About the event

Led by Ellen, Kent Wildlife Trust's Wild About Gardens Officer, who practices vegan-organic growing in her own garden and vegetable patch. We will also be joined by Jo Kidd, a Kent-based grower, and co-founder of Tree of Life Veganics, a small forest farm near Faversham.

Jo Kidd runs Tree of Life Veganics (pictured), a veganic, forest farm on 7.5ha near Faversham in Kent. She started farming in 2018 and has been vegan since 2003. The farm is certified Organic and Stockfree Organic, off grid, no dig/till and no concrete/single-use plastic.

Jo is creating variations of food forest, including linear food forests, a version of alley cropping with perennials. Jo also runs Abbot’s Mill Project in Canterbury (reinstating a waterwheel into the River Stour to educate people about microgeneration and creating a peace centre), and Kent Vegan Events. Jo’s background is in social movements and social enterprises, earth-focused activism, and community organising.

Ellen has a medium-sized garden where she grows flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs. She is also studying for a Master's in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources. As well as having on-the-ground experience of growing with veganic methods, she is researching its importance, challenges and impact as part of her studies.

We will include an overview of vegan-organic growing, its history and ethos, different methods of fertilising and growing and different growing styles, as well as answering the common question of 'what makes growing veganic or not?' There will be lots of examples, and stories from Ellen and Jo's own plots and experience, with resources and time for questions at the end.

This talk will take place on Zoom. Ticket holders will be emailed the link to join the meeting the day before the event, on 22nd January 2025.