Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Briggs
rebecca@biodynamics.com
(262) 649-9212 ext 3
Biodynamic Association hosts 2016 North American Biodynamic Conference
Tierra Viva: Farming the Living Earth
November 16-20, Santa Fe, N.M.
Santa Fe, N.M. (June 27, 2016) - Hundreds of farmers, gardeners, educators, activists, and stewards of the earth from across the continent and beyond will gather November 16-20 in Santa Fe for the Biodynamic Association’s 2016 North American Biodynamic Conference. This year’s theme, Tierra Viva: Farming the Living Earth, illustrates how a living approach to agriculture allows humanity to collaborate with the planet to create healthy, living, vibrant landscapes and nourishing food. The conference is grounded both in the local culture of New Mexico and in the global culture of biodynamics, which has been practiced around the world for nearly a century.
Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. First developed in the early 1920s by Austrian writer, educator, and social activist Rudolf Steiner, the biodynamic movement has grown to encompass thousands of successful gardens, farms, vineyards, and agricultural operations of all kinds and sizes, on all continents, and in a wide variety of ecological and economic settings.
The Biodynamic Conference is held in a different region of North America every two years and offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into biodynamic and regenerative agriculture. Ten inspiring keynote speakers from within and beyond the biodynamic community will share their groundbreaking work from all over the globe. More than 50 workshops will explore topics like Biodynamic Permaculture, Collaborative Farming, Holistic Landscape Ecology, The Spirit of Healing Plants, and Water Resilience on the Farm. The conference programming also features a field day at two local farms; hands-on learning opportunities; a celebratory food, wine, and cider tasting; film screenings; a seed exchange; mixers and meetups; exhibits; artistic performances; festive music and dancing; and local, Biodynamic®, and organic foods.
Newcomers to biodynamics will find plenty of sessions to learn the fundamentals of biodynamic farming and gardening, and there will be many opportunities to learn about other regenerative approaches including permaculture, traditional Native American and Aztec farming, holistic management, and more. Many workshops will also address the community, economic and social justice aspects of growing a healthy food system. Families and children are welcome: there is a full schedule of workshops for children ages five to fifteen, including nature awareness, music, and art.
The Biodynamic Conference features a three dynamic keynote sessions that explore different aspects of the “Tierra Viva” theme. On Friday, the diverse panelists for Regenerating Earth and Community will tell stories of sustainable development, biodynamic and regenerative farming, gardening, and ranching, and community engagement from New Mexico, New York, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and across Latin America: Helmy Abouleish of SEKEM, organic and Biodynamic inspector Osiris Abrego Plata, Larry Littlebird of Hamaatsa and Tano Farm, Restoration Agriculture author Mark Shepard, Karen Washington of Rise and Root Farm, and Courtney White of A West That Works. On Saturday, biodynamic farmers , Sally Fox of Viriditas Farm and Vreseis, Chris Tebbut of Filigreen Farm, and Hugh Williams of Threshold Farm will share how they build water resilience and grow fruit and fiber within diversified, living farm organisms. And to close the conference on Sunday, Dennis Klocek, founder of the Coros Institute and author of Climate: Soul of the Earth, will present on Living Earth, Living Climate.
The Biodynamic Association (BDA) awakens and enlivens co-creative relationships between humans and the earth, transforming the practice and culture of agriculture to renew the vitality of the earth, the integrity of our food, and the health and wholeness of our communities. Founded in 1938, the BDA today serves thousands of farms, gardens, vineyards, and agricultural operations striving to create diverse, balanced farm and garden ecosystems to generate health and fertility.
Join us at the Biodynamic Conference this November at the Santa Fe Convention Center on 201 W. Marcy St. in Santa Fe. Registration begins June 15, 2016. For more information and conference updates, visit www.biodynamics.com/conference or call (262) 649-9212 ext 2.