A Practical Workshop for CAG Devon Community Groups & Local Growers

22nd October 2026 from 10:00 - 16:30 hrs.

Kindly hosted by Creative Beings CIC, The Old Rectory Studio, Awliscombe, Devon, EX14 3PJ

Spend a day immersed in the practical skills of composting, biochar and regenerative growing. Whether you're part of a community garden, a growing project, or simply passionate about building healthy soils, this hands-on workshop will give you the knowledge and confidence to improve your composting systems and grow more resilient landscapes.

Learn from experienced practitioners, explore working regenerative systems, and connect with others from across the CAG Devon network.

👋 Welcome & Introductions 

Arrive at 10:00 for tea, coffee and a chance to meet fellow community growers, composters and CAG Devon groups. We'll begin with a welcome from CAG Devon / Creative Beings, introductions and an overview of the day's programme before we get started.

🌱 Composting in Practice 

Melissa Harvey, Sustainable South Hams, will share practical composting skills for community gardens and growing projects. Learn how to compost garden and food waste effectively, choose the right systems for different materials, troubleshoot common issues, understand community composting legislation, and get hands-on with compost samples and raw ingredients. If time allows, we'll also explore making specialist composts for seed sowing, mulching and soil improvement.

🔥 Biochar for Healthy Soils

Discover how biochar can transform compost and improve long-term soil health. Carolyn Dare will explain how biochar is produced at the Blackdown Hills Eco Hub, why it benefits soil biology, supports carbon storage, and how to use it successfully in compost, compost teas, fermentations and growing systems. This practical session will include demonstrations and plenty of opportunity for discussion.

🥗 Shared Community Lunch 

Enjoy a relaxed shared vegetarian lunch provided by Creative Beings and BH Eco Hub. You're very welcome to bring a dish, fruit or cake to contribute if you'd like to join in our community feast.

🌳 Guided Regenerative Site Tour 

Sue Holland will lead a guided tour of Creative Beings CIC's regenerative growing spaces, including the 8-year-old Food Forest, Community Alley Cropping project, and the new 42,000-litre rainwater harvesting and irrigation system funded by the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. See how composting, biochar, agroforestry and permaculture principles come together to build resilient food-growing systems. Please note that the tour includes walking over uneven ground.

🍂 Composting Systems in Action

We'll also take a look at practical composting systems in use. Depending on progress, we'll visit Creative Beings new composting area or a nearby five-bay composting system, offering a valuable opportunity to see larger-scale community composting techniques in action.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is perfect for:

• CAG Devon community groups
• Community composting volunteers
• Community gardens and growing projects
• Allotment groups
• Gardeners and growers
• Sustainability practitioners
• Anyone interested in composting, biochar, permaculture, agroforestry and regenerative land management

Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, you'll leave with practical ideas, new skills and inspiration to take back to your own project.

What to Bring

• Outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear for the site tour
• A notebook if you'd like to take notes
• A contribution to the shared vegetarian lunch (optional)

We look forward to welcoming you for a day of learning, sharing ideas and exploring practical ways to build healthier soils and stronger communities.

With support from: