Annual Report 1952

BIO-DYNAMIC AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDED ON THE WORK OF RUDOLF STEINER

Annual Report 1952.

Dear Members,

The chief event of this year has been the Anthroposophical Conference “The Awakening of the Twentieth Century” at which we took an active part. This was held at Bedford College in London where a fine room ums put at our disposal in which we tried to give a picture of our work. A few Members had sent soil samplesshowing how compost and the preparations transform soil in the course of a few years. The Preparations were most beautifully exhibited with the growing plants, the rock crystal and the cow homs, so arranged as to give a real im pression of what our Preparations are, On the Farming Table there were photographs and plans of three farms showing their rotations and general make up, and these were backed by sheaves of corn just cut at the commencement of harvest. The Herb Table not only showed the great variety of herbs which are used in the kitchen and for medicinal purposes but also made a very lovely exhibit of the qualities and virtues of the plant world. In their midst was a very beautiful comb of honey and a cake of beeswax. Ir Mood brought some very interesting pictures and working diagrams of the movement of millers’ stones, besides other exhibits associated with milling. There were to book tables, the one shoving some thing of the wealth of publications which there have been in this and other countries, and the second table for those books and pamphlets which we have for sale. The room was decorated with many flowers and hanging on the walls one or two examples of Miss Whicher’s fine and delicate plant pictures, a very remarkable coloured photograph of the movement of the sun in the Arctic Circle on midsummer’s day, and some astronomical charts. These latter, although in no way spectacular, led to some of the most fruitful discussions.

Miss Thornton had undertaken the arrangement of the room and to her our thanks are chiefly due. A dozen or so Members had offered their cooperation and help. On the morning in which we all arrived with our parcels and plants I think not one of us imagined how satisfactory and complete our exhibition would be particularly for the purpose for which it was designed: to stimulate conversation. A few of our Members undertook to man the room during all the hours it! was open, and I would like to pay my tribute, not being able myself to be there all the time, to those who saw it through to the end.

We had three sessions in the small lecture hall, devoted to agricultural discussions. It was impossible of course to touch all aspects, but by means of a symposium on the first day, and short addresses by Mrs. Brocklebank, Dr Mier and Dr Lehrs, each followed by a lively discussion, at our other two sessions I think all the chief essentials were catered for. We had good attendance at every session.

B.D.A.A. – Annual Report 1952 – Page Two

I do not usually describe being the first time we have take many of you were not able to be pre what I consider to be a big step IOI me thods.
Ly describe events so fully in my Annual Report, but this
ve taken part in so big a conference and knowing that to be present I feel it right to tell you some thing of 8 step forward in our presentation of the bio-dynamic conference in August we did not hold our usual Summer
ouse. But we did hold our meeting following our Anast December at which the topic was “Our Preparations. ing for Members and Friends at Forest Row held during the experimental Circle. An account of this meeting was given in uuter of June. In September our Sale was held at Rudolf Steiner again proved an excellent coasion for Members to meet one an went on all day was felt to be a great advantage. The result Because of this conference in August we Meeting at Rudolf Steiner House. But nual General Meeting last December There was also a meeting for Member conference of the Experimental On the Secretary’s Letter of June. In House which once again proved an ex other, and that it went on all day was re, of the Sale and the primary cause for
u the primary cause for it will be found in the Treasurer’s Report.
Tge Experimental Circle Conference at Forest Row mentioned above had UWO sessions with the teachers of the Rudolf Steiner Schools who held a conference at the same time. The Annual October Conference was held at Clent, at which Dr Beheinze, the Secretary of the bio-dynamic work in Germany was our lecturer. fore long the substance of his lectures will be available in our Study Material series. We have had a number of visits from abroad. Mr Hugo Erbe stayed at Clent Cottage for four days in March. He farms in Southern Germany and some of our Members had exceedingly interesting talks with him. In August Mr Biermann brought Herr Runge and Dr Sigmund to Clent. Herr Runge is in charge of the forests at Hambor of which Mr John Davy wrote an article in our ‘Notes and Correspondence’. Dr Sigmund is also a forester and is in charge of a large state forest. They were both charmed with the English countryside and particularly our trees and hedges.

Tinder publications this year we have had one new issue of Study Material. Dr B. von Heynitz, The Bio-Dynamic Work in Saxony, 1930-1945. There have been
The Nature of Substances in Agriculture; Dr Mier, three re-issues: Dr Hauschka, The Nature of Substances in Adrian An Introduction to the Study of the Stars; the Instructions for Com v of the Stars: the Instructions for Compost Making and Preparations… It is gratifying that the se publications the Application of the Preparations… It is gratifying
and the old stencils being still good, Dr Mier was able to are in such demand, and the old stencils being still om with very little expense apart from the paper. Mrs Davy has issued re-issue them with very little expens

Notes and Correspondence’ and we feel now that it is a foumal two numbers of “Notes and Correspondenad
he Please send in any suggestions you may have. We very worthy of a better name. Please send in any sud
ambers will contribute to this paper and also try and find much hope that more Members will contribute
A new membenahin outside subscribers.
as been issued which will again be
hortly. The Leaflet for Enquirers has been revised and brought up to da te very shortly. The Leaflet for Tour
as been sent to every Member, and I would like to remind you reprinted. A copy has been sent to eve
por distribution at 1/- a dozen that they can have these for distribution at 1/
post free.
It is gratifvintions for Comme Dr Mier,
good, Dry se publicating and cancer and we feel or Mrs Davy b y to
of a better name. Please
We very
rtly. The Learnt has been ise and also tra
I do not want to leave this item book by two of our Members: it is the pl and olive Whicher. It is published by the Goethean Se closely related to the bio-dynamic work.
want to leave this item of publications without mentioning a
Sere. it is The Plant between Sun and Earth’ by George Adams is published by the Goethean Science Foundation and is

B.D.  Annual Report 1952 – P Three

Our coretary has had a busy your and much has gone on in the office. Apart from the routine work, the publishing of study Materials, sending out or Neoretary’s Letters and spending with mny visitors hebrated Dr von lloynit! little books, Comiled Endos for the now edition of Dr Wachsmuth
to und Month! Huth And Min) nind contributed one or two artiolas LOL JOU 13 rondHe and Mrs Mior have welcomed the loont Members of the Experimental LOle At Olent Dotto on overloorsions 1sotho Loonl branch of the S011 Asoolation. He has continued to attend the metings of the Goethenn Solongo Foundation,

Dr Mier Ven Lecture to the Birmingham Croup of the Anthroposophion1 Society in Grent Britain in Miroh, In June he visited Dr. Koenig’s Homes at Ringwood and give course of lectures there. In June and Cotober he lectured in Bristoland also in October von astronomical course at Attingham Park Adult Eduontion College (soe Secretary’s Letter No 8). In March, at the special request of Dr Wachsmuth, Dr Mer attended the Dornach Conference of Doctors, Scientists and Pamers. He also visited the nurseries and research station at Grieshem on his way there (se Notes and Correspondence No 6). In June he paid private visit to Humbom in Westphalia for the celebration of the 28th anniversnry of the dying of the Agriculture Course. He also accompanied. Mr Erbe on his Visit to On.mph:111. Several Journeys to London had to be undertaken in preparation of the August Conference. At Last Dr Mier has been prevailed upon to take a holiday which will be early in the new year. I hope he will enjoy it and that it will do him a lot of good.
I think on the whole it has been a satisfactory year. Our membership has increased as you will see from the Treasurer’s Report. Once again I wish to thank those few Members who give so generously of their time and energy in working for our Association and without whose work we could not go on.
As for our plans for the coming year, they will finally be decided upon at the Council Meeting following the Annual General Meeting. But of one event I do wish to write. We are trying to arrange at the end of June or the beginning of July a journey of about 8 days to farms and gardens in Holland and Germany to see how they carry out these methods. It is many years now since Dr Mier took a party to Holland and I think it could be of the greatest stimulus and help if a number of ug could make such a journey, thore being a great deal more bio-dynamic work to be seen in Germany and Holland than here. I very much that as many of you as possible who are practising farmers and gardeners will avail themselves of this opportunity.

Yours very sincerely

14th November 1952.
David S. Clement
Chairmn.