Workshop

October 10, all day: BD Preparation Making Autumn Work Day, Chrysalis Farm, WI

We will discuss and make the yarrow and valerian biodynamic preparations. The other compost preparations that were buried in the October class will be unearthed, and the subject of preparation storage will be covered. We will make and show the use of the biodynamic insect pepper, and time will be given for project presentations for those on the certificate track. The subjects of elemental beings and the biodynamic cycle of the year will round out the day. Megan Durney will cover the role of the honeybee in the farm organism and the household of nature, and lead a visit to our apiary.

The biodynamic horn silica preparation influences color, flavor, nutritional, and keeping quality of produce and forage. Mac Mead leads the class in making and using this preparation. We will also dig up the horn manure preparation that was buried in the September class and make the biodynamic nettle preparation. Biodynamic tree paste will also be made and applied to our fruit trees.

Using barrel compost, a biodynamic compound preparation, is an efficient way to boost soil fertility. Mac Mead leads the class through every step of making this valuable substance, and how to use it. Mac also covers weed, pest, and fungus control, using biodynamic preparations and peppers. Seeding methods and supportive cultural practices in the greenhouse will be covered as well as detailed planning of the gardening year.

In the morning Craig Holdrege explores how to work with the living dynamic qualities of plants and animals to better understand the world around us. In the afternoon, Sherry Wildfeuer, the founder of the Stella Natura planting calendar, explains how the calendar is created, what it tells us, and how we can use it to learn to work with nature’s rhythms and forces.

Hugh Williams and Hanna Bail, owners and operators of Threshold Farm, will share their perspective on unfolding the living being of their particular farm individuality. Also covered: the science and art of pruning fruit trees, including a few hours of hands-on learning, pruning our own orchard under Hugh and Hanna’s expert guidance.

The ideal biodynamic farm is a self contained individuality in which the animals play a major role. Mac Mead and Megan Durney share about the essential nature of the animal and Kim Vaughan covers the basics of biodynamic dairy herd management, including the life rhythms of a dairy cow and the role healthy soil plays in animal and pasture health. The day includes a visit to our herd, cow barn, and dairy, the only one in Rockland County. 

On a biodynamic farm we strive to create from the farm what the farm needs to thrive into the future. Building soil through cover-cropping, making and applying your own compost, and saving your own seeds supports a developing farm individually. In the classroom, Mac Mead explores the relationship of soil science and spiritual science. In the garden, we handle composts of different materials and maturities, build compost piles, make potting soil mix, and treat compost piles with the biodynamic preparations.

The biodynamic preparations harness life-regulating processes and are subtle catalysts to help create conditions for healthy growth. Mac Mead and Megan Durney lead us in making several of the biodynamic compost preparations and discuss their healing effects on soil and plants.

Mac Mead introduces biodynamics in the context of the spiritual-scientific understanding of the human being and earth evolution. In the garden we will do hands-on work with making and applying the biodynamic horn manure preparation, transplanting, forming raised beds, and cover cropping.