I had the privilege to attend Mr. Dan Kittredge's two-day course on principles of biological farming, hosted at Happy Pear Farm in Kilcoole, Ireland. The hosts were fantastic (more about them in the lunch section 😃), and they served some of the most amazing food I've experienced in a course setting. Dan guided us through a fascinating universe of different ecosystems, showing how they interconnect and explaining why external commercial fertilizers aren't as necessary as commonly believed.
Who is Dan Kittredge :
Dan Kittredge is a renowned expert in biological farming and soil health. He is the founder and executive director of the Bionutrient Food Association, an organization dedicated to increasing quality in the food supply through biological farming practices.
With over 30 years of farming experience and coming from a farming family background, Dan has developed comprehensive methods for improving soil and crop health. He has been teaching principles of biological farming across the United States and internationally since 2008.
Dan's approach focuses on understanding and optimizing the natural biological systems in agriculture. He emphasizes the importance of soil mineralization, microbial activity, and plant health indicators to produce nutrient-dense foods without relying on synthetic inputs.
Through his Real Food Campaign, he works to establish the connection between soil health, plant health, and human health. His teaching combines practical farming techniques with scientific understanding of plant physiology and soil biology.
Who are our hosts - Happy Pear Farms :
Happy Pear Farm, located in the scenic coastal town of Kilcoole, Ireland, is a thriving agricultural hub known for its sustainable farming practices and educational initiatives.
The farm serves as a demonstration site for regenerative agriculture, hosting workshops and courses that bring together farmers and enthusiasts from around the world.
Beyond its educational role, the farm is renowned for its exceptional organic produce and commitment to promoting healthy, plant-based living through their farming methods.
Different components, Discussion and their impact
He began by explaining how we need to view farming through the lens of what nature provides, rather than simply trying to fix specific problems. He calls this "Addressing Limiting Factors." I'm not exaggerating when I say that during the two-day course, we spent an entire day discussing just the first few slides because everyone was so captivated by the topic—the discussions were endless.
Dan explaining how plants can be nurtured, what are some commercial options available, do we need any commercial options et al.
He emphasised several key factors including leaf shine and aroma, explaining how they correlate with plant health. He also covered effective mulching techniques and the underlying causes of pest infestation. Among other fascinating topics, he demonstrated a practical exercise called "lazy sowing."
Fun demonstration on who can sow seeds quicker, was it Dan or Happy pear team. Dan was doing broadcasting of the seed while Happy pear folks were doing it with an equipment, of course Dan Won.
The discussion then turned technical as we were introduced to the refractometer and soil pH tester. We learned how to correlate conductivity and light refraction values to assess the overall health of both soil and plants. Dan's philosophy centers on the idea that healthy plants and soil naturally deter pests through stronger cell walls—a goal we should all work toward.
Fantastic group of like minded people in the course
The amount of detail and knowledge that Dan shared was phenomenal, and I'm looking forward to meeting him and the other like-minded people from the course again. Special thanks to the folks at Happy Pear for making this happen.
Left myself and Right side - its Dan kittredge.
-Rakesh