Workshop

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.

Making The Biodynamic Preparations- Regional Biodynamic Group Gathering November 20, 21 and 22, 2026. Pu’u O Hoku Ranch, Molokai Hawaii

Attendees - Hawaiian Biodynamic, Regenerative and Organic farmers with a sincere interest in Biodynamic farming. Capacity 25

Cost- $440.00 Includes meals and lodging - Scholarship for farmers needing assistance available.

Registration link-

Registration Deadline October 7, 2026

Chesapeake BioDynamic Network

(CBDN)

Permaculture In Practice Weekend Intensive!