres and getting us all set up to grow in 2027!
Kick off your weekend with good food and big ideas. At 9am, we’ll gather for a home-cooked breakfast made with seasonal, locally sourced produce — with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options for all appetites. Expect favourites like bacon and sausages from September House in Horningsham or Cherry's homemade veggie sausages, along with seasonal ingredients from local growers including Redlynch Community Patch, Till Valley Eggs, Vallis Veg, Vallis Farm, Milly Moos, Ivy House Dairy, and many others.. Every plate celebrates what’s growing and being made in our area right now.
With a cup of fresh-ground coffee in hand, we’ll dive into the heart of the morning: an inspiring talk on our 2026 theme, “future rural.” Together, we’ll explore what the next chapter of creative, resilient rural life could look like — and how communities like ours can shape it.
To guide us, we’ve invited an exciting mix of local voices: ecologists, market gardeners, a publican, and even an astrologer. Each will bring their own perspective on the possibilities ahead, offering insights, provocations, and plenty to think about.
Come for breakfast, stay for the conversation — and be part of imagining the rural futures we want to build!
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Please arrive promptly at 9am for breakfast, the talk will begin at 9.45am.
BOOK NOW! Tickets are £15 or £12.50 for Horningsham residents- All profits go to the Village Hall Regeneration Fund.