Loch Arthur is a working Community in South West Scotland which includes men and women with learning disabilities. In Loch Arthur there is a farm, a large garden, a creamery, a bakery, a woodwork shop, a weaving workshop and a thriving farm shop. The community is comprised of nine houses and over seventy residents including about twenty-eight people in supported tenancies.  

The work-based training we can offer at Loch Arthur Camphill Community leads to the Crossfield Institute Level 3 Diploma in Biodynamic Farming and Gardening and is based on a 550 acre estate which includes grassland, 60 acres of woodland and a 70 acre loch.  

The garden area includes; 500m2 greenhouse for vegetable production, 4 acres of field vegetables, soft and top fruit, herbs, flowers and a large walled garden. The garden aims to produce sufficient seasonal fruit and vegetables for the Community with surplus produce being sold through our Farmshop. 

Our mixed organic farm has been run under biodynamic principles since 1985 and has full Demeter status. We run a dairy herd of 30 dairy shorthorn cows plus followers which provide milk for our creamery. We also have a suckler beef herd, 100 breeding ewes and some Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot pigs.  These all provide meat for our Community and Farmshop.  

Apprentices  

The apprentice will be given a practical grounding through their day to day work in the garden which is supplemented by the Biodynamic Agricultural College Learning Programme. This includes 4 weeks of seminars/ yearly and support with their own, personal, on-going study of biodynamics. The apprentice would need to embrace Community life and live as part of the Community in one of our houses – all living and BDAC training expenses will be covered by the community.  The duration for completing the course is at least 2 years. Applicants will be expected to spend some time as part of the community on a trial, before being accepted as a volunteer-apprentice. 

Garden Trainer:  

Rudy Bintein has been a biodynamic trainer since 1993. He trained with Karin Herms and Catherine Castelliz and has more than 25 years of experience as a Camphill gardener and grower in Belgium and the UK.  

Rudy is committed to providing the apprentice with the support and practical skills he/she will need to complete the biodynamic apprentice learning programme. 

Contact: Rike Witt, rike@locharthur.org.uk