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S2:E4 Charles Dowding

The Newt Podcast

The Newt Podcast
S2:E4 Charles Dowding
Mar 10, 2026 Season 2 Episode 4
The Newt in Somerset

Charles Dowding, possibly the best known name in ‘no-dig’ gardening circles, has spent 44 years growing organic food the no-dig way.

 

A Somerset native, Charles comes from a farming family and has always had an appreciation of how soil health is directly related to our health. As Charles puts it in his own words, “I was conventional as a teenager, not questioning the world I saw. Then, in 1979, aged 20, I awoke to an awareness of nutrition and its links to food production. I had recently become a vegetarian and that led me to explore organic gardening. And the soil.”

 

Charles shares his no-dig journey with his 744,000 followers on his YouTube channel. He leads educational courses and workshops at his garden, Homeacres, and has published a wealth of no-dig books and resources.

The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. 

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