Saturday 29th August, 2026 - 10.30am to 4pm

This is the first of two separate workshops. Join us for a fun and hands-on No Dig Workshop at the beautiful Gaias Garden in Pfeffikon! Learn easy, eco-friendly gardening techniques that skip the digging but boost plant health and soil vitality. Perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Come meet fellow green thumbs, get your hands dirty, and discover the magic of no dig gardening in person!

Itinerary on the day

Arrival 9.30am

10am Morning Session

Charles starts with an introduction to no dig. The broad principles, to illustrate how this method saves both your time and effort, together with soils’ ecology and health.

In the morning Charles shows slides of his garden located in SW England, to illustrate different topics. We then go into the garden, looking at different facets and cropping. These include starting out even with difficult perennial weeds, on any soil. Charles explain different methods including cardboard with compost on top, and black plastic with compost underneath. What do we mean by compost? And how to make it in different situations. How it is not fertiliser, and how best to use it.

Charles show examples of how to make best possible harvests in all seasons. He explains harvesting methods, winter vegetables, propagation, seed saving, and finally energies that we can’t measure but which we can use. Such as copper tools, Biodynamic preparations, orgone energy, solar dowsing, and devices for energy capture from the universe.

1pm Lunch is served

2pm Afternoon Session

In the afternoon we will create a new bed with or without cardboard.We look at different types of compost and we’ll make a new heap using materials from the garden.

Finish around 4pm

Further information

Lunch and refreshments are included in the ticket price. There is plenty of parking on site and it is important to note that it is Pfeffikon LU. This workshop is held in English.

About Charles Dowding

Charles Dowding has over 40 years of experience using the no dig method of growing. No dig makes life easier for us and allows soil life to flourish out of sight, and plants grow more healthily. Both moisture retention and drainage are improved, there are fewer weeds to hoe or remove, and you don’t get muddy boots!

Charles's advice takes the mystery out of gardening, to make it timesaving, straightforward and enjoyable.

About Gaias Garden

Our mission is to inspire people to enjoy fresh and healthy vegetables straight from nature. At Gaia's Garden, we promote sustainable farming and offer a unique opportunity to harvest your own produce. In this way, we create a connection to nature and support a healthier lifestyle.