Soil Ecology
the key to healthy, resilient plant growth
with Eddie Bailey
Friday 8 May 2026
10am - 4pm (arrive at 9.30am for coffee/tea)
£150
Group Size - 10 people
Eddie will begin the workshop by whizzing back 470 million years to when bacteria and fungi began to create the conditions for plants to flourish on the land. In this perspective-shifting session you will learn how vital these microbes are to plant growth and health.
Sharing the latest research in a very accessible way, Eddie will explain how plants obtain the nutrition and metabolites they need and how they in turn support the microorganisms in a glorious virtuous cycle. He will also share insights into the true role of so-called pathogens, explaining how plants really can be naturally disease and pest-free.
In a practical session Eddie will demonstrate how to test your soil conditions and offer ways to create and maintain the perfect habitat for maximum microbial productivity and crop quality whether vegetables, fruit, shrubs, trees, or flowers.
Eddie is a mineral and soil resource geologist of 38 years. He set up his home organic allotment and syntropic-based garden 30 years ago largely in response to the degradation of agricultural land he was seeing at first hand; most importantly he wanted his family to experience the flavours and wholesome goodness of home-grown food that he had experienced as a child.
Since 2011 Eddie has been developing a strong working relationship with the soil food web microorganisms. Discovering how these tiny but incredible bioengineers and biogeochemists are at the forefront of healthy plant growth led him to setting up the RhizoPhyllia School of Gardening as a platform for sharing this knowledge more widely.
His clients have included River Cottage, Garden Organic, Le Manoir, RHS Wisley, The Royal Parks, and Beth Chatto's, as well as private estates and RHS medallists. He was featured on Gardeners World in October 2024.
Lunch
Alison will prepare a delicous vegetarian lunch featuring produce from the garden and scrumptious savoury tarts made for us by Beth, the Freerange Chef. There will be home made biscuits on arrival and we will round up the day with tea and home made cake to ensure that your day will be as nourishing as it is informative. If you have any specific dietary requests do let us know on the booking form.
What to Bring
Check the weather forecast before you travel and ensure you bring appropriate clothing, whether that’s waterproofs or sun hats, or possibly both! You may wish to bring a notebook, water bottle and camera too.
Getting Here
Directions will be emailed to you a couple of weeks before the workshop. Use Damson Farm rather than the postcode on Google Maps.
Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel your place up to 28 days before the event you will be offered a credit towards another workshop. After that time, you’ll be offered a 50% refund if we’ve been able to re-sell the place. We are only able to promote places for re-sale up to 4 days before the event.