 In July 1939, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, the author of the standard work on biodynamic agriculture ("Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening"), came to the UK at the invitation of Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne as a presenter at the Betteshanger Summer School and Conference on Biodynamic Farming at Northbourne's farm in Kent.One of the chief purposes of the conference was to bring together the proponents of various approaches to organic agriculture in order that they might cooperate within a larger movement.Howard attended the conference, where he met Pfeiffer.