BIODYNAMIC PRIMER AND A ROUNDTABLE
Posted: 31 Aug 2013, 21:22
http://ediblesantafe.com/think/farm-to- ... oundtable/
by Joseph Mora on August 30, 2013 in Agritourism, Dionysian Writes, Edible Blogs, edible Gardening, Farm to Restaurant, Meet Your Farmers
“On the one hand, theology demands the blind subjection of thinking to the statements of the church; on the other, science demands blind subjection to the statements of sense observation. Here as there, independent thinking that penetrates into the depths counts as nothing. The science of experience forgets only one thing. Thousands and thousands of people have looked at a sense-perceptible fact and passed by it without noting anything striking about it. Then someone came along who looked at it and became aware of an important law about it. How? This can only stem from the fact that the discoverer knew how to look differently than his predecessors.”
- Rudolf Steiner in Goethean Science
“All wisdom is rooted in learning to call things by the right name. When things are properly identified, they fall into natural categories and understanding (and, consequentially, action) becomes orderly.”
- Confucius, Ta Hsueh or Great Learning
In late-nineteenth-century Austria and Germany, the man who might edit Goethe’s massive collection of scientific writings, could simultaneously establish his intellectual credentials and from that point forward, could never be dismissed as a non-entity. In 1883, at 22 years old, a precocious Rudolf Steiner was given this rather important and arduous task. Above and beyond the herculean effort behind editing Goethe, Steiner also put his analytic mind to use in his spiritual pursuits, creating Anthroposophy, to relate to the world outside of the scientific attitude of mind, as well as to be free to make individual judgments and decisions, apart from science. Rooted in the philosophies of Aristotle, Plato, and Thomas Aquinas and meant as a bridge across the chasm created in the Middle Ages between the sciences, the arts and the religious and spiritual impulses of humanity, Anthroposophy was created to nurture and respect the individual in society independent of their origins and views. Somewhere between Goethean Science and Anthroposophy, lies perhaps Steiner’s greatest legacy: Biodynamics.
What is Biodynamics? Well…there’s no concise answer. “Seeing the farm as a living organism,” is often mentioned, but obviously lacks the how, why and when of the thing. There are two distinct parts to Biodynamics. One is in composing (or purchasing) homeopathic preparations and applying them at specific points in time to the compost pile, and then crops, as indicated by astronomical observation and the calendar. The other part of Biodynamics deals with the unseen forces of the individuals carrying out the aforementioned acts and their intention in doing so. This isn’t oftentimes discussed, but it seems ironic that the invisible realm where spiritual intentions manifest are home to the same forces that make Biodynamics tick through farming. The following list from Paul Dolan Vineyards in Mendocino, Ca. comprises the Biodynamic preparations used in the compost pile and forms the basis of practical Biodynamic Farming:
What nowadays is referred to as Biodynamics began as a series of eight lectures delivered on June 7-16, 1924. They were delivered to 111 guests, comprised of: 81 males, 30 females. Fifty-five percent of the audience were German, twenty-seven percent Polish, with the rest a smattering of assorted Western European Countries. Thirty-eight marked they were Farmers in the register, with eight Priests in attendance, as well. Unfortunately, forty-four attendees failed to respond to the question on the registration form, so until more research can be done, we’ll have to speculate. The venue for the event was the well-appointed Estate of Count Carl von Keyserlingk in Koberwitz, Germany (then Poland). It’s appropriate the lectures were given at the Count’s Estate, as he was the third in a series of inquirers who’d come to Steiner regarding recent Farming problems, a series of encounters that invariably led to the creation of Biodynamics.
Biodynamic Prep # 500
The first were a group of farmers from Lucerne who were concerned about increasing degeneration in seed-strains and cultivated plants. Traditionally they could seed their own rye, wheat, oats and barley in the same field for up to thirty years. Recently, the number dwindled to nine, and then, suddenly, another sudden drop to four or five. The second group of inquirers came with questions regarding a recent rash of animal diseases. Specifically, foot-and-mouth disease and increased sterility. By the time von Keyserlingk came to Steiner regarding plant disease, Steiner realized he should address the issue, as the situation seemed grave. Already over-committed and exhausted from an endless lecture and touring schedule, he put it off for awhile, until von Keyserlingk dispatched his nephew to his doorstep to stay until reply were given. Steiner finally assented, and the date set. Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture was delivered in the last year of Steiner’s life. In its aftermath he told attendees and his close circle of followers the lectures “should not be spoken of outside this circle, but looked upon as the foundation for experiments and thus gradually brought into a form suitable for publication,” perhaps knowing the world was becoming a place where such ideas would be source for ridicule.
Biodynamics, as such, was born in 1938 when Steiner’s trusted confidante and long-time pupil, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer published Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening in English. This Summer was the eighty-ninth anniversary of Steiner’s lectures. Far from being a household word, Biodynamics has just recently gotten some wide-scale press, uncannily from the world of wine, where top-shelf European (and more recently California) winemakers have touted its beneficial aspects. This was my entry point into Biodynamics, being fortunate enough to have visited working Biodynamic vineyards in my time in Napa and Sonoma counties.
My recent re-location back to New Mexico had me concerned about experiencing a serious setback in my exposure to Biodynamics, however, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find diligent practitioners who are equally enthralled with the process. Previously in Dionysian Writes we’ve highlighted Melissa Bateman of Morningstar Farm in Arroyo Seco, just north of Taos. Melinda has practiced Biodynamics for over a decade and offers courses in Biodynamics and composting at Morningstar. All the way down in the “Breaking Bad” territory of Albuquerque Erda Farms and Learning Center uses some Biodynamic practices and offers education, as well as hands-on involvement for those interested.
Last year, we at Dionysian Writes put on a Biodynamic Roundtable in Berkeley, California to celebrate the eighty-eighth anniversary of the lectures, and to broaden awareness on the subject. We were blessed to have expert panelists and a cutting-edge Chef at our disposal, as well as a world-class sustainable site in which to host the event in the David Brower Center. To celebrate this year’s anniversary of Steiner’s lectures, we’d like to share our account of the experience. As a reminder to ourselves of our dedication to Biodynamics, to make the correlation between nutrition and health, and as an entry point to the wonderful world of Biodynamics to the uninformed.
“Search outside of you for what is within
And search within for what is outside.”
- Rudolf Steiner, Count Keyserlingk’s guest book.
by Joseph Mora on August 30, 2013 in Agritourism, Dionysian Writes, Edible Blogs, edible Gardening, Farm to Restaurant, Meet Your Farmers
“On the one hand, theology demands the blind subjection of thinking to the statements of the church; on the other, science demands blind subjection to the statements of sense observation. Here as there, independent thinking that penetrates into the depths counts as nothing. The science of experience forgets only one thing. Thousands and thousands of people have looked at a sense-perceptible fact and passed by it without noting anything striking about it. Then someone came along who looked at it and became aware of an important law about it. How? This can only stem from the fact that the discoverer knew how to look differently than his predecessors.”
- Rudolf Steiner in Goethean Science
“All wisdom is rooted in learning to call things by the right name. When things are properly identified, they fall into natural categories and understanding (and, consequentially, action) becomes orderly.”
- Confucius, Ta Hsueh or Great Learning
In late-nineteenth-century Austria and Germany, the man who might edit Goethe’s massive collection of scientific writings, could simultaneously establish his intellectual credentials and from that point forward, could never be dismissed as a non-entity. In 1883, at 22 years old, a precocious Rudolf Steiner was given this rather important and arduous task. Above and beyond the herculean effort behind editing Goethe, Steiner also put his analytic mind to use in his spiritual pursuits, creating Anthroposophy, to relate to the world outside of the scientific attitude of mind, as well as to be free to make individual judgments and decisions, apart from science. Rooted in the philosophies of Aristotle, Plato, and Thomas Aquinas and meant as a bridge across the chasm created in the Middle Ages between the sciences, the arts and the religious and spiritual impulses of humanity, Anthroposophy was created to nurture and respect the individual in society independent of their origins and views. Somewhere between Goethean Science and Anthroposophy, lies perhaps Steiner’s greatest legacy: Biodynamics.
What is Biodynamics? Well…there’s no concise answer. “Seeing the farm as a living organism,” is often mentioned, but obviously lacks the how, why and when of the thing. There are two distinct parts to Biodynamics. One is in composing (or purchasing) homeopathic preparations and applying them at specific points in time to the compost pile, and then crops, as indicated by astronomical observation and the calendar. The other part of Biodynamics deals with the unseen forces of the individuals carrying out the aforementioned acts and their intention in doing so. This isn’t oftentimes discussed, but it seems ironic that the invisible realm where spiritual intentions manifest are home to the same forces that make Biodynamics tick through farming. The following list from Paul Dolan Vineyards in Mendocino, Ca. comprises the Biodynamic preparations used in the compost pile and forms the basis of practical Biodynamic Farming:
What nowadays is referred to as Biodynamics began as a series of eight lectures delivered on June 7-16, 1924. They were delivered to 111 guests, comprised of: 81 males, 30 females. Fifty-five percent of the audience were German, twenty-seven percent Polish, with the rest a smattering of assorted Western European Countries. Thirty-eight marked they were Farmers in the register, with eight Priests in attendance, as well. Unfortunately, forty-four attendees failed to respond to the question on the registration form, so until more research can be done, we’ll have to speculate. The venue for the event was the well-appointed Estate of Count Carl von Keyserlingk in Koberwitz, Germany (then Poland). It’s appropriate the lectures were given at the Count’s Estate, as he was the third in a series of inquirers who’d come to Steiner regarding recent Farming problems, a series of encounters that invariably led to the creation of Biodynamics.
Biodynamic Prep # 500
The first were a group of farmers from Lucerne who were concerned about increasing degeneration in seed-strains and cultivated plants. Traditionally they could seed their own rye, wheat, oats and barley in the same field for up to thirty years. Recently, the number dwindled to nine, and then, suddenly, another sudden drop to four or five. The second group of inquirers came with questions regarding a recent rash of animal diseases. Specifically, foot-and-mouth disease and increased sterility. By the time von Keyserlingk came to Steiner regarding plant disease, Steiner realized he should address the issue, as the situation seemed grave. Already over-committed and exhausted from an endless lecture and touring schedule, he put it off for awhile, until von Keyserlingk dispatched his nephew to his doorstep to stay until reply were given. Steiner finally assented, and the date set. Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture was delivered in the last year of Steiner’s life. In its aftermath he told attendees and his close circle of followers the lectures “should not be spoken of outside this circle, but looked upon as the foundation for experiments and thus gradually brought into a form suitable for publication,” perhaps knowing the world was becoming a place where such ideas would be source for ridicule.
Biodynamics, as such, was born in 1938 when Steiner’s trusted confidante and long-time pupil, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer published Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening in English. This Summer was the eighty-ninth anniversary of Steiner’s lectures. Far from being a household word, Biodynamics has just recently gotten some wide-scale press, uncannily from the world of wine, where top-shelf European (and more recently California) winemakers have touted its beneficial aspects. This was my entry point into Biodynamics, being fortunate enough to have visited working Biodynamic vineyards in my time in Napa and Sonoma counties.
My recent re-location back to New Mexico had me concerned about experiencing a serious setback in my exposure to Biodynamics, however, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find diligent practitioners who are equally enthralled with the process. Previously in Dionysian Writes we’ve highlighted Melissa Bateman of Morningstar Farm in Arroyo Seco, just north of Taos. Melinda has practiced Biodynamics for over a decade and offers courses in Biodynamics and composting at Morningstar. All the way down in the “Breaking Bad” territory of Albuquerque Erda Farms and Learning Center uses some Biodynamic practices and offers education, as well as hands-on involvement for those interested.
Last year, we at Dionysian Writes put on a Biodynamic Roundtable in Berkeley, California to celebrate the eighty-eighth anniversary of the lectures, and to broaden awareness on the subject. We were blessed to have expert panelists and a cutting-edge Chef at our disposal, as well as a world-class sustainable site in which to host the event in the David Brower Center. To celebrate this year’s anniversary of Steiner’s lectures, we’d like to share our account of the experience. As a reminder to ourselves of our dedication to Biodynamics, to make the correlation between nutrition and health, and as an entry point to the wonderful world of Biodynamics to the uninformed.
“Search outside of you for what is within
And search within for what is outside.”
- Rudolf Steiner, Count Keyserlingk’s guest book.