Some weekends stay with you forever.

Last weekend, my family and I travelled to Somerset to spend the day with Charles Dowding, learning more about his famous no dig gardening method. It was a Christmas present from my husband, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a gift. The moment I realised what it was, I genuinely jumped out of my seat.

For anyone who knows me, this wasn’t just another gardening course… It was something I had wanted to do for years.

Three Years of Learning.. I’ve been following Charles Dowding for almost three years now.

When we took on our allotment, I remember standing there wondering where on earth do we begin. It was huge, overgrown and completely overwhelming. We wanted to grow vegetables, but we also wanted to do it properly. We didn’t want to waste time making avoidable mistakes.

That’s when I found Charles! Once I discovered his YouTube channel, I was hooked… I think I’ve watched nearly every video he’s ever uploaded, and I’ve read so many books. Whenever I take on something new, I like to understand it inside and out, and gardening has been no exception.

One thing that made a huge difference for me was learning from someone who gardens here in the United Kingdom. So much gardening advice online comes from different climates, with completely different seasons and growing conditions. Charles methods are based on British weather, British soils and British growing conditions, which made everything feel so much more relevant to my own allotment.

His no dig approach gave me confidence…

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by weeds, compacted soil and endless digging, I learned that there was another way. A way that worked with nature rather than against it.

Looking back, I genuinely believe no dig is one of the best methods for anyone taking on a large, neglected allotment. Rather than spending months turning over soil, you can begin improving it immediately by feeding the soil from the surface with compost, letting the organisms beneath do the hard work for you.

That philosophy completely changed how I approached the allotment.

Arriving at Homeacres

The course lasted around five and a half hours, but the time absolutely flew.

We were welcomed with an introduction, had two refreshment breaks throughout the day, and enjoyed one of the nicest vegetarian lunches I’ve had in a long time. It was a beautiful Georgian style meal (very similar to Persian dishes), prepared by an Italian chef, and it felt like every part of the day had been thoughtfully planned.

It wasn’t rushed… It felt relaxed, friendly and genuinely enjoyable.

Walking Around the Garden

One of the highlights was slowly walking around Charles famous Homeacres garden while he explained everything.

To be honest, I was surprised by how much I already knew…

After years of watching his videos almost religiously, so many of the beds, techniques and experiments already felt familiar. It was like walking around somewhere I’d visited hundreds of times before, except this time I was actually there.
Even though much of the information wasn’t entirely new to me, hearing it in person was different.

You notice the small details.

You see the scale.

You understand why things are laid out the way they are. And, of course, you get to ask questions.

The Pyramid Greenhouse

One thing that fascinated me the most was Charles’ pyramid shaped greenhouse.

It’s certainly not something you see every day, and hearing him explain why he chose that design was incredibly interesting. As we wandered around Homeacres, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something different about the place. It’s difficult to put into words, but everything felt lighter, calmer and incredibly peaceful. Whether it was the years of careful cultivation, the abundance of healthy plants, or simply being surrounded by nature, there was a real sense of tranquillity. Charles often talks about the energy in a garden, and while everyone will have their own beliefs about that, I genuinely felt a sense of calm walking around his home. There was no rush, no noise, just birdsong, thriving vegetables and flowers, and an atmosphere that encouraged you to slow down and simply observe. I left feeling refreshed, inspired and more connected to the garden than I had expected. It reminded me that a garden isn’t just about growing food, it’s also about creating a space that nourishes you.

Whether you share those views or simply find them interesting, it was fascinating to hear him explain his thinking and how it influences some of the decisions he makes around the garden.

It reminded me that gardening isn’t just science… Standing in his garden, surrounded by healthy crops and an atmosphere that felt incredibly calm and peaceful, I could understand why he places so much importance on creating a space that feels balanced. It made me reflect on how often we rush through our gardens, focusing only on jobs that need doing, rather than slowing down, observing and connecting with the space around us.

For many people, it’s also intuition, observation and spending enough time in nature to develop your own understanding of what works.

The Chimney Pots

Another feature that caught my eye was the collection of chimney style pots emerging from different places around the garden from the ground. I couldn’t stop looking at them!

Charles explained that they form part of his wider ideas about airflow, drainage and the way he likes to work with the land. They certainly give the garden its own unique character, and I loved that every feature seemed to have a story behind it.

It’s those little details that don’t always come across on YouTube… Seeing them in person made me appreciate just how much thought has gone into every corner of the garden.

Copper in the Garden

One of the ideas I found particularly intriguing was Charles use of copper rods.

He explained how he places a copper rod deep into the ground, around 30 centimetres or more, and connects it to a wooden pole extending upwards towards the sky. This forms part of his personal exploration of natural energies within the garden.

While this isn’t a conventional horticultural technique or one that’s supported by mainstream scientific evidence, I always enjoy hearing about different ways people connect with their gardens. Gardening has always combined science, observation, tradition and personal experience, and I think there’s room to be curious…

It’s certainly something I’d like to explore in my own garden, simply to see how it fits within my own gardening journey.

More Than a Gardening Course

The day wasn’t really about learning one revolutionary new technique. It was about seeing the place that has inspired so much of my own gardening over the last three years.

It was about putting real life to the videos I’ve watched countless times.

It was about meeting someone whose work gave me the confidence to take on a daunting allotment and turn it into something I’m genuinely proud of.

Sometimes you don’t need to learn something completely new… Sometimes you simply need confirmation that you’re on the right path!

That’s exactly what this visit gave me.

I came home inspired, motivated and even more convinced that no dig gardening is the right approach for me.

Thank you, Charles, for sharing your knowledge so generously over the years, both online and in person.

And thank you to my husband for giving me a Christmas present I’ll never forget.

Now it’s time to get back to the allotment, with plenty of new ideas and, as always, another layer of compost..

Do check out his website and upcoming courses; https://charlesdowding.co.uk/pages/online-courses