Agriculture Conference 2018 will take place from the 7th to 10th of February at the Goetheanum in Dornach.

The biodynamic preparations bring vitality to the earth, its fruits, the farms and their communities. They inspire our actions and bring concrete benefits to nature as a whole. They also present us with big questions. At the conference insights will be shared from all over the world and in order to inspire and encourage, there will be an intensive exchange of experiences. Those invited include farmers, gardeners, wine growers, orchardists, herb growers, advisors, researchers, students and apprentices, food processors, traders, cooks, nature educators and also consumers and friends of the biodynamic impulse. The plenary sessions will explore the preparations in all their breadth and depth, in the parallel themed sessions specialists will be able to share experiences and deepen their work while in the workshops intensive personal dialogue will be encouraged. To complete the programme there will be music, artistic courses, guided tours of the Goetheanum and an exhibition. 

The conference includes: Themed sessions on biodynamic preparations for viticulture, food, tropical agriculture, preparations in daily life, soil fertility, medicinal plants and herbs, plus 23 workshops, 14 artistic courses and 15 guided tours. All are welcome.

Click HERE for the Programme and HERE to register.

biodynamic wildfire relief fund

credit: The Biodynamic Association

Following the devastation caused by the spread of massive wildfires in California over the past week it has become apparent that many of those within the biodynamic community have been directly affected. Among these is Frey Vineyards, a pioneer in Biodynamic® wine and dedicated supporter of the BDA. The vineyard has experienced significant losses due to the fires, as have many other farms and vineyards. Many more have been evacuated from their homes and are waiting anxiously as the fires continue to spread. In response the Biodynamic Association is considering setting up a recovery fund to enable donations to assist biodynamic farmers experiencing losses of animals, crops, homes, and infrastructure in the region. If you or someone you know in the biodynamic community is in need of financial support, please contact Karisa Centanni at karisa@biodynamics.com to help them better understand the needs of the biodynamic community and how they can mobilize support.

biodynamics in idaho on greenhorns radio this week

In case you missed it, this week on Greenhorns Radio, we spoke to Miles Teitge, of Syringa Mountain School in Idaho about Waldorf Education, biodymanic farming, and why young farmers should think about moving to Idaho. Enjoy a bonus interlude of fun ambient noise from 8:08 to 12:46.

Miles has interned at the Herb Pharm in Williams, OR, and continued his education at Seed School (with local legend Bill McDorman), and the Fungi Perfecti mushroom cultivation course (with visionary Paul Stamets). He joined the Mountain School shortly after it opened, inspired to learn and teach principles of permaculture and the gardening arts; be it cultivating vegetables, gathering medicinal herbs, grafting trees, laying out hugelkultur beds, bee-tending, greenhouse design, poultry care, humane composting, worm wrangling or the like, there is a lifetime of learning on this path!

Listen to the full episode here: http://heritageradionetwork.org/…/miles-teitge-syringa-mou…/

ann arbor: historic biodynamic farm seeks head farmer(s)

Photo Credit: The Community Farm of Ann Arbor

Attention all experienced biodynamic farmers! The Community Farm of Ann Arbor is seeking a head farmer or head farmers. Located in the greater Ann Arbor area, there are almost too many pros to list for this beautiful historic farm, but we’ll give it a shot:

• established in 1988, it was the first CSA in Michigan
• an opportunity to learn from retiring farmers Anne and Paul, who have 26 years of experience
• they have a cow, 4 goats, bees and “a flock of chickens named Jessica”
• they use a solar tractor!
• the farm has a non-exempt educational arm, which means farm tours and teaching opportunities
• serves a dedicated community of close to 80 families

Interested applicants (as an individual OR a team) should click HERE to learn more about the position and the farm. They’re looking to hire soon, pay is dependent on experience, and consider these two things while you’re applying:

The two most important aspects of the farm are that it is Biodynamic and that it is a CSA. Ideal candidates will have: a familiarity with Biodynamics and a willingness to undertake the spiritual work it requires, and a commitment to original CSA principals in operating through the development of consensus.

inspiring apprenticeship model on common hands farm philmont, ny

We share the following apprenticeship program as much for the potential apprentices as we do for all the farms out there who either run or would someday like to host apprenticeship programs. Common Hands Farm, a 150-acre biodynamic CSA farm in New York’s Hudson Valley, has a unique three-part internship broken up by Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. The uncompensated spring block leans heavily on classroom and practical instruction in biodynamic farming; the stipended summer block focuses on practical work experience on the farm; and the fall specialization program allows apprentices to take on responsibility and projects of their own direction around the farm with the potential to transition into paid staff.

Full program description is included below the break. Application information is available at the very bottom of the page.

dreamy dream job

For those of you whom have fantasized about growing on an organic biodynamic farm IN HAWAII, we feel like it is our solemn duty to inform you that Pu’u O Haku Ranch on Molokai is hiring for a ground manager position. See posting below:

Grounds Maintenance Specialist.
Primary Responsibilities: This position is typically responsible for performing a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following; manual weed removal, pruning, mowing, trimming, planting, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, landscape lighting, pool, waterscape and drainage maintenance and occasional seed collection and installation of mortarless loose rock paths and small wall units.

The Grounds Maintenance Specialist is also responsible for many different projects related to planning, planting and caring for grounds, orchards and gardens including;

raise the barn

another worthy kickstarter project, this one at the Pfeiffer Center.

Raise the Historic Red Barn!

We believe each plot of earth is distinct and special. We call it the farm individuality, and we’re teaching the next generation of farmers – and everyone who eats – how to respect and nourish their land, whether it’s an urban window box, a suburban backyard, or a working farm.

We teach children and adults the biodynamic methods that bring chemical-free fertility to our soil. You’ve heard of organic farming and permaculture principles, well, they can both trace their roots back to biodynamics.

Biodynamics works. It’s more than being sustainable. It’s about healing and thriving.

fall biodynamic workshop

Fall Intensive Workshop, Wednesday, October 31st through Sunday, November 4th in Woolwine, Virginia.

Harvesting of sheaths and the making of the Biodynamic preparations, including spray and compost preps and barrel compost.  Five days of hands-on workshops and lectures.
Guest Speaker – Brian Wickert, Viroqua, WI.

All meals included.  Some lodging is available. Camping in tents permitted.
A limited number of sliding scale/work-exchange places are available for beginning Biodynamic farmers and farm apprentices.

Call 276-930-2463 to make reservations.

Biodynamic Winter Intensive

Plants, Earth and Cosmos
A workshop for farmers, gardeners and others seeking a working relation to the land
February 14-19 and/or February 21-26

Led by The Nature Institute and the Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center in partnership with the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association

The Nature Institute and the Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center are offering two complementary weeks of instruction to those seeking a fuller understanding of biodynamic agriculture.

BDANC Summer Meeting

June 27-28, Golden Vineyards and Mendocino Organics are hosting the Biodynamic Association of Northern California (BDANC) Summer 2009 Meeting at beautiful Heart Arrow Ranch in Redwood Valley, CA (about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco).

The weekend will include a farm tour, a yarrow prep-making workshop, a group study on “Growing Community,” and yummy catering by Mimi Frey. Full agenda and info on meal reservations and accommodations are available here: http://mendoorganicscsa.wordpress.com/events/