Walter Rudert

Walter Rudert’s life

Walter was born in southern Germany on the 24 September 1939.

He was the first born of three and his father was an agricultural scientist. The family moved several times during his early years, but one of the early inspirations for his life’s work in farming was his grandfather’s farm, also in southern Germany

– where Walter helped out from a young age.

At 14, he left school and started his first apprenticeship on a biodynamic farm; Talhof.

He worked on a range of farms in Germany, both biodynamic and conventional, and also worked on a farm in Sweden. He obtained a higher national diploma in agricultural science. Walter also worked for three years as a geologist, and while he maintained a lifelong interest and deep knowledge of soils and rocks, his passion for farming led him to return to the profession.

In 1968 he visited his sister in England and on the way back stopped by Millfield Farm in East Grinstead, Sussex, and was promptly offered a job there. He remained in England for the rest of his life.

He met his wife Elli at Millfield, and in 1969 they married and moved to Tablehurst Farm in Forest Row, which was part of Emerson College.

Their only daughter Christiane was also born in 1969. Walter was the pioneering farmer at Tablehurst, one of the first biodynamic farms in the country. Walter not only developed the farm, but also worked with many apprentices and taught courses and practical sessions for the agriculture course students at Emerson College.

In 1991 Walter’s wife Elli died, and in 1995, suffering from a bad back, he left Tablehurst. In 1995 he married Nadya, and in 1996 he began to work as an inspector for Demeter UK, travelling all over the country to certify farms, gardens and businesses and also to other countries for Demeter International – for example to India to certify biodynamic tea.

He continued the inspection work until his retirement in 2012.

He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Biodynamic Association of the UK in 2012.

He is remembered for his deep knowledge, practical mindset and dedication to his profession ano for his care, patience and good humour. His wide interests included beekeeping, history, geography. religion, literature and art, and he loved to travel and explore. He travelled to Africa, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, and all over Europe.

Walter died peacefully in his sleep on 27 November 2021 after a long illness.