RETHINKING AGRICULTURE SUMMER 2015 NEWSLETTER

Available online at

www.biodynamics.com/2015-dornach conference

“Could we say that by recognising and taking an inherent interest in the animals we are providing them with a new sense of well being, or perhaps even something like an identity? Can we open ourselves to the animals, not just on our farms, but our inner selves too, can we acknowledge, see, speak with and love them?”

— Joan Sleigh, “Giving Animals a Name”

ACCOMPANYING ANIMALS WITH DIGNITY INTO THE FUTURE

Do the animals need us in the same way as we need them?Why does the cow not have incisors? Why should a wild animal want to be tamed by a human being?

For those of you who loved the theme of our spring issue of Biodynamics on “Who Are the Animals?”, we are pleased to share with you the English-language report of the International Biodynamic Agriculture Conference held February 4-7 in Dornach, Switzerland. This provocative, ground-breaking publication addresses many of the deep questions our society is currently grappling with concerning animal rights, animal welfare, and animal domestication. We encourage you to take some time to explore its rich contents, which include:

• “Giving Animals a Name,” by Joan Sleigh• “Please Tame Me,” by Jean-Michel Florin• “Gaining Access to Animal Nature,” by Martin von Mackensen• “The Relationship Between Man and Animal,” by Ueli Hurter• “Partnership and Service: Ecological, Social and Spiritual Perspectives on the Human Animal Relationship”• “Experiences with Animals: Twelve Sketches from the Work of Conference Participants”

To experience more of the good work of our close friends and partners at the Goethea-num in Switzerland, you might also want to consider attending their next conference on the theme of “The Earth: A Global Garden?”, which will take place February 3-6, 2016 in Dornach.

Photos courtesy of Paula Gaska

Colorado Workshops

Biodynamic Preparat ion Making In tensiveThursday-Saturday, S ep t . 24-26 , wi t h L l oyd Ne l s on and Brook L eVan at Sus ta inabl e S e t t in g s in Carbonda l e

Biodynamic Pr inciples for Regenerat ive Agricul tureFr iday-Sunday, Oc t . 9-11 , wi t h Be t h and Nathan Corymb, JonRay Gardner, Cameron Gen t e r, L l oyd Ne l s on , and Denn i s S t en s on at Sh in in g Mounta in

Waldor f S ch o o l in Bou ld e r

Build your understanding of biodynamic principles and prac-tices through intensive workshops. The full series was designed to fulfill the classroom study requirement for the BDA’s North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program (NABDAP), but workshops may also be taken individually. The series is supported by the Colorado Farm Development Initiative. www.biodynamics.com/nabdap-colorado-workshops

Soi l Not Oi l ConferenceFr iday-Saturday, S ep t . 4-5 , R i chmond , CA

Inspired by Dr. Vandana Shiva’s book, Soil Not Oil: Environ-mental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis, this event will host more than 60 speakers – from farmers, activists, and commu-nity organizers to scientists and policy makers – to share their knowledge and present alternatives to address climate chaos from a soil-based approach, including “Biodynamic Agricul-ture and Biodynamic Community” with BDA Co-Director Thea Maria Carlson. soilnotoilcoalition.org

Southeast Regional Biodynamic Celebrat ionFr iday-Sunday, Oc t . 2-4 , Long Hungry Cre ek Farm ,

Red Bo i l in g Spr in g , TN

This year marks the 20th annual Biodynamic Cel-ebration held at the farm of Jeff Poppen (aka “the Barefoot Farmer”). The event will include a pre-sentation by Thea Maria Carlson on “Farms and Organizations as Living Organisms.” www.biodynamics.com/2015-biodynamic-celebration

Nat ional Heir loom ExpoTuesday-Thursday, S ep t . 8-10 , San ta Ro sa , CA

Demeter USA will once again host the Demeter Biodynamic Garden and Lounge. This large and inviting space will offer demonstration gardens, hourly presentations, and chances to talk and meet with members of the biodynamic community. Thea Maria Carlson will present on “Finding Your Next Steps with Biodynamics” and co-host several other workshops. www.biodynamics.com/2015-heirloom-expo

Natural Science Sect ion ConferenceWedne sday-Sunday, Nov. 18-22 , Ch i ca go , IL

This year’s Annual Conference will focus on the theme of “The Picture Forming Methods and Their Use in the Assessment of ‘Quality’ in Soils, Food, and Water.” This meeting, co-sponsored by the Biodynamic Association, is open to anyone. Special guests include Maria Olga Kokornaczyk, who has been working for Demeter in Italy assessing qualities of food with the Droplet Evaporation Method, and Bruno Follador of The Nature Institute, who runs the Living Soils program and works with Ehrenfried Pfeiffer’s chromatography methods.www.naturalsciencesection.org

Nat ional Bioneers ConferenceFr iday-Sunday, Oc t . 16-18 , San Rafa e l , CA

Stop by the Biodynamic Association’s table at the 25th annual Bioneers Conference, which connects thousands of people with practical, visionary solutions for pressing environmental and social challenges. conference.bioneers.org

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS The Biodynamic Association will be participating in a number of events across the U.S. over the next half year through co-sponsorships, presentations, and exhibits. We hope you will have the opportunity to check out one of these — and of course to stop by and say hi!

These are just some of the events happening across North America, however. Since hands-on training is one of the best ways to learn more about biodynamics, we also encourage you to consider one or more of the many educational and networking opportunities listed on our online calendar at www.biodynamics.com/calendar.

RESEARCH UPDATEQual i ty Tes t ing Network Pi lo t Phase

In 2014, the Biodynamic Association partnered with a number of collaborators to pilot a project we call the Quality Testing Net-work (QTN). As outlined in the draft concept paper “Healthy Farms, Healthy Soils, Healthy Food: Establishing a Food Quality Research Network in North America,” the QTN was envisioned as a network of cooperating laboratories and researchers, each bringing a unique but complementary perspective to the question of food and soil quality.

A core project team was established in May 2014, building on connections made through a series of related meetings at the Omega Institute. The team included researchers and representatives from the Bionutrient Food Association, Cornell Coopera-tive Extension, Cornell University, the Mandaamin Institute, and the Biodynamic Association. Guidance was also sought from a larger group of advisors and cooperating researchers. Goals of the pilot year included identifying suitable methods and labora-tories for testing soil, crop health, and quality and beginning to correlate results from the different methods.

In spring 2014, two varieties of carrots and three varieties of corn were planted on twelve cooperating farms in six states throughout the northeastern and midwestern United States. The farms represented a variety of management systems, including conventional, organic, biodynamic, and mineral balance/ecological. Growers cared for the crops using their normal practices and allowed QTN team members to take samples of soils and final crops for quality testing.

Upon harvest in fall 2014, corn and carrot samples were sent to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for a range of spectroscopic and other tests, as well as to the Mandaamin Institute to assess keeping quality. Soil samples were sent to Woods End Laboratories and Logan Labs. Due to funding limitations, it was not possible to send samples for the full range of quality testing methods and labs originally identified by the project team. We are currently in the process of gathering, reviewing, and comparing the results and determining the next steps for the project.

The Biodynamic Association extends heartfelt thanks to the cooperating farmers, QTN project team, and others who generously contributed their knowledge and time throughout the pilot year.

Visit www.biodynamics.com/biodynamic-research to read the concept paper and find out more about the BDA’s Biodynamic Research Development Program.

SteinerBooks Biodynamic Catalogfeaturing books devoted to health and growing biodynamic food

steiner.presswarehouse.com

Mandaamin Ins t i tu te F ie ld Day: Breeding Corn for Organic FarmersFr iday, S ep t . 18 , Ea s t Troy/Elkhor n , WI

The Mandaamin Institute, a non-profit organization formed by Dr. Walter Goldstein, focuses on developing more nutritious corn and healthier ways of farming, broadening and deepening Dr. Goldstein’s 25 years of work. The Institute is breeding corn that 1) has high nutritional value and taste, 2) does not allow itself to be pollinated by GMO corn, 3) is nitrogen efficient, and 4) provides good yields and dry-down.

Stops will include the Rohrer farm to view test plots and cover crop plantings, the Goldsteins’ organic farm to view first yield trials of N efficient hybrids, and the Zinniker farm to discuss relationships between farm management, yield trials, soil and grain quality, and weed control. Co-sponsored by the Biodynamic Association.www.biodynamics.com/mandaamin-field-day

BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION1661 N. WATER STREET, SUITE 307MILWAUKEE, WI 53202info@biodynamics.com | www.biodynamics.com

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Events & Conferences Qual i ty Tes t ing Network Pi lo t Phase

Accompanying Animals wi th Digni ty in to the Future

ONLINE BIODYNAMIC COURSEThe Indiv idual i ty of the FarmThis fa l l , we wi l l launch an 7-month onl ine course led by Cor y Eichman, which he has of-fered several t imes at Saugeen River CSA in Ontario. Origi-nal ly designed to fu l f i l l par t of the c lassroom program for the Nor th American Biodynamic Apprent iceship Program (NABDAP), the onl ine course wi l l be open to anyone wi th some experience in farming or gardening. The course wi l l explore the central idea of the farm indiv idual i ty. Sign up to receive informat ion on course dates, t imes, and other informat ion at www.biodynamics.com/webinars .