Workshop Session F

Who will renew agriculture in North America in the future? Historically, we looked to the children of family farmers to become our future farmers. Today, Latinos make up a large and growing percentage of the people who do the vast majority of the day-to-day work on US farms. Across the US, among farmworkers for all crops, Latinos comprise more than 80% of the total. More than 75% are originally from Mexico, with an average of ten years in the US. In spite of this growing and increasingly stable population of farmworkers, only 3% of farm owners in the US are Latino.

As we as humans only exist within the larger frame of other people, animals, plants, rocks, and minerals, so does a vineyard exist only within the scope of a multitude of interacting beings, substances, and processes. It is this similarity of interactions within a greater context that points to the framework of considering a vineyard — or farm — as a "self-contained organism," which is a fundamental starting point within the biodynamic practice.

This workshop will provide an introduction to basic astronomy. Explore the history and context of biodynamic planting calendars and hear a practical explanation of how to work with the charts in the Stella Natura calendar. No previous knowledge of the subject needed.

We are blessed to have several longstanding biodynamic pioneers here in the Pacific Northwest, including Henning Sehmsdorf of Washington and Ferdinand Vondruska of British Columbia. Each of these pioneers has a rich and unique story and much experience to share. What have they learned over many decades of biodynamic practice, and how do they see biodynamics moving forward into the future? Join us to hear their stories and wisdom and engage in a rich and interactive conversation, moderated by a recent graduate of the Biodynamic Association's farmer training program, Brent Wasser.

Rudolf Steiner intended to inaugurate a rational and scientific, as well as spiritual, method of agriculture. In the first four lectures of his Agriculture Course, he outlined the spiritual-scientific foundations for the biodynamic preparations at the heart of this new method of agriculture. Unless these foundations are understood, the preparations will remain a riddle. We will review these initial lectures with their many difficult-to-understand details and uncover the systematic principles contained in Steiner's highly condensed indications.

Indigenous Traditional Knowledge-based practices for land, water, and traditional foods are critical to the revitalization of food sovereignty for Indigenous communities and are central to healing from the long-term effects of historical trauma. We recognize the cultural significance and value of connection with the land to heal and build community health and resilience: First Foods and Plant Medicines are essential to restore and reclaim physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Take an in-depth look at the herb industry and what is needed to know to grow herbs on a production scale in a sustainable way. We are currently faced with a lack of domestic herb production and issues of agricultural sustainability. The natural products industry is helping to reshape the national economy. In order to meet new government food safety laws, and increasing demands from informed consumers, millions of workers need to be retrained and many individuals inspired to become trained medicinal herb farmers.

Gain shared understanding of what farming with empathy means. Understand how to cultivate an empathic environment in a variety of settings. Learn how empathy can be used as a tool to create connections with the natural world. Explore viewing plants and animals through the lens of their needs. Jean-Paul Courtens will provide concrete examples of how to practice this and will illustrate how it can impact the farm.

Adriano Zago will share his experiences about the results that the biodynamic preparations can give to soil, plants, and human beings when they are properly used. As an agronomist, enologist, consultant, and professor of biodinamic agricolture, he considers himself lucky to visit and works with hundreds of companies, in several countries in the world. He has noticed that there is one common denominator to all the companies that correctly apply the biondinamic method — and that is change.

This ceremony will be an opportunity for us to collectively recognize our role as healers of the Earth and set our prayerful intention for her renewal. The ceremony will be a variation of one that I have been leading for many years throughout the US and Canada, primarily with farmers and others who work with the land.