About us

Norfolk Organic Group is a membership organisation established to promote organic growing in Norfolk and act as a local group for Garden Organic and the Soil Association. We are people who want to grow organically including gardeners, allotmenteers, smallholders and farmers, as well as those interested in a more sustainable and regenerative way of life. We provide advice and guidance about the benefits of an organic approach and how by looking after the Earth, we look after ourselves.

We are a charity, managed by a team of volunteers and reliant on the generosity of our members who give their time, resources and energy to support our activities.

A brief history...

Originally known as The Norfolk Group of the Soil Association - the first recorded gathering of the group was in April 1977. Although there are accounts of an informal group meeting before this date.

In 1978 the group also affiliated to the Henry Doubleday Research Association which is now known as Garden Organic. Lawrence Hills the founder of Garden Organic would give talks and even helped out on the groups stall at the Royal Norfolk Show in 1980.

In 1984 Bob Flowerdew was elected chair, a position he held until 1995 when he became Honorary President. In 1994 the group changed its name to become Norfolk Organic Gardeners and in 1997 became a registered charity.

The group always had an interesting and diverse membership including gardeners, smallholders and farmers. To reflect this it changed its name once again to Norfolk Organic Group.

Since then it has continued in its mission to promote organic growing - holding regular meetings and field trips as well as attending, organising and helping out at events such as East Anglia Potato Day, Norwich Seed and Plant Swap and Gressenhall Apple Day.

The people who make things happen...

Bee springwood

Chairperson

I’ve been a gardener, and always thought organically, since 1979. I am a volunteer master composter, and a food savvy volunteer too, advising and supporting on food waste. Between 2011 and 2019, I was very involved with Norwich Farmshare, as a volunteer, then as Chair for three years. I did the Permaculture Design Course, around 2010/11, and this approach informs my gardening and sustainability mind greatly.

julian turner

Secretary

The Group Secretary job is not too demanding. When there is a communication from "outside", I bring it to the attention of NOG's committee. I keep the schedule of committee meetings alive and type up the business that it discusses.
My own life is that of a fruit and vegetable gardener, now 40 years on the same ground. I am also involved with East Anglia Potato Day.

paul lucas

Treasurer

I feel all things are connected. The way we respond to life and our environment is reflected in our health and well-being. Growing organically is a natural part of this. As treasurer I look after the accounts as well as helping out with a variety of other activities. All of which fits well with my background in permaculture and design.

Juliette Harkin

Newsletter Editor

I edit and co-ordinate production of the group newsletter. I also help out at events such as Potato Day. I obtained my RHS Level II Diploma in Horticulture at Capel Manor College and have volunteered at Forest Gate community garden in London. I am currently bringing my new garden into cultivation. I live in Rockland St Mary with my husband and am active in the local Climate Action Group.

Sheridan

Events Co-ordinator

I joined Norfolk Organic Group in 2021 and then the Committee in 2022. I have had an allotment for most of my life and quickly realised that organic gardening was the way to go. Eating well grown and tasty veg is a joy for me as well as being outside and connected to nature. More recently I have become a ‘No Dig’ convert, bringing more joy and ease as my body gets older! I value Norfolk Organic Group a lot for its interesting programme of events and the chance to talk to and learn from like minded others.

alan beard

Membership

I left the military after 45 years and I found I had more time on my hands, so I joined Norfolk Organic Group in 2017 and I offered to be the Membership Secretary. It’s been great to improve my knowledge of organic gardening and make new friends. I enjoy being the conduit for members and am careful to keep the records safe to stay within GDPR guidelines.

Carol Sharp

Seeds Co-ordinator

I’ve been a member for 5 years and last year I took the role to look after all the seeds people collect and bag them into packets. They can then be taken in our Seed box to events where they are a great draw. Using organic seed is important as many seeds are treated with chemicals. I’m Artist in Residence at the Seed CoOp where I’m doing a project about our relationship with seed.

LIZ PHILLIPS

Member

As I was originally a Biologist, it seemed natural when I first had a small veg plot 50 years ago to grow ‘biologically’ rather than ‘chemically’ particularly after reading Living Soil by Lady Eve Balfour. Inspired by these thoughts I’ve been totally convinced with organic growing and have been a domestic grower for nearly 50 years on our acre of marshland.
I’ve been a member of Garden Organic and the Soil Association for ‘ever’. In 2023 I joined NOG and am really enjoying the chance to share knowledge, ideas and friendship with like-minded members.

Bob Flowerdew

President

Most gardeners know Bob Flowerdew. as he has been championing organic gardening for a very long time. He has nearly an acre of garden in Dickleburgh, Norfolk, where he lives with his wife and children. He is a famers son, his family have been working the land in East Anglia since before the time of the Tudors

Bob grows organically almost every fruit and vegetable possible in our climate including bananas, pineapples and guavas. He also keeps chickens, ducks, geese and bees.

He is a long-serving member of the panel of BBC Radio 4's ‘Gardener's Question Time’, where his long experience with organic growing is well respected. He is the patron of Waveney Foodbank, a local charity that provides emergency food for those in crisis.

Bob was chair of Norfolk Organic Group from 1984 to 1995 when he became our president. He gives an annual talk and is involved in many of our activities.