Becky’s Blog: UK regen viticulturists’ farm visit, Harrow & Hope

June saw the first of what we hope will be many RVF farm visits. The truly generous folk at Harrow & Hope in the UK invited 20 regen-minded vineyard owners and managers along to check out what regenerative viticulture looks like on their farm.

Matt Robson explaining how he adapted his spreader

When we finally stopped debating, we had a tour with Harrow & Hope vineyard manager Matt Robson, to see what he has been up to in the vineyard. 

I knew he was pretty handy, having previously seen the direct drill tractor attachment he and Ian Beecher-Jones of JoJo’s vineyard have developed. 

However, I hadn’t appreciated just how good he is at repurposing old bits of kit, including adapting a sprayer for compost teas, a rusty old hopper into a biochar kiln and next on the list… an old truck axle into a windrow turner.

Johnson-Su bioreactors
One of Matt’s many compost piles

Fascinating stuff.

Of course the pizzas went down well (thanks Henry and Kaye Laithwaite). 

As did the tasting of 20 wines made from regeneratively farmed grapes (one of the rules of attending was that everyone brought along a bottle to taste, and a spare for Henry and Kaye).

We almost didn’t get to see anything.

Discussion was flowing so thick and fast over coffee, the Q&A that had been planned for the end of the day had to be brought forward. While everyone agreed on what we are trying to achieve, not everyone agreed on the speed of change.  But that’s what these things are all about!

Biochar kiln which uses prunings as kindling

Matt talked us through how he improves his soil health.

There aren’t many groups of people who will enthusiastically peer into a stinking Johnson-Su bio-reactor (see here) or watch a man sticking a thermometer into each of his 3 compost piles at varying stages of maturity.

But I wasn’t alone in loving every minute of it.

Alex Valsecchi from Albury examining microbes fresh off the compost pile

Nick Cooper from Mycolife took samples from the compost piles so that we could see the microbes in action under the microscope.

Mimi in a meadow

And, of course, it was brilliant to have Mimi there to inspire and educate.

July 12th, 2023
Visit Harrow & Hope

Articles that may be of interest

September newsletter

On water and how you can use regen practices to get your soil acting like a sponge to avoid the flood-drought cycle. Also on how Indigenous people have been practising ‘regenerative agriculture’ for centuries. There are also links to fascinating interviews (Gabe Brown, Mary Retallack, Zach Weiss), great blog posts and some beautiful photo-reportage.

Climate Change: the water paradigm

3 minute video by Jimmy Einstein explaining really simply why regenerating the soil can stop the drought-flood cycle

Gabe Brown interview

Gabe Brown explains how, if you pay attention and do things properly, you can reap the benefits of regenerative practices in a much shorter period of time than most believe they can By Growing Resilience

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