Understanding the Spiritual Heart of Biodynamics

This workshop will provide people who are early on in their exploration of biodynamics with a clear and lingo-free understanding of the spiritual-scientific background to biodynamics and how these insights inform biodynamic principles and practices. Though biodynamics can be successfully practiced by anyone, with or without this knowledge, this background is necessary to understand why biodynamics works and to distinguish it from a religious belief system.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Grand Ballroom West

Permaculture and Biodynamics

This workshop will explore the relationship between biodynamics and permaculture and what each of these concepts offer. We will look at how these concepts are different and how they are similar. What can they learn from each other? We will look at how the realms of biodynamics (etheric, astral, and spiritual) relate to the concepts of zones in permaculture and how they intersect. We will also discuss systems theory and how it informs and inspires both permaculture and biodynamics. This will not be a “how to” workshop.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Multnomah

Creating a Biodynamic Garden Ecosystem

This workshop will discuss how to emulate nature to develop an intimate relationship with a piece of land. This is done by evaluating amd monitoring all components of the given ecosystem. The idea is to enhance the symbiotic relationship amongst the various species. Finding one's place in the ecosystem allows coexistence and adapatability with the gardener or farmer. In other words, the garden makes the gardener.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Clark

The Evolution of Natural Wine: From the Ancient Wine of the Ancestors to the Contemporary Concept of Natural and Biodynamic Wine

.Take a fascinating journey following the evolution of wine through its millennium's long history — from its cradle, the Caucasus region where humanity first domesticated the vine about 8000 years ago, to the modern concept of natural and biodynamic wine.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Clark

Rigor and Restlessness: Whither Biodynamic Practice?

Are we called to move beyond our current understanding of the biodynamic paradigm? Almost 100 years after the Agricultural Lectures, many of us are asking whether we should approach biodynamics differently. Should the practices themselves change? If so, how? If the practices change, how can we be sure they are still faithful to Steiner's vision? What is the essence of the biodynamic paradigm anyway? Does Steiner’s vision even matter, or are we called to act in new ways? There are many indications that humankind is on the doorstep of a profound shift in consciousness.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Lovejoy

Combating Climate Change with Biodynamics

Biodynamics is on the forefront of carbon sequestration and helping to regenerate the Earth. Learn about what you can do on even the smallest of plots to combat the effects on huge stretches of land desecrated by the conventional agriculture of violence. We will explore humus-building, compost, mycorrhizal fungi, livestock rotation, and applied biodynamics.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Clackamas

Biodynamic Composting: Spreading Nature's Network

Six of the preparations that we make and use as biodynamic farmers and gardeners are for the compost heap! The world needs more biodynamic compost. An introductory look at how we produce biodynamic compost on a large scale and how the compost creates a community of people working towards biodynamic farming principles. A detailed outline of how to produce high-quality biodynamic compost on a large scale will be presented. Then we will explore the wonders of compost, which not only works its wonders in the gardens and farms of the community, but also creates social and economic networks.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Saturday
Location: 
Grand Ballroom West

The Seven Life Processes and the Farm as Living Organism

In this workshop, we will explore the Seven Life Process identified by Rudolf Steiner­ — breathing, warming, nourishing, secreting, maintaining, growing, and reproducing — and how they can be a foundation for the understanding of our farms, not only as living organisms, but also as farm individualities. We will also inquire how, by supporting and understanding them, our farms can become more resilient, healthy, and creative.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Friday
Location: 
Lovejoy

Rudolf Steiner and Social Justice

Rudolf Steiner was at the cutting edge of social justice issues of his day, including sexism, racism, and poverty. In his book, The Philosophy of Freedom, he asks the question: since each human being is born into a particular gender, family, culture, and race, each of which has shared characteristics of others within the respective group, is it possible for an individual to truly be free?

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Friday
Location: 
Overton

Marketing Your Biodynamic Venture

Food. Farm. Skin Care. Remedy. Restaurant. Beverage. Wine. This is a hands-on workshop to help you market whatever it is you want to create and sell that comes from Biodynamic farming/gardening practices. This is not a workshop in how to lecture about biodynamics or what it means. This is about how to communicate the essence of what you are making or providing. This workshop will help you fashion your brand story that resonates with people who need your product or service. Come prepared to do the hard work and not rely solely on the Demeter certification.

Event Type: 
workshop
Date: 
Friday
Location: 
Weyerhaeuser