Here in the Pacific Northwest, our hydrologic cycles have a dual nature of winter rainforest and summer desert. Forest management, suburbanization, and climate change have exacerbated this feast-or-famine dynamic with water availability. The Keyline water plan developed by P.A.
Philip Lyvers is working with esoteric science to create health in a large-scale hog herd and fight disease for which the swine industry only has one answer: vaccines. By working with esoteric/occult sciences and consciousness, he has been able to make changes and improvements in the herd — and has 18 years of extensive records to help him describe the changes he sees and why they occurred.
This workshop will describe and show the different key aspects considered in biodynamic production in Germany and development of the biodynamic approach in farms from Mexico and Guatemala. As key aspects for crop production are considered soil fertility and health, plant nutrition, biological control, irrigation systems, co-workers happiness, biodynamic greenhouse production, bio-preparations application, and effect on the whole system.
In 2016 biodynamic agriculture was introduced to the Kenyan smallholder tea and coffee farmers by the Organic Agriculture Center of Kenya (OACK), with support from Demeter International and the GLS Treuhand. The trainers have been Anne and Rolf Bucher from Germany. Farmers viewed biodynamic farming as rescuing them from the day-to-day challenges they face as a result of industrial farming, which has caused anxiety and uncertainty, leaving communities more vulnerable, as everything has become commercialized and inauthentic.
In the biodynamic community, the 2011 publication of Voodoo Vintners: Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers, was seen as a mixed blessing. On one hand, Katherine Cole's excellent writing captured fascinating and unique stories of a dozen Biodynamic practitioners and presented core principles and practices of biodynamics in an approachable way. On the other hand, the title served to underline and reemphasize prevalent perceptions of biodynamics as occult and unscientific. Seven years later, what has changed in the vineyard, the winery, and public perception?
"Protecting the source, inspiring the future" In this workshop, Michael will give an introduction to "Apis Arborea" and share innovative gestures within the biodynamic field of apiculture — among them the framework of an indigenous, arboreal apiculture and LocApiary, a vision of a local watershed apiary. Rewilding and the restoration of natural honeybee nest habitat are part of an effort to further develop a biodynamic paradigm of apiculture. In this context, we will also evaluate the international Demeter Standard for Beekeeping in a historic critical context.
Microbes are transforming the way we see nature and ourselves. Good health — for people and for plants — depends on Earth’s smallest creatures. In this workshop, co-author of the bestselling book The Hidden Half of Nature, Anne Biklé, will share results of new research into the microbiome and its potential to revolutionize agriculture and medicine, from garden to gut.
Soil Value Exchange is a social benefit corporation helping farmers and ranchers convert to regenerative practices on a massive scale. By 2030, we aim to convert 25 million acres of land across the US from conventional land management to practices that restore optimal soil health and biodiversity. One of our operating assumptions — based on our experiences working with many ranchers — is that there must be a financial incentive for landowners to move towards regenerative practices. But what if we’re wrong about that? What drives the next generation of farmer and rancher?
“As human beings, our task is to bring higher, spiritual realities into a relationship with the physical world. … And the heart organ is precisely what the higher I uses to make the sensory self its instrument so it can use it.” — Rudolf Steiner
In this workshop, Jean-Paul Courtens will cover all aspects of the biodynamic approach to growing vegetables, including planning, soil preparation, sowing, transplanting, companion planting, crop rotations, weeding, and harvest. As the founder of Roxbury Farm in Kinderhook, New York, a 375-acre farm and one of the largest community supported agriculture programs in the region, Jean-Paul has been growing vegetables for 30 years. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from this distinguished teacher and mentor and get your vegetable questions answered!
