star and furrow 116

Journal of the Biodynamic association n ISSUE NO: 116 n wINtEr 2012 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £4.50

sustainaBle Beekeeping

the future of agriculture conference

the hidden forces of equisetum arvense

terrestrial astronomy

2 Star & Furrow issue 116 Winter 2012

the Biodynamic association (Bda)

the Association exists in order to support, promote and develop the biodynamic approach to farming, gardening and forestry. this unique form of organic growing seeks to improve the nutritional value of food and the sustainability of land by nurturing the vitality of the soil through the practical application of a holistic and spiritual understanding of nature and the human being. Put simply, our aim is greater vitality for people and planet through more biodynamic acres, more biodynamic food and more understanding of biodynamics.

Membership is open to everyone. Our mem-bers are interested in working with, developing and learning about biodynamics. Subscrip-tion rates are £30 (or £15 for concessions). Membership income funds in part the work of the Association, so they are directly furthering the aims of the BDA; however there are also further benefits.

Members receive a quarterly newsletter, Star and Furrow twice a year, early booking on training courses and events days. they get in-volved in organising and supporting biodynamic initiatives through the local group network and there are conferences, the AGM and many other events that they can attend. Many are supported in their own biodynamic practical work through advice from the Association from whom they also source their biodynamic preparations and books.

Biodynamic certificationthe Association owns and administers the Demeter Certification Logo that is used by biodynamic producers in the UK to guarantee to consumers that internationally recognised biodynamic production standards are being fol-lowed. these standards cover both production and processing and apply in more than forty countries. they are equivalent to or higher than basic organic standards. the certification scheme is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and is recognised in the UK with the coding GB-OrG-06.

apprentice trainingthe Biodynamic Association offers a practical two year apprentice training in biodynamic agriculture and horticulture. this takes place on well established biodynamic holdings around the country and is open to everyone aged 21 and over. Apprentices usually live and work on the farm in exchange for board, lodging and training. their practical tuition is supported by weekly tutorials and a programme of seminars and block courses.

the objective of the course is to gain basic agricultural/horticultural skills, understand the principles and practice of biodynamic tech-niques and create a foundation for developing an independent understanding of the earth, life and human beings from a spiritual perspective. Successful graduates will receive a Crossfields Institute Diploma accredited by Edexcel.

star & furroWJournal of the Biodynamic AssociationPublished twice yearlyIssue Number 116 - Winter 2012ISSN 1472-4634

STAR & FURROW is the membership magazine of The Biodynamic Association. It is issued free to members.

Non-members can also purchase Star and Furrow. For two copies per annum the rates are:UK £11.00 including postageEurope (airmail) £13.00Rest of the World (airmail) £16.00

Editor: Richard Swann, Contact via the Biodynamic Association Office or E-mail: [email protected] & layout: Dave Thorp of ‘The Workshop’Printed on a 100% recycled FSC paper by Severnprint, Gloucester

Published by the Biodynamic Association© Biodynamic Association 2012Charity No: 269036/VAT No: 791 2859 91

The function of Star and Furrow is to encour-age the free exchange of ideas and experience among those who work with, or are interested in biodynamic farming, gardening and related subjects. Contributors subscribe to no dogma and are bound by no rules. Their contribu-tions are personal documents, not official utterances by the Association.

Final dates for contributions are 1st April for the summer issue and 1st October for the winterissue. Copy can either be submitted in a typed printed format or as an electronic text document by e-mail. Please send articles to the editor at the Biodynamic Association Office.

Biodynamic associationPatron: Patrick Holden CBEChief Executive: Timothy BrinkCouncil Chairman: Sebastian ParsonsCouncil Members: Elspeth Austin, Ian Bailey (Treasurer), Peter Brown, Charlotte von Bulow, Spencer Christy, Vivian Griffiths, Heidi Herrmann, John Lister, Chris Stockdale.Executive Team: Sebastian Parsons, Ian Bailey, Timothy Brink, Jessica Standing and Richard SwannAssociation Administrator: Jessica StandingTelephone: 01453 759501Email: [email protected]

certification committeeCommittee Chairman: Huw Shepherd Telephone: 0131 229 7803Administrator: Angela Wilson/Gabriel Kaye Telephone: 01453 766296Email: [email protected] Manager: Timothy Brink Telephone: 0131 478 1201 Email: [email protected]

Biodynamic agricultural collegethe Biodynamic Agricultural College at Emer-son Campus in Forest row is now part of the Biodynamic Association.. the College offers full time accredited two year courses in Biody-namic Agriculture and Horticulture.

seed development project the Association is working to develop a sustainable on-farm plant breeding programme, increase the availability of high quality seed varieties suited to organic growing conditions and encourage the establishment of a coopera-tive network of biodynamic seed producers. the breeding and development of appropriate site adapted varieties is of vital interest to bio-dynamic farmers and offers the only long term alternative to biotechnology. It also requires an ongoing research commitment that is entirely dependent on gifts and donations.

our roots in anthroposophyBiodynamics was first envisioned by rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) in a series of lectures given in 1924. Since then, biodynamics has continued to develop and the Association keeps abreast of developments in science, nutrition, education, health and social reform. It is linked to the Ag-ricultural Section of the School of Spiritual Sci-ence (Switzerland) and affiliated as a group of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain. It is also a full member of Demeter International, SUStAIN and IFOAM.

spiritual purposethe BDA makes the most of every penny; we are determined and focussed on achieving our purpose. Our resources are used effectively and efficiently and the co-workers in our organisa-tion are empowered to direct their free and active will to their task. we also notice the last line of the Foundation Stone Meditation by Steiner “with Single Purpose” and let it resound in our hearts and in our organisation.

fundingthe Association is a small organisation wholly dependent on subscriptions, donations and grants. there is a growing interest in biodynam-ics and to meet this welcome development additional funds are being sought. Becoming a member and encouraging others to join is an important way of supporting the work. Dona-tions over and above the recommended mem-bership subscription are also extremely helpful. Even the smallest contribution can make a real difference. For those considering making a will and possibly leaving something to support biodynamic development, a legacy leaflet is now available. Please contact the office for a copy.

For information on all aspects of the Association’s work contact:

Biodynamic association, Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester Street, Stroud, Glos, GL5 1QG

Telephone: +44 (0)1453 759501 Email: [email protected] Website: www.biodynamic.org.uk

Skep colony resident outside the Natural Beekeeping Trust’s Classroom in Ashurstwood.© Heidi Herrmann

mailto:[email protected]





http://www.biodynamic.org.uk

3Star & Furrow issue 116 Winter 2012

Journal of the Biodynamic association n ISSUE NO: 116 n wINtEr 2012 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £4.50

EditorialI always aim that each issue of Star and Furrow reflects the current moment that the Biodynamic Association finds itself in. Therefore certain key themes have consistently appeared over the past few issues. Oneoftheseisbees,whichisreflectedinthebeautifulimagewehaveonthefrontcoverofthisissue.Thereisalotofactivityinthisareaandthelinkwithbiodynamicsisespeciallycloseascouldbeseenattherecentbiodynamicconference,aswellasinthefilm‘QueenoftheSun’.IhopemanyreadershavetheopportunitytoseethisfilmintheNewYear.Pleaseencourageyourlocalcommunitytoshowit. Theconcernforourseedshasneverbeenoutofourmind.AttheconferenceTyllvanderVoortgaveanexcellentoverview,remindingusofthesituationthatfarmersandgrowersfindthemin.HealsomadeapleathatweintheUKconsiderastructureforbreedersandgrowerssimilartothatinGermany. TheBiodynamicLandTrustwaslaunchedattheconferencewithashareofferbeingmadeavailablefornewlandforTablehurstFarm.ThisvitalworkisprovingtobeacoreactivitywithintheBiodynamicAssociation,solookoutformorenewsofprojectsinfutureissuesofStarandFurrow.MeanwhileMartinLargehascontinuedtofeedourinterestthroughanarticleonLandTrustsinFrance. Anewemergentthemeisacreative/artisticone.Aspartofourconferencereportingwehaveincludedafullpageimagecreatedbytwowomenwhoattendedtheconference.Thisisanexcitingnewdeparturesolookoutformoreoftheirworknexttime. ManypeoplehavecometomeoverthepastyearstosayhowmuchtheyappreciatetheStarandFurrow.Thankyou.However,creditalsoneedstogototheotherswhohavemadeitpossible. JessicaStanding,ourfaithfulandglamorousadministrator,hasbeenofgreatsupportwithmakingsuggestionsastowhatmemberswouldappreciateandwhatis‘outtheremovingandshaking’. Forthepast5years,DaveThorphasmagicallyandpatientlyputtogetherthemagazinedesignfromtheheapoftextandpicturespresentedtohim. DavidPealingatSevernprinthasbeensupportiveandhelpfulsinceStarandFurrowcameoutinthisnewerformattwelveyearsago. Andofcoursecreditalsogoestoallofyouwhohavegivenyourtimetowritesothatothersmaybenefitfromyourthoughtsandexperiences.Longmayitcontinue!With that I wish you a Happy New Year!

Richard SwannEditor

contents page Biodynamic Association Chairman Sebastian Parsons 4 the Future of Agriculture Conference - a reflection by Wendy Cook 5Seeds of Sorrow - Seeds of Hope byTyll van der Voort 7 the Future of Agriculture Conference - picture review 14 Conference Poem by Ed Berger 16 Farm as a Power Place by Touchstone 17the Natural Beekeeping Conference 18 the Essence of Sustainable Beekeeping by David Heaf 19 New Eyes for Bees by Hugh Salveson 25 the Challenge of rudolf Steiner by Hannah Townsend 26 Affordable Land for Farmers in France by Martin Large 31 terrestial Astronomy by Graham Calderwood 33 revealing the Hidden Forces of Equisetum arvense by Hugh Courtney 38 three Kings Day at the ASHA Centre by Rachael O’Kelly 43 A Postcard from Koberwitz by Vivian Griffiths 44 Appreciation of Markus König by Henning Koester 46 rudolf Kirst by John Wells John wilkes by Thomas Wilkes & Jochen Schwuchow 48 review: Energising water by Richard Thornton Smith 50 review: Queen of the Sun by Hugh Salveson 51 review: the Bees by Hugh Salveson 52


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last issue i rounded of my piece with the “planned” conference. six months later and i am reporting on a wonderfully successful event that is still resounding in our souls. it was a surprise and a delight to experience so many members pour in to the hall for the first event. there you all were, and from the first moment that i stood on the little podium and looked out across the hall, i could feel the warmth and interest. an uplifting feeling that carried the speakers and workshop leaders effortlessly through their contributions. this was truly a co-created event: audience and contributors, working together. Iamencouragedthatthenumberofpeoplewhocametothiseventwasdoublethenumberwhocametwoyearsagotooursoilconference.Itisasignofthegrowingsenseofpurposeandtaskthatourmovementhasofitself.Thesearechallengingtimes,whicheverwayoneturns,theeconomy,theenvironment,everyaspectofourlivesgivesreasonforconcern.Ourbiodynamicmovementisacounter-forcetoallthesephenomena,fromthefeelingofcommunitythatshoneoutoftheconference,tothehornmanurepreparationthatbringshealingtosoil. However,wearenottheonlycounter-force.Eve-rywhereIgoImeetpeoplewhoarestrivingtobringhealingabout.Ineducationandinhealth,inbusinessandinindus-try.Everywheretherearepeoplewhoshinewiththesameinnerlight,alightthathasacommonsource.Forthereisadifferentcharacteristictothelightthatshinesoutofstrivingforsustainabilityandfreedomandlightthatshinesoutofactivitythatisdrivenbyconformityandfear.Thosesoulsthatarestrivingthrowoutspecksoflightlikeglowwormsonasummerevening.However,thosepromisingmaterialsecurityandgaininreturnforsomesortofslavery,usuallytomoney,arelikearoaringwildfire. Thewildfiresweepsacrossthecountryanddesola-tionisleftinitswake,andyetlifereassertsitselfandbeforelong,thoseglowwormsaretobeseenagain.Wearenotglowwormsthough,wearehumanbeings,andunlikeglow-wormswhogathertogetheratthebeckandcallofnature,wecanchoosetocometogether,todrawphysicallyneareachother.Whenwemakethatchoiceandgathertogether,alltheflickeringlightsinoneplace,thereissomethingtrulybeauti-fultobehold. Gatheringtogetherisallwecandoifwewanttomakeabiggerlight.Infreedomweconstrainourselvesto

flickerinourseparatebeings.Whenfreedomiscompro-misedthelightleapsoutandcatchesothersalight,soontheflamesareleapingandsweepingacrossthelandscape.ThinkofthosebiodynamicfarmsdottedacrossAmericaandcom-paretothemillionsofacresofthemid-WestgrowingGMround-uptolerantmaizeandwheat.Wemustbebravethen,becauseourflickeringlightofsustainability,communityandfreedomneverseemstoshinebrightlyenough. Yetitdoes,andwearenottheonlyones.Acrossthewholeworldthesourceofrenewalandhealingthatlightsupinusislightingupinotherstoo.Ibelievethatthelightweshine,theworkwedo,resoundsatdeeperandhigherlevelsthanweknow.Although,inoureverydayworld,ourlightfeelsunbearablyweak,inthespiritualworlditshinessomuchmorestrongly.Justasourpreparationsareusedintinyquantitiesandyethaveatremendouslystimulat-ingeffect,soourworkstimulatesandtransforms. WhenallthefirefliesgathertogetherastheydidatEmersonitiswonderfultobehold.However,theques-tionishowdowebringthatabout?Ithinktheanswerisourcommonpurpose.IfweweretoallframethepurposeoftheBiodynamicAssociationinourownwordsthenthewordswouldperhapsallbedifferent,butwouldtheconceptsbehindthewordsbeallthatdifferent?Throughoutthelastthreeyearsorso,wehaveexploredourperceptionofourpurpose.Wehaveworkedhardondistillingthistoitsessence,andwehaveworkedhardtoexpanditintostatementsofourvision,goalsandtasks.GoodworkthatisalreadysupportingtheorganisationandwhichwewillshareinthenextissueoftheStarandFurrow.Fornow,Iwanttoendbyofferingourmostconcentratedstatementofpur-pose:“biodynamicacres!”Themorebiodynamicacrestherearethebettertheearthcanbreathe.Themorebiodynamicacrestherearethemorepeopleareeatingfoodthattrulynourishesbody,soulandspirit.Themorebiodynamicacrestherearethemorebiodiversitythereisandthemorecarbonislockedupinourhumusrichsoil. Bringingaboutmorebiodynamicacresisnosimpletask.Ourworkisacomplexmixtureofeducation,promotion,providingservices,standards,resources,andsecuringland.Werunmanycampaigns,events,coursesandconferencesinordertoencouragemorepeopletoignitetheirownflameforbiodynamics.Nevercajolingorfrighten-ing,weeducateandexplain,shareandencourage,guidedbyourpurpose.n


What a privilege it was to be present in such a vibrant group of people, drawn together by their interest and commitment to Biodynamic agricul-ture. one hundred and thirty people of differing ages were there, many of whom farm or practise horticulture, and have access to land. all the vari-ous spheres of influence we collectively command could present a significant critical mass, which we need to explore, and to develop our potential.Thesewerepeopleofdeepcontent,whosehandshakealoneconveyedinnerandouterstrength.Someparticipantswereover80yearsold,likeMorlandBeazley,ex-ColdstreamGuards,whohasjustcompletedhisdoctorateofphilosophyinRudolfSteiner’stheologyandnowturnshisattentiontobiodynamics!BycontrastyoungJeremyWeissofVelwellOrchardconcludedthatnorealisticpricecouldbechargedforhisvegetables,soplanstogivethemawayandgeneratecashbyhedge-layingandstonewalling! TheconferencewashostedbyEmersonCollege,aworthyandappropriatecampusadjoiningTablehurstFarm,whereweweregivenatourofthefarmandthenew‘shallowtillingandseeddrillingmachine’byPeterBrownandhisteam,whoalsoprovidedamostdeliciouslunchinthegreatbarn.Itwasgoodtoseemorevegetables,fruitandseedplantsbeinggrown.ThroughouttheconferenceastrongthemefocusedonthedevelopingBiodynamicLandTrust,avastlyimportantsubject. OnWednesdayevening,asanintroductiontotheconference,ProfessorNeilRavenscroftgaveaninterestinglecturethathighlightedsomenotableneworganisationsde-signedtocombattheforcesofcapitalism.ARC2020(Agri-culturalandRuralConvention,basedonBrussels)providesavoiceforthecommunity;someimportantlegalinnovationssuchasinGalicia(Spain),whereyoucanbe‘turfedoff ’yourlandifyouarenotfarmingitproperly;TerredeLiens(inNFrance)isasolidarityinvestmentcompany;alsoinFrance,LaFoncièreinvestmentCoisanendowmenttrustwhichnowowns70+farmswith5,000shareholders.Thurs-daywassetapartforNeilandMartinLargetoexploretheseimportantthemes. OnFridayevening,SebastianParsons,withhisusualcharmandsenseofoccasion,introducedTimothyBrinkwhogaveawonderfullyroundedpictureofthefarmasanorganism–apicturethatcannotberepeatedoftenenough,afarmthatprovidesfoodwithcharacter!HereferredtoJamesLovelock’sworkwiththeGaiaTheory,

a reflection By Wendy cook

viewingtheplanetasapulsatingsentientbeing,andconsid-eredthatourfarmsshouldbearadiantfocusingonearthlyandplanetaryforces. OnFriday(11.11.11–clearlyanimportantdate),weweregivenakeynotelecturebyPatrickHolden,nowpatronoftheBDA.PatrickhadattendedEmersonCollegetostudythebiodynamiccoursein1972andthisseemstohavebeensomethingofanunderlyinginspirationforallhissubsequentworkwiththeSoilAssociation.HehadjustreturnedfromaconferenceinBerlinwheretheybegantopreparefortheRio2012conferenceonsustainabledevel-opment.Themodelofsmallmixedfarmswillbeastrongtarget,andthemostpracticalwayformanytofarm.Patrickpointedoutthatagricultureisnowresponsiblefor50%ofallemissionsandisusingone-thirdofallgasandoilconsumed.Thisisanirony,sincetheworld’sbiggestcarbonbankisthesoil!Usingsuchmanipulativechemicalpracticesinagriculturemeansthatwehavelargelylostthewisdomofcroprotations.Thesewastefulmethodscontinuetobereflectedinourfoodwaste;USandUKaretheworstoffenders(50%).Patricksharedmorerevelationsaboutthemonopoliesofthehugefoodcorporationswhohavenowcoinedthechillingphrase‘sustainableintensification’(atotalandimpossibleconundrumtome). Allthismaymakeusfeelsomewhathelpless,despitehavingsomuchpotentialwithintheBiodynamicmovement.Patrickpointedoutthattherecouldbeadangerinstayingoutsidethe‘bigtent’,wherethereisthechancetomovefreelyaboutandspeakinaccessiblelanguagetoothergroups,whodosharemanyofourdeepestconcerns.Wemustbepartofthosevoicesmobilisingpublicopinionandinfluencingpolicies,butmostofallsettinganexampleofhowfarmscanbetreatedaslivingorganismsandhowfoodcantastewithcharacter. TyllvandeVoortspokeonSaturdaymorning,hislecturetitle“SeedsofSorrow,SeedsofHope”.Inthereductionistparadigmwearecurrentlyre-makingNa-ture,forcinghertoreflectourowncapitalism,basedonamechanisation/parts/combustionmodelandwaste,leadingtoexploitationanddebt.Thegenetheoryalsobreaksthingsdownintopartsandtheconceptoforganismhasdisap-peared.SeedcompanieslikeMonsantoproduceseedsthroughviolentand‘bullying’methodswhichproveunreli-ableastheplanteventuallyexplodesintoitsownfreedom–leadingtowhatpossible,unimaginablemutations?ItisatragicstorywherepoorfarmersinIndiaaretaking


theirownlivesbecauseoffailuretorepayloanstotheselargeseedcompanies. Sucherosionofdiversityevenpenetratesinto‘organic’seeds,whicharenowemergingasF1hybrids.HowcanweentrustourfoodsourcestocompaniesthatdesignedCycloneB,AgentOrangeandGMcrops?Tyllpointedoutthathunter-gathererswereaccustomedtoadietof1,000plants,someofwhichweremedicinal.Iknowofsomemodernchildrenwhosemaindietconsistsofthetwoelements:chipsandketchup(potatoesandtomatoes,bothoftheSolanaceaefamily.) Howwoulditbeifourpoliticiansheldoutahandfulofseeds(open-pollinatedvariety!)andsaid,“Thisiswhereourwealthlies!”.TyllquotedDavidBohm:“Theacornisanaperturetotheexplicitworld”.Itisalsoacon-duittotheetheric. UeliHurter,jointleaderoftheAgricultureSectioninDornach,wasgentleandsmilinglyannouncedthathewasnotanF1(FormulaOne)speakerandwasheadingupa‘slowspeak’movement–oneIwouldquicklyjoin.Hetoldusaboutbuildinguphisfarm,nowwithahotel,withthehelpoffriendsandvolunteers,atl’AubiernearNeuchatelinSwitzerland(whichhasamoratoriumonGMuntil2012).Hefeltthatusingthedifferent‘gestures’ofthepreparationsweorchestrateapowerfulsymphonybetweenheavenandearth,withChristasthemediator. Thereweresomanyothertreatsinthepro-gramme.HeidiHermann,withherusualdignityandgraciousness,affordedustheUKpremierof“QueenoftheSun”,adocumentaryonbeesaboutbiodynamicbeekeepersworldwide.Thedoorswereopentothelocalcommunityforthisanditwasstandingroomonly!

OnSaturdayeveningawine-tastingofDemeterwinesfromlocalSedlescombevineyardswasenjoyed.MorelandBeezleyandayoungBDstudent,Aymericwereexcellentwine-pourers.AfterthistherewasaceilidhandmanyBDpeopleyoungandoldstillshowedtheenergyto‘cutarug’. Ithinktheworkshopswentwell.Ihadalovelyonewhereweconsideredfood,consciousness,andquality.Idowishtherewasmoreengagementwiththenutritionandcookingaspectsofbiodynamics.Pleasecontactmeifyouwouldliketoexplorethissubjectfurther. Therewasplentyofopportunitytospeakinsmallorlargegroups,plusamarketplaceandagreatbookstall.WelldonetoJessicawithherblingnecklaceanduntiringcheerfulnessandefficiency,andtoRichardSwannandteam.ToEmersonCollege–mayyoucontinuetoprevail. Butnexttime,couldwehavesomesinging?Therearesomelovelyvoicesinthegroup. Finally,somethingthelateJuneWoodgerdrewourattentionto:theword‘disaster’comesfrom‘aster’-star,and‘dis’–distancing[or‘leavingbehind’].TotearourselvesawayfromthestarsaswedointheWestisaDISASTER.Biodynamicsweavesusbackintothecosmos!n

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dynamicsofemergentproc-essesandarelationalorderbetweenthecomponentsofthedifferentpartsandthisorderbetweenthecompo-nentsmattersmorethanmaterialcompositioninthelivingprocesses. Ingeneticsthereforeitisgenerallyseenthatitisthe

genesthatexpressthemselves.YouthenhavetheDNAinthegenesaswellasthemessengerRNA,whichinformstheproteinswhichinturnbuildsuptheorganism. However,weknowthatthisisnotso,butthatitisreallytheorganism,thecells,thetissuesandallthedifferentstructuresthatarenestedwithineachother,thatinformthegeneticpool,sothatthereisa‘conversation’betweentheorganismandthegenes. Soitisreallytodowithrelationships,andifyoulookatthatthenalsointhehigherorders,inthetransorgan-ismicrealm,youhavethefieldwhererelationships,creativityandvaluesallcomein. Biology,forus,andalsointhefieldwherethesemodernepigeneticinvestigationsarebeingundertaken,takesonmuchmoreascienceofqualitiesratherthanquantities.Soonecouldsaythatwerealisethatmatterflowsthroughtheorganisms.Theymaintaintheirform,certainpatterns,andtheirorganisationinspace.However,intoday’sbiologyofgeneticdetermination,theviewisthattheemergentorderinformstheverybuildingstonesthatwearetalkingabout. Ifonetakestheviewthatorganismsareasrealandasfundamentalasthemoleculestheyaremadeupfrom,thenonecannotjusttakethemapartanddescribetheorgan-ismasacompositionofitsindividualparts.Onecanthen

tyll van der voort is the land manager at clairvaux trust near darlington. formerly he managed the horticul-ture at oaklands park in gloucestershire where he also devoted part of the land to growing seeds for stormy hall. on the third day of the conference he gave a lecture in the morning. What follows is a report based on the transcription.

TyllstartedbyquotingtheFrenchphilosopherJacquesEllul, “In technological society all forms of human activity, whether personal behaviour or organised social and economic activity, are fundamentally adaptive to the dominant logic and the form of the machine.” Hethenwentontooutlineseveralmetaphorsthatinformthewaypeoplelivetoday.Thesearethemachine,combustion,linearity,exploitationanddebt.Thesenewmetaphorsareofadifferentnaturetotheoldones,whichwereofacyclicalorrhythmicalnature.Fromthoseoldonescamesuchwordsas‘whole’,‘heart’and‘healing’.Theword‘cultivation’comesfromtheLatinword‘cyclical’,asdoestheword‘cultus’. Oneoftheconsequencesisthewaythesemodernmetaphorsinfluenceourattitudeandthinking,forexamplereductionismanddeterminism.Withmodernreductionistgeneticismtheorganismisthusseenasageneticmachineconsistingofdifferentparts. However,theepigeneticviewshowsthattherearelargerorganismswhichinfluencethegenes.Thereisa

Seedsofsorrow-SeedsofHope By Tyll van der Voort

Report of lecture given at the Conference

Edited by Richard Swann unrevised by speaker

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askwhatarewetalkingaboutwhenweusethewordorgan-ism. Theorganismsasthebasicelementsofbiologi-calrealityaredisappearingfast.Thisisleadingtoakindofatomismandfragmentationthat,inturn,livesinpeople’sheartsandleadstowhatonecouldcallageneralontologicalinsecurity.Withthatismeantaninsecurityastowhoweare,whywearehere,whatwearedoingandwherewearegoing.Thisisfarworsethaneconomicinsecurity. Alongwiththatgoesabreakdownofimmunesys-temsnotonlyoforgansbutalsoofthespiritual,culturalandsocialimmunesystemsthatwe,aspeople,havedeveloped.Sotheseareverystrongconsequencesthatcomeofthewaywelookatlife. ItisinterestingtoseethatfromthewholeofDarwinianresearchandtheknowledgethatwearegainingfromitthatthisiscontinuouslyincreasing.Todaythereisstillanabsenceofanytheoryoftheorganismasawhole,asadistinctiveentity.Inawayitisquiteaparadoxthatthemoreweknowthelessweknowabouttheformsoforganisms.Weknowalotaboutsubstancebutweknowverylittleabouthowformcomesabout. Whyforexample,isachamomileachamomile?Scientiststrytotellusaboutitsactiveingredients,ifyoucanmakethoseforexampleoutofoil,thenwedonotneedany‘fancypackaging’(flower,leavesetc).Whatismeantbyformisthatthechamomileactuallylookslikeachamomile.Howeverthefactthatchamomilealsoexpressesitselfaschamomile,withallitsaesthetic,sensualandtactilequalitiesisoftendisregarded.

our relationship With the plant World

Accordingtomodernsciencetherehasbeenlifeonearthforaroundtwotothreemillionyears.Withinthatperiodagriculturehasbeeninexistenceforabout12,000years.Howeverformostofthattimewehavebeenhuntergather-ers,andonly6%ofallhumanswhoeverlivedonEarthhavelivedbyagriculture.90%oftheestimated80billionpeoplewhoeverlivedonEarthspenttheirlifeashuntergatherers. Thenwehadaverydifferentinterchangewiththeplantworldandsoindustrialagricultureisjustablipinaverylonginvolvementwithplantsthatwe,ashumans,have. Itisestimatedthattherearearound375,000knownspeciesofplants,ofwhicharound20,000areusedbymanasfood,medicine,technicalusesetc.Ofthose,500areusedascultivatedplants,excludingwoodlands/ornamentalplants,and160oftheseareusedinlargeramountssomewhereintheworld. Thirtyspeciesconstitute95%ofhumanfoodofwhichtwelvemakeup90%ofalltheplantsthataregrownforhumans.Thesearewheat,rice,maize,rye,barley,oats,potatoes,rape,soyabeans,cotton,teaandcoffee. NorthAmericanIndians(huntergatherers)usedforexample1,000plantsintheirforaginginnature.Nowyoucanseewiththistheyhadaverydifferentengagementwithnature.

Biotech companies

Thetwelvespeciesmentionedabovearethemaintargetofthelargeagrochemicalcompanies.Wehaveentrustedthestewardshipofourfoodsuppliestosuchcompanieswho,forexample,suppliedCyklonBtotheNazisfortheirextermi-nationcamps. Inthelastdecadethreecompanieshavetogethertakencontrolof50%oftheworld’scommercialseedmarket.Andin2005Monsantowhoonlystartedwithseedsabouttentofifteenyearsagowasthelargestconventionalseedmerchant.Verycleverlymanyofthesecompanieshaverebrandedthemselvesaslifesciences,whichmeanstheyare‘occupyingourterritory’. TyllthenwentontoquotefromanissueoftheNewInternationalistpublishedin2010,whichliststhetoptenagrochemicalcorporationssuchasBayer,SyngentaandMonsanto.Thetenlargestseedcompanieswerealsolistedandthereisahugeoverlap,meaningthatthesecompanieshavecontrolofthewholeoftheagriculturalprocess. Thetopthreeseedcompaniesalonecontrolhalfofallpatentedseedswhichaccountfor82%oftheworld’scommercialseedmarket,andMonsanto’sseedoccupy87%ofthetotalareadevotedtogeneticallyengineeredseedworldwide.Monsantoisarelativenewcomersincein1996theywerenotevenlistedamongstthetopseedcompanies. Themainconsequenceofallofthisisthatthereisahugeconcentrationofpower.Thesecompanieshavetakentheseedsoutofourhandsintothelaboratory. Onthepositivesidethree-quartersoftheworld’sfarmersstillgrowlocallybredseedvarietiesandsowtheirownseeds.And85%ofglobalfoodproductionisconsumedclosetowhereitisgrown.

seed Breeding processes

Theclassicalmethodsofseedbreedinginvolvemassselec-tion,positiveandnegativeselectionsaswellascrossbreed-ing. Inthe1920sF1hybridsweredeveloped.Thisiswheretwogeneticlinesarecrossedtoachievespecificchar-acteristicsfromeachlinesuchasbigandred(foraflower).Whensuccessfulyougetwhatisknownasheterosis,whichisthatthedesiredcharacteristicsarestronglyexpressed.Howeveratthesametimethisresultsinadepressionoftheseedlines.Ifyouthentrytobreedwiththeseseedsyougetanexplosionintoallpossibilitiesofthecharacteristicsoftheoriginalgeneticlines(e.g.largered,smallredandothercoloursandsizes). Thisconstrainsthefarmerintonotbeingabletosavehisownseed.Hethenhastogobacktotheseedcom-panyandisattheirmercy! Sciencehasmovedonsincethiswasfirstdevel-opedtomoresophisticatedandintrusivemethods.Furtherdevelopmentsinclude:1.Inducedmutagenesis–throughbombardingplantswithsayradiationorpoisons.2. Cellfusiontechniqueorprotoplastfusion–herethetwocellsfromunrelatedplantsarestrippedoftheirmembranesandfusedtogether.Throughthismethodnewspeciescanbemadefromplantsthatwouldnotnormallycross.


3. Withcystogenesisgenesareintroducedfromplantsofthesamespecies4. Transgenesisiswherethespeciesbarriersarecrossed,e.g.usingfishgenesintomatoes Theproblemwiththesemoresophisticatedmeth-odsisthattheycannotbecarriedoutonthefarm,butonlyinthelaboratory.Oneresultofthisisthepatentingofthenewseedscrosses.Thisbringsupethicalissuesasaresultoftheviolationofthegeneticintegrityoftheplantthroughtheseintrusivemethods. Tyllspokeofhisconcernthatthesemethodsdespitebeingscientificarealsoveryimpreciseandareattimesverybrutalintheirexecution.Theyarecarriedoutbypeoplewho‘knownothingaboutgrowinglife’.Hethuslikenedthegeneticisttothetrue‘blindwatchmaker’.

consequences of this

Thethreatsandtheconsequencesofallofthisarestarklystaringusintheface.Amongstthesearetheerosionofbiodiversity,monoculturesandindustrialproductionstrate-gies.Thesethenputthediversitiesofcultureunderthreatinagriculture.Sowehavealossofbiodiversityandhugegeneticerosion. AsanexampleoutoftheF1hybridfield.IntheoldendaysifyouhadafieldofcorninsayYorkshireitwouldhaveprobablyhadageneticdiversityofabout90,000differ-entstrainswithslightgeneticdifferences.ThisyearTyllsaidhehadseendenselypopulatedgrainfieldswithearsthatwerebig,fatandheavyandstandingonveryshortstems.Whenthecombineharvesterwentoverit,therewasnostrawleft.Theplantwasentirely‘pulledintotheearth’-‘aheavyterrestrialF1hybrid’. Nowthesemodernhybridshaveageneticdiversity,notof90,000,butofninetoninetydifferentstrains.Soifyougetsomethinglikethekindofrustthataffectsalotofgrainsyoudonotlose1/90,000thofthecropbutyoulose1/9th.Thatisalotofgrainwhengrowingonanextensivescale. Thisgeneticerosionismovingfastasisthereduc-tionofgeneticdiversityandwithitcomesahugelossofopenpollinatedstrainsandplantsandvarieties. Alongwithallofthisisthedangerofbiologicalpollution,whichisawholenewconceptofpollution.Thisisnotthesameasthepollutionthatarisesfromsaythrowingoutplasticbags,butisakindofepidemiology. Asaresultoftheincreaseduseofpesticideswearealsogettingincreasedresiduesaswellassuperweeds.Therehavebeenreportsofgeneticcrossingoverintoothercabbageplantsbycanolaoroilseedrape. Severalhumanhealthrisksthencanarisefromtransgeneticmodification:1.Toxicity-Withgeneticengineeringageneticcassetteiscreatedwhichintroducesavectorintotheplant.TheyarealittlelikeaTrojanHorsewhichyoubringintoanothercell.Theycontainpromoters,terminators,enhancers,antibioticmarkersystemsandvectors.Bymakingtheplanttakeupageneitdidnotchoosethenadangerouscocktailisintro-duced.Itisthennoteasytoknowwhattheseenhancersandmarkersystemsdototheneworganism.

2.Immunosuppression.AreportcameoutafewyearsagoaboutsomeratsthatwereencouragedtoeatBT(Bacillusthuringiensis)treatedpotatoes.Asaresulttheirmetabolicandimmunesystemscrashed.3.Allergicreactionsmayalsoariseasaresultofgeneticengineering.Witheachcassettethatisengineeredintothefoodnewandnovelproteinsareproducedthathavenotbeenintherebefore.4.Antibioticresistanceasaresultofantibioticresistantmarkergenesbeingintroduced.5.LossofnutritionAlotoftheGMfoodhasbeenfoundtobenutrientdeplete.Oneofthebiggesthazardsishoweverthecorporatetakeoverandtheprivatisationofseedthatgoeshandinhandwiththepatentingandthelaboratoryprocesses.Weareentirelydis-empoweredandseparatedfromtheseeds.Thisstartedwiththehybridisationandtheseedpatents.Itonlybeganinthe1990swhentheWorldTradeOrganisationstartedtohaveintellectualpropertyrightsextendedtolifeforms.Withtheviolationoftheorganismcomesethicaldilemmas.Scientistsareseeingthewholeofnaturewhetheramouseortomato,asaquarrytomineandtakeoutwhateveritwants.Withthisthewisdomofspeciesboundariesthathavetakeneonstobuildisundermined

the seed in the agriculture course

RudolfSteinerspeaksabouttheseedinthe2ndlectureoftheAgricultureCourse.Therehedescribeshowintheseedtheplantgoesintoaphasewhereitbecomesmorechaotic.Itdisengagesitselffromthephysicalworldandgoesintoamoreethericspaceandbecomesmore‘open’.Thereitreconnectswiththearchetypeormorphogeneticfield. Thepollen,forexample,hasaperiodofsevenmin-uteswherethewholegenomefallsapart.Evenforscientistswiththeirmicroscopescannotunderstandthis. Asinchaostheoryorderisalsopresent.Thisorderiscalledthestrangeattractorwherenewordercanemerge.AccordingtoDavidBohm(authorofWholenessandtheImplicitOrder),theoaktreeisnotintheacorn,buttheacornisanaperturetotheimplicitworldfromourworld–theexplicitworld. ElsewhereSteineralsospeaksaboutthetrueferti-lisationoftheseed.Hedescribesitasthemomentwhentheseedhitsthesoil.Thentheplantopensitselfuptothesunandfructificationtakesplacebetweentheseedandtheearth. Theplantinawaysucksthesun’senergydownintotheearth.Andfromthereonalltheothercreaturesstarttolive. Thisnewerwayofthinkingthenhasconsequencesforthewayweviewplants.Oncewerealisethattheyareembeddedinthecosmos,wethenstarttorespectspeciesboundariesandcanstartapersonalrelationshipwiththeorganism.


Bydoingsowediscoverthatplantsareincrediblyelastic.Thusinsteadof‘bullying’theplantswithgeneticmodificationwecanapproachthemwithrespectandseehowfarwecantakethem.Theyarethenquitewilling,ashasbeenshowninthewaymankindhasworkedwithplantsforabout15,000years. Wethencreatetheconditionsfortheplanttoexpressitsfullpotentialanditsfullpossibility.Thismeansyourespecttheintrinsicvalueoftheplant.Itstaysinitsowndomainorkingdomunviolated.

Todothisweneedtodevelopnewinnerqualitiesandnotexternaltechnologies,toseewherewecangowiththeplant.Wealsosoondiscoverthatforexampleawildplantisverycosmicandexpressesitsownbeing. IntheAgricultureCourseSteinerspeaksaboutplantsthataretoofat,thickandheavyasbeingearthyandanythingthatiswildisthinandinawayspiritual.Inwork-ingwithplantsweneedtofindthebalancebetweenthesecosmicandtheearthlyaspects.Thisareaofworkisinwhatisknownasthesoulrealm,whereweashumanslive.

Network for biological and biodynamic seeds

and biodynamic plant cultivation

donations, supporters (Foundations,

Members)

european demeter seed

initiatives

customersn Seed Merchants

n Market Gardenersn Health Food

Productsn Schools,

Communities

market partners

(wholesalers, retailers,

Manufacturers)

farmers, gardenersn Seed propagation

n testing of new varieties

n Preservation of varieties

kultursaat e.v.non-profit-making

associationn Notification of varietiesn Proprietors of varieties

n Publicityn Project finance

cultivation projectsn Cultivation research

n Preservation of varieties

Ecological seedsn Coordination of seed production

n Seed processingn Quality assurance

n Looking after propagationn Marketing and seed sales

Diagram showing the network that has been developed to support the plant breeding work in Germany.


organic sector

Thereissomeconcernthattheorganicsectorhasbecomemoremainstreaminitsattitude.Thisisquiteevidentwhenlookingthroughseedcatalogueswhichhaveorganicseeds.Quiteoftentheseedsaregrownforoneyearunderorganicconditionsasaminimumqualificationfororganicstatus.Theseedbreedingthatwentonbeforethatlaststepmaybedetrimentaltowhatistryingtobeachievedwithorganicstatus. Veryfewspecificorganicbreedingeffortsarebeingundertakenwithintheorganicsector,sothequestionarisesastowhatqualitiesareaskedoftheplantwhengrowingorganically? Weknowthatmostoftheseedisinthehandsofthebigcompaniesbutintheorganicsector,thereisgreatworrybutlittleisspecificallybeingdonetoaleviatetheproblem. Thisisnottodiscouragetheorganicmovement.Therearemanypeoplewhoarekindofinvariousdifferentorganisations,fromIFOAM(InternationalFederationofOrganicMovements)ondown,whoareinvolvedinseedsavingandseedexchanges.Butintermsofbreeding,owner-shipandallthat,mostoftheinterestingeffortsareinthedevelopingworld. Howevertheorganicbreedinggoalsareinmanywaysquitesimilartotheonesforconventionalplants.Thesearediseaseresistance,yield,nutrientdeficiency,tolerancetoabioticstresseswithqualitycominglastofall. However,thequalitativeaspectswhichmakesfoodfitforhumanconsumptionarestillunder-researched.

Vegetable and flowers being grown for seed and breeding at Bingenheim, Germany© Richard Swann


Anbau”orInitiativeCircleforVegetableSeedsfromBiody-namicFarming.Thiswasinitiallyaninformalplatformfortheexchangeofideas,experienceandseeds. Thatledtotheestablishmentofthenon-profitas-sociationKultursaat(culturalseed)in1994.Thentheyhadamembershipthatwasopentoallwhowantedtopaythemembershipfee.Todaytheyhave280membersofwhich19arebreeders.Theirexecutiveboardconsistsofadelegationofsomeofthemembers.Theassociationalsoemploysthreepeopletoruntheadministration. ThebreedersthemselvesarealsofinancedfromtheKultursaat.Theassociation’sincomeisfromgrantsandfoundationsaswellaslicensefeeswhenregisteringnewvarieties.Therearestrictguidelinesastohowtheycangoaboutthatandsothereareongoingdiscussionsbetweenthedifferentparties.Partofthatinvolvesseekingoutoldopen-pollinatedvarietiesthatlookpromising.Theycanthenfinallyberegisteredasanofficialregisteredvariety. Theyalsoundertakecoachingandmentoringandsoon.Theyasagroupalsoevaluatenewbreedingmethods.Theiraimsare:n TosupplyDemetergrowerswithDemeterseedn Themaintenanceofopen-pollinatedvarietiesn Thebreedingofnewvarietiesn Researchanddevelopmentintonovelbreedingaims,liketaste,colourandsoon.n Andalsobreedingresearchintonovelapproachestoworkingontheintroductionofnewspecies,forexample,asfoodplants. In1989theyrealisedthattheyneededaseedcom-pany,wherepeoplecouldactuallybuysuchseeds.SotheystartedasmallseedcompanycalledAllerleirauhGmbH,whichlateronin2001,developedintotheBingenheimersaatgutAGwhichisnowabigenterprisecelebratingits10thanniversary Thisisafirmwithshareholderswithwhatarecalledvinculatedshares.Thismeansthatnotonlycanyoubuytheshares,butthepeoplewhohavethesharesaswellasthemanagershaveasayinwhocanbuythem.Itwassetupthiswaytoavoidbeingtakenoverbysomeonewhoseaimsarenotinlinewiththoseofbiodynamics.. BingenheimisnowaproperseedcompanywithalargeextensivecatalogueandtheysendseedalloverEurope.Theyhavehad20%turnovergrowthinthepasttwoyears.Ithasbeensuccessfulbecausepeopleappreciatethegoodseedtheysupplyandthattheyareveryprofessionalandtrustworthy. Itisnowarelativelylargeenterprisethatiscon-tracting100growers,someofwhomarememberswhocanholdsharesinthecompany.Thisfirmisownedbythosepeopletoalargeextent. Theyhavedevelopeddifferentstructuresfortheirspiritual,economicandsocialactivities.Thishasbeendonereallywellsothatonecansayalloftheseareindividualorganisationswhichcommunicatewitheachother.Asacon-sequenceeverybodyisinvolvedatsomestageintheprocessfromthespiritualimpulseofbreedingandresearching,rightdowntoactuallyobtainingtheseed. AsBingenheimerSaatgutgrows,oneofthebigchallengesforthemistofindenoughgrowers.Theyneedlargerareas,morepeopleandmoreprofessionalisation.

neW paradigm for seeds

TyllwentontoquotefromManifestoontheFutureofSeedsbyVandanaShiva,whereshegivesanewparadigmforseeds ‘The failures, limitations and vulnerability of indus-trial agriculture and corporate monopolies must be taken into account in a post-industrial concept of seed and food production, a concept that should be based upon holistic, long-term considera-tions – considerations that present-day industrial agricultural systems, that produce for a global market, by their very nature are unable to take into account. Seed diversity can be saved only if the livelihoods of small farmers who save and use bio-diversity are protected. Biodiversity based farming systems generate more employment, produce more nutrition and better quality food and provide higher incomes to farming families and communities. The chal-lenge of agriculture must no longer be to produce huge quanti-ties of nutritionally unbalanced food, but rather to produce nutritionally balanced food in a sustainable way. A sustainable agriculture maintains the natural resources needed, preserves the communities and social and cultural systems that allow for the appropriate distribution of food, and provides the possibility of decent livelihoods in rural areas.’ ‘The one dimensional focus on’ yield’ has led to a seri-ous decline in systems productivity, food quality and nutrition. Quantity must give way to quality. Seed production by Food Communities is based on a holistic concept of food quality that considers taste, compatibilities with human physiological and cul-tural conditions, all aspects of nutritional properties, the degree of biodiversity present, the environmental impact of production, as well as the working conditions, processes of participation and value of retribution to producers. This holistic concept should be the first step towards reinforcing or creating and dispersing seeds for quality food systems.’ ‘Diversity, freedom and the enfolding potential and evolution of agriculture and humanity are core principles of the law of seed.’

german seed organisation

ThebiodynamicmovementinGermanyhastakenthisupandisnowworkinginquitenewways.Thishasresultedinthebringingaboutoftwoinstitutions:BingenheimandKultursaat. ThechallengeofseederosionwasoneofthereasonswhySteinerwasapproachedandaskedtogivetheAgriculturalCoursein1924.Peoplewenttohimandaskedwhyfood,seedqualityandanimalfertilitywasdeclining. Later,inthe1950s,thefirstplantbreedingworkstartedinGermany.NotableherewastheworkofMartinSchmidtwhostartedbreedinggrains.HugoErbealsotookupplantbreedingasdidotherrenownedvegetablebreeders. Thequestionthencameupamongstbiodynamicgrowers:“Wheredowegetseedfromthatisgoodforbiodynamicgrowing?Andhowcanwemultiplythatseedsothatitisactuallyavailable?” Subsequentlyin1985,anumberofbiodynamicvegetableproducerswhowereinvolvedinthemultiplicationandbreedingofopen-pollinatedvarietiessetupthe“Initia-tivkreisesfürGemüsesaatgutausbiologisch-dynamischem


Theyrealisethatthereisgreatpressurethroughclimatechangeoncertainvarieties,suchthattheynowhavetogrowcertainplants,likecauliflowers,inItaly. Kultursaatmakesurethattheyhavenewvarieties,andnowhavearound40–50.Acceptanceofthesenewva-rietiesinvolvedaverydifficultlegal.Theyhavecreatedandbrednewbiodynamicvarietiesoutofoldopen-pollinatedvarietiesthatarenowavailableandregistered. TheygetalicensefeepaidbyBingenheimwherethevarietiesaremultipliedandgrown.ThegrowersarepaidbyBingenheimformultiplying.Sothereisaneconomicrelationship.Thereisaspiritualrelationshipandthereisasocialrelationship,becausetheycometogetherandtheyowneachother’sshares.Itaddressesalltheproblemsthatwehavetalkedaboutbeforeofgettingseedsovereigntybackintoourhands,backtothegrowersandgettingaconversa-tiongoingbetweenallthepeoplethatareinvolved.. Thereareothercontributorsandinitiatives,forexampleSativaandReinsaatinSwitzerland.ThereisalsotheinitiativeAvenirsem(SowingtheFuture)startedbyUeliHurterandPeterKunz,wherepeoplecometogethertosowalargefieldofcorntogetherinordertodemonstratethatwewanttohaveGMO-freefields.IthasbeendonehereinBritainat,forexample,HungaryLaneFarm.Ahundredfieldsin10differentcountriesthisyearwereplantedbylargegroupsofpeoplewhotogethersowedafieldofnon-geneticallymodified,biodynamicgrain. AsimilarstructuretothatinGermanyneedstobeconsideredforusintheUK.AtthemomentwehaveStormyHallwiththeunceasingandwonderfuleffortsofHansSteenbergen.Howeverthatisabitunderthreatatthemomentduetothedemandsofincreasingadministrationandpaperwork.

neW plant Breeding approaches

Withinbiodynamicplantbreedingtherearetwothingsthatareimportant.1.Tomaintainandmultiplytheseeds2.QualityTherearemanywaystoviewquality.Thesupermarketsseeitfromanappearanceandshelflifeviewpoint,arebredforthatpurposeandarenotreallyfitforhumanconsumption.Otherconsiderationsaresuchthingsasresiliencetoclimatechangewithlocaladaptabilityandsustainability.Plantsneedtobetrue-to-typeandatthesametimeplasticandflexible. InFrancetheyspeakofle terroirespeciallyinrela-tiontowines.ItspecificallyaddressesthefarmorganismorlocalityandisveryimportantinFrance.AsbiodynamicgrowersTyllreckonsweareterroir-ists. Inhumannutritionitisthelifesubstancesthatnourishthebody,soulandmind.Theyhelpustocommunewiththeworldaroundusaswellasthewidercosmos.Withindustrialfood,wethusgetindustrialthinking.Thisiswrit-tenaboutintheintroductiontotheAgricultureCourse. ThenewbreedingmethodsarebasedonGoetheanismandanthroposophy.Theyusequitedifferentparadigmsforgoingintoworkingwiththeplantforbreed-ingpurposes. Alotofthebreederswhoworkwiththisnewtypeofresearchandbreedingareveryhighlyqualifiedpeople.

Justasscientistsmightneedsevenortenyearstoeducatethemselvestobeabletodogeneticmodification,soitwillbewiththepeoplewhoareworkingwiththisnewapproach.Theyneedtobeequippedinquitedifferentwaystobeabletocarryoutethericformativeforcesresearch.Sometimesthatmayinvolveupto10yearsofmeditative,introspectivework. Theyapproachtheplantinquiteadifferentwaybyaskingtheplantwhoitis?Theyalsocreatebreeders’medita-tioncirclesandmayexposeseedstoforexampleeurythmy,sounds,particularplanetaryconstellationsorbiodynamicpreparations.Allthisisbeingdonebyagroupofpeoplewhohavecreatedinsidethemselvesaspaceofreverenceandawefortheplantsandwhoareveryfamiliarwiththeirsubject. TyllspokeaboutafarmerinGermanysomedec-adesagowhousedtoputhishandsintotheseedbeforesow-ing.Hesaidhewantedtoconnecttheseedtothestreamoflovethatonlycomesthroughpeople.Somefarmerswouldtakesomeoftheirseedandcarryitaroundintheirpocketbeforesowing. Throughbringingnewqualitativebreedingap-proachestogetherwiththeneedtomaintainandmultiplyinaveryrespectfulway,meansstartingonapathofdiscovery.Aroundtwentypeopleareworkingthiswayonasemi-professionalbasisinGermany,withsomeevenworkingonaprofessionalscale. AnewrangeofqualitytestingmethodshavealsoarisensuchascapillaryDynamolysis(risingpicturemeth-od),coppercrystallisationandtheworkofDorianSchmidt. Thebiodynamicmovementistheonlymovementwherethissortofworkisbeingcarriedout.TofindanythingsimilarwouldmeangoingtoAfricaandIndiawhereoutofanoldconsciousnessthereareriteswithritualsaroundseeds.

concluding images

TyllconcludedbyrelatingaboutatimeinOaklandswhentheyweretryingtobeabitmoreawareoftheprocessesofsowing.Onemorningwhilsttheyweresowingcarrots,oneofhisapprenticestoldhimthatshesatwiththeseedsallnight.Shesatwiththeseed,becausetheyweregoingtosow. Howeveritrequires,asSteinersays,thatthelaboratory,isournewtemple.Itwillonlybepeoplewhoareethicallyandmorallyequippedtoenterintothattemplewhowillsucceed.Itwillnotbeforthosewhogointosub-nature,ortherewithoutpropermoraldevelopment. ToconcludeweshouldtaketoheartwhatVandanaShivawritesinthebookletManifestoontheFutureofSeeds:“SeedsareanexpressionofHope”n


Timothy Brink

Patrick Holden

Miche (of Touchstone who created the image on page 17)

World Cafe Conversations

Biodynamic wine being elegantly poured out by Morland Beazley

Making the most of unseasonal November sun


© Richard SwannTablehurst’s shallow tilling and seed drilling machine

Martin Large explaining the finer points of Land Trusts

Kai Lange and Ed Berger

Ueli Hurter

Tablehurst cattle


Touchstone is an arts & research practice founded by Miche Fabre Lewin & Flora

Gathorne-Hardy that is dedicated to re-naturing art & culture. We co-

create spaces and maps to inhabit ecological approaches to thinking.

These collaborative journeys inspire conversations, practices & new forms that

guide us towards resilient & convivial living in balance with nature. Between

us we have over 30 years experience in arts, environmental design & research. We have

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www.touchstonecollaborations.com touchstone can also be contacted on

07734049407

Said the advert; “Confer! All farmers and growers,All apiary tinkerers And moon-orbit knowers;All millers, all tillersClay, sandy and loam,All carers and sharersOf our brief earthly home!” So came growers of ‘tatersOn tractor ridged acres,Came gardeners of abundantlySmall urban spaces,Came milkers of bovinesTo sniffers of fine winesTo masters of pasturesAnd herders of ovines.

Then emboldened by HoldenTo stir up the doldrumsOf inertia, defeat and despair.In the seed-bed of LifeOur poisoning is rife;So our thrivingNeeds our striving To care. Then onto the beesAnd the keepers of theseAnd the gloriousQueen of the Sun;Each selflessly strivesFor the good of the hiveFor the whole and the partsIndivisibly One.

“Now be a good sport”Said Sir Van de Voort“And sit with your seedsThrough the night.Tip your cap to the powers,That creates all the flowersAnd plant breeding ‘ll be seeding inHealth-bearing light”. And on the last daySaid the farmer of L’Aubier“Sow the future!And revive this old leaven;Let the might of our slogOpen up this dense fogAnd our embers rekindleReplenished by Heaven”.

C o n f e r e n c e p o e m – Ed Berger

On t h e c O n f e r e n c e:‘There was a unanimous sense of inspiration and positivity. People felt that we had really created a wonderful sense of biodynamic community. The people shone through as the real gift – the delegates and the range of backgrounds and expertise we had, but mainly the speakers.’

‘The world cafe was a fantastic way for the ‘small voices’ to find a space. Someone said they felt with each group they built a sculpture in sand which was washed away with each new group and that was a wonderful experience.’

On Bi O dy na m i c s:‘Biodynamics is a way of reconnecting people with each other, the earth and the spiritual world by speaking our own truth with love and humour in a few words’

an at t e m p t t O s u m m a r i s e t h e c O n f e r e n c e i n e i g h t l i n e s:

BD’s stars bedeck the lecture hall.Timothy, Patrick, Tyll and Ueli too,Throwing light on our thoughts, inspiring our wills, And moving our hearts to live more fully too.

But we’re ALL stars in the BD firmament –Some bright, some distant, some even flickering true.To spread knowledge, we have to believe in ourselves, in our worth,And show the world, not to preach, what Biodynamics can DO.

Eve KayeNovember 13 2011

http://www.touchstonecollaborations.com


as a relative outsider (i am not a beekeeper), i felt privileged to be able to attend one day of the natural Beekeeping conference this august. it was held in a ‘secret’ location at the green and away conference site in (very) rural Worcestershire. Thecentre,nowinitssecondincarnation,isprob-ablybestknownforhostingtheannualResurgenceCamp(whichIattendedseveralyearsagoinitspreviouslocation).Thesiteis‘offgrid’andrunwithaverylowcarbonfoot-print.Theyprovidetheirownelectricityusingasmallwind-millaswellassolarcells.Itisaseasonalconferencecentreandsowhenthelasteventofthesummerhasfinishedtheycleareverythingupandthesitereturnstobeapastureforcattle. Onsiteaccommodationiseitherwithyourowntentorbyrentingoneoftheirfurnishedtepeesoryurts.Mealsaremadeonsitewithlocalproduce,andservedattheappropriatelynamed‘TheHive’withseatingonawoodenbencharoundacentralfireplace.TheyevenhavetheirownpubtheRisingSunflower,runbya‘largerthanlife’landlordaformerGreenPartymayorofStroud.Theinsideispleas-antlydecoratedwitholdcarpetsandhangingsthatcreateanatmospherethatwouldeasilyfitintoasetfortheHobbitorsomelandfarawayfrommodernlife. Forthemaineventswewereseatedoncoveredstrawbalesinalarge,spaciousmarquee.Therewastheoccasionalreminderoftechnologywiththesmallvideore-corderandlighting.Otherwise,itwasaverypleasantnaturalenvironmenttositin. Onthedayofmyvisit,DavidHeaf(oneofthestarsof‘TheQueenoftheSun’film)wasbilledasthefirstspeaker.HegaveaveryclearandeloquentlectureonSustainableBeekeeping.ThisdrewonhisseveralyearsofexperienceandresearchwithhisbeesinNorthWales.Asitwassoinformativeitisreproducedinfullinthisissue.Fourpresentationsfollowed.OnebyPhilChandler(TheBarefootBeekeeper)onthehorizontalTopBarhivewhereheexplaineditsadvantagesandhowtomakeyourown.Heexplainedhowthehiveallowedfora“lowinterference”ap-proach,animportantfeatureofbee-friendlybeekeeping.HeidiHerrmannoftheNaturalBeekeepingTrustexplainedtheworkingsoftheEinraumbeute(goldenhive).Forthisshehadoneofher(many)beautifullypaintedhivesonhand.Shespokeoftheattributesneededforgoodbeekeeping:Thewillingnesstolearn,humility,loveandtrustinthewisdomofthebees.Thegoldenhiveallowsthecolonytoconstructlarge,uninterruptedbroodareasandworkswithframes,butwithouttheuseoffoundation.Thehiveismuchfavouredinbiodynamicbeekeepingcirclesforthemanywaysin

By Richard Swann

whichtheneedsofthe“Bien”aremet,whilstallowingeasyhandlingbythebeekeeper. DavidHeafgaveahandsonintroductiontotheWarréhiveandhowtoconstructone.Forthefourthpres-entation,AndyPearcedemonstratedthePeroneautomatichive.AllapartfromHeidi’spresentationscanbeviewedonYoutube.ThelinkcanbefoundontheBiobeeswebsite:http://www.biobees.com/naturalbeekeepingalliance/ PennyCrowderoftheNaturalBeekeepingTrustveryablyheldasmallsessiononbiodynamicbeekeepingtoanenthusiasticgroupinayurt,wheresheveryclearlyexplainedthebasicprinciplesofbiodynamicsandwherethebeesfitin.ShespokeabouttheimportanceofGoetheanobservationasavitalmeansforlookingatthelifeofthebee.Shealsospokeabouttheimportanceofthebeeinthefarmorganismandthatbeesgiveayeasttothecowsviatheflow-ersinthemeadow.InHollandtheyhavetestedtheherbageandcandemonstratetheimpactthesetwoanimalshaveontheland. JohnHardingentertainedandinvolvedpartici-pantsthroughusingdowsingtoshowhowwecandetectgeopathicstresslines.Theserunacrossthewholeworldandwheretheycrossthereisatendencyforthebeestoswarmthere. Participantscamefromallwalksoflife.Somewereprofessionalbeekeepersandsomeamateurwithonlyacoupleofhives.Asconferencesdedicatedtobee-friendlybeekeepingarefewandfarbetween,peoplecamefromalloverthecountryaswellasFranceandGermanytoat-tend.Herearesomeoftheappreciativecommentstheymade:‘Athoroughlyenjoyableandinformativeweekend.Thefirsttimewehavebeentogetherinagroupoflike-mindedpeople.Enjoyedsharingexperienceswithothers.’,‘Theconferencewasworthcomingalongwayfor.Averyimportanteventforanyonewhocaresaboutthefutureofthebees.’and‘ItwaslovelytolearnthatIamnotalonevoiceinthewilderness,butsharemybeekeepingthoughtsandideaswithlotsofotherpeople.’ EncouragedbythesuccessofthisfirstconferenceonNaturalBeekeepinginthiscountrytheNaturalBeekeep-ingAlliance,ajointventurebetweentheNaturalBeekeepingTrustandbiobees,hasdecidedtostageanotheronein2012.Nextyear’snaturalbeekeepingconferencewilltakeplaceatEmersonCollegeinSussex.AsthisissituatedclosetotheNaturalBeekeepingTrust’shomeapiaryaswellasForestRow’stwomodelbiodynamicfarms,plentyof“beeaction”willbeassured.Moreinformationwillsoonbeavailableonwww.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org.n

The

NaTural BeekeepiNg CoNfereNCe

© R

ichar

d Sw

ann

http://www.biobees.com/naturalbeekeepingalliance/

http://www.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org


Keynote Address to the Natural Beekeeping Conference, 5-7 August 2011, Green and Away1, Worcestershire, organised by the Natural Beekeeping Alliance2.

firstly, i would like to say a warm thanks to the organisers for putting on this conference, the first on natural Beekeeping in Britain. Whatismorepreciousthangold?Iheardaquietanswersomewheretotheleft–itisconversation!Andwhydowecometoconferencesotherthantomeetpeopleandconverse?TherearemanypeopleherewithwhomI’vebeeninregularcontactbuthavenevermet,includingHeidiHerrmannandPhilChandler,soIreallyvaluethiseventformakingthesemeetingspossible.IwouldalsoliketotakethisopportunityofsayingaspecialthankstoPhilChandlerforhelpingtoputnaturalbeekeepingwiththePeople’sHiveofAbbéÉmileWarréonthebeekeepingmapbyofferingspaceonhiswebsitefortheWarréproject.3 IstartedexperimentingwithmorenaturalmethodswithmyNationalhivesin2005.Ilookedaroundforsourcesofadviceinnaturalbeekeeping.IhadreadRudolfSteiner’sbeelectures4longbeforeandreturnedtothem.BeesforDevelopment,headedbyNicolaBradbearhadalreadypioneeredsustainablebeekeepingandwasagoodsourceofguidance.AndIcameuponPhil’shorizontal(Kenyan)top-barhivepagesaroundthattime. In2006whenIwasconsideringmakingatop-barhive,JohannesWirzattheGoetheanuminSwitzerlanddrewmyattentiontotheWarréhive.Imadesomein2006andpopulatedthemin2007.Iwassoenthusedbytheprin-ciplesunderlyingthehivethatitseemedworthtranslatingWarré’sbookL’apiculturepourtousintoEnglish.PatandIdidthatin2007andpublisheditfreeontheInternet.5Soonitgeneratedmuche-correspondenceandphonecallsaswellasattractingafewvisitorsfromoverseas.SowithPhil’swebspaceIsetupasiteforsharinginformationabouttheconstructionanduseofthehive.Inwhatseemedamatterofmonths,itwasbeingtriedoutinmanycountries,especiallytheUSA.Aninternationale-grouptodiscusstheuseofthehivesoonfollowed.6 Philalsohelpedmeingettinginvolvinginnatu-ralbeekeepinginanotherway.Heaskedmetoreadandcommentonsomeofthedraftofhisbook,TheBarefootBeekeeperwhichwasthefirstwhollydevotedtonaturalbeekeeping.Severalnaturalbeekeepingbookshavecomeoutsince,includingmyownTheBee-friendlyBeekeeper.7IhadwrittenarticlesonbeekeepingwiththeWarréhiveforseveralmagazines,includingStarandFurrow,8whenthreedifferentpublishersindependentlysuggestedthatIwrite

abook.EventuallyItookthehintandofthosetowhomIsentthemanuscript,itturnedouttobeJerryBurbidgeofNorthernBeeBookswhorusheditintoprint. Iwouldalsoliketothank,perhapsalittlemoretentatively,theNaturalBeekeepingAllianceforinvitingmetodeliverthiskeynoteaddress.Isay‘tentatively’,becauseitissuchabigchallengeespeciallywithsomanyexperiencedbeekeeperspresent.WhenHeidioriginallyaskedmesomemonthsagotodothistalk,thesuggestedtopicwasnaturalbeekeeping,butiteventuallybecamesustainablebeekeeping,clearlyasubjectwithamuchbroaderscope.Sothispresen-tationwillbeinprettyboldbrushstrokes.Therearethirteenotherspeakersintheprogrammeandtheywillbefillinginthefinedetail. InthinkingaboutwhatIcouldpossiblysay,Ibe-cameuncomfortablyawarethattheterm‘naturalbeekeeping’isanoxymoron,i.e.isself-contradictory.Assoonasyouputbeesinaboxyouhavetakenastepontheroadtounnatural-ness.Afterthatyoucouldgofurtherandfurtherdowntheroadofincreasingunnaturalness,dependingonyourworldoutlookordesires.SometimeagoIdraftedwhatIcalledtheUniversalScaleofIncreasingArtificialityinbeekeeping.AsoverhalfofyouputyourhandsupwhenIaskedintheintro-ductionsessionlastnighthowmanyconsideredthemselvesbeginnersatbeekeeping,Iwillreadallofitout.Maybesomeofthemanipulationswillbeasurprisetoyou.

The essence of Sustainable Beekeeping

by David Heaf

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1. Putting bees in a container (e.g. skep, hollow log)2. Providing top-bars with comb guides (e.g. Kenyan, Warré & Perone hives)3. Providing frames4. Providing frames with foundation5. Providing plastic foundation6. Providing a mesh floor7. Nadiring/Supering8. Opening the hive9. transporting the hive10. Feeding (e.g. a. planting forage; b. honey.)11. removing honey12. Controlling swarming13. Drone suppression14. Practising brood nest spreading15. Providing a queen excluder16. Clipping the queen’s wing17. Feeding sugar in emergencies.18. Artificial queen breeding19. regular transportation of hives as in migratory beekeeping (i.e. transhumance)20. removing too much honey and feeding back sugar syrup21. Medicating with so-called organic treatments (e.g. a. powdered sugar; b. organic acids present in the hive; c. essential oils present in the hive)22. Medicating with synthetics and antibiotics


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IdrewupthislisttosendtoDeeLusby’se-groupintheUSA,whichclaimstobeconducting‘treatment-freebee-keeping’.9ThelistcouldalsobecalledaUniversalScaleofBeekeepingTreatments,aseverythingfromputtingbeesinacontaineronwardscouldjustifiablybecalledatreatment.So,obviouslytheterm‘treatment-freebeekeeping’isasmuchanoxymoronas‘naturalbeekeeping’.Incidentally,initsintentions,themovementthatDeeandEdLusbystartedisprobablytheclosestequivalentintheUSAtotheUK’sNaturalBeekeepingAlliance. Asanaside,IwouldliketosaythatthelistoftreatmentsIreadtoyoushouldreallybepresentedasama-trixoratablewithseveralcolumnsbecauseithasbranchesdependingonwhathiveyoustartwith.JohnHaverson,whoishere,hasmadeastartindrawingupsuchamatrix.Butitgetscomplicatedbecausetherearefurtherbranchpoints.Weendupwithamultidimensionalmatrixthatishardtopicture. Thereexiststheviewthatmankindispartofna-tureandthuseverythingmankinddoesisnatural.PolixenesrepresentsthisviewinhisconversationwithPerditainShakespeare’sAWinter’sTale.PerditatakestheoppositeviewandIexpectthatmostofusheregoalongwithher.Thismeansthatallbeekeepingismoreorlessunnatural. Facedwiththisconundrum,whatisitthatunitesusallincomingtothisconference?Isuggestthatitisouref-forttoputthespecies-specificneedsofthebeeatthecentreofourbeekeeping.InGerman,theycallit‘wesensgemäßBienenhaltung’,whichcouldbetranslatedas‘bee-appropri-atebeekeeping’.Asthatseemsabitofamouthful,Ifavouredtheterm‘bee-friendlybeekeeping’.Butthatsoundstoomuchlikethetitleofabookbyoneparticularbeekeeper!SoIhavecoinedtheterm‘apicentricbeekeeping’whichIwouldliketolaunchatthisconference. On25JulyIsearchedfortheterminGoogle.Therewerenoentries,soIaddedittomyhomepageatbee-friendly.co.uk.On30Julytherewasoneentry,andthatwasmyhomepage.However,Iclaimnoownershipoftheterm.Maybetheorganiserswouldliketocallthenextconferenceinthisseries‘ApicentricBeekeeping’? Now,afterthatlittlesemanticdiscussion,Icomebacktomytheme:sustainablebeekeeping.Foranythingwedotobesustainableitshouldmeettheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityofpeopleelsewhereontheplanet,orfuturegenerations,tomeettheirownneeds.Livingsustainablyfallsunderthreebroadcriteria:economic,socialandenvironmental.Thesecriteriaaresometimesreferredtoasthethreeleggedstoolofsustainability.Ifonelegismissingthestoolfallsover.Allthreecriterianeedtobeconsidered. Firstlylet’slookattheenvironmentalaspect:thisvenuehereatGreenandAwayvisiblyandtangiblyexpressesit.Youmaywishtoexplorethesiteandstudytheingeniouswaysthatthevenueandthewayitworksreducestheenvironmentalfootprintoftheconferencesheldhere–rightdowntothecompostloos!AndIcannotescapethefactthatIunderminedthatreductionbydrivingherefromNorthWales,albeitwithacarloadofhiveequipment.Thesimplicityofapicentric,naturalbeekeepingcanhelpkeepconsumptiontoaminimum.Wedonotneedtobeluredbythoseequipmentcataloguesintobuyingmoreandmore

stuff.Thelowerinterventioninvolvedhelpsuscutfossilfueluseintraveltoout-apiaries.Mybeekeepingtravelislargelybybicycle,ifnecessarywithatrailerattached. Wemayalsowishtoconsidertheeffectofourbeekeepingonnativepollinators.Toomanyhivesinoneplacemightmakeithardforotherbeespeciestosurvive.Tomorrow,weshallhearmoreonwildbeesfromBrigitStrawbridge. Nowtothesocialaspect:tomakebeekeepingsociallysustainableitmustnotadverselyimpactthelivesofothers.Thatmeanscareinsitingapiariescoupledwithpubliceducationaboutswarminganditshealthbenefitforbees.Heidiwillcoverthistomorrow.Hiveproductscanhavehealthbenefitsforsociety,andshouldofcoursebefairlytraded.Andthereisthebeneficialeffectonthewellbeingofindividualsorgroupsengaginginthisopenairactivity.Idon’tgoasfarasacceptingtheclaimthathumanlifeontheplanetisdependentonthehoneybee,butshecertainlyenhancesourlife. Whatabouttheeconomicsofbeekeeping?Isuspectthatmanyherearelessinterestedintheeconomicsustainabilityofbeekeeping.I’mguessingthatwearepre-dominantlyhobbyistswhowouldsettlefortheenjoymentofwatchingbeesandtakingamodestcropofhoneyforfamilyandfriends.Manybeekeepersfundtheirbeekeepingfromotheractivities.Buttheremaybeafewsidelinersamongusforwhombeekeepingisanimportantsupplementtotheirincome.Andindevelopingcountriesthisisespeciallyim-portant.Peoplewouldbelesslikelytokeepbeesifitwasnoteconomicallysustainableforthem.Incidentally,arethereanycommercialbeekeepers,beefarmersamongstus?[Onehandwentup.] Sothatverybrieflycoversenvironmental,socialandeconomicsustainability.Butinbeekeeping,likeinanyformofhusbandry,thereisafourthcriterion,onethatcan-notbesubsumedunderthethreethatformthe‘threeleggedstool’,andthatisthespecies-specificneedsoftheanimal,inourcasethebee.AndIamsureitislookingafterthe‘bee-ness’ofthebeethatmotivatesmostofthosewhohavecometothisconference. PhilChandlerhaselaboratedthreebasicprinciplesofnaturalbeekeeping:10

1. Interferenceinthenaturallivesofthebeesiskepttoaminimum.

2. Nothingisputintothehivethatisknowntobe,orlikelytobeharmfuleithertothebees,tousortothewiderenvironment,andnothingistakenoutthatthebeescannotaffordtolose.

3. Thebeesknowwhattheyaredoing:ourjobistolistentothemandprovidetheoptimumconditionsfortheirwell-being,bothinsideandoutsidethehive. Althoughthoseprinciplesappearunderthehead-ing‘naturalbeekeeping’,theycouldjustasaptlybetheprinciplesofapicentricbeekeeping. NowPhilcautionsagainstelaboratingtheseprinciplesintoabookofrules.Icangoalongwiththat.Evenwithintheapicentricbeekeepingmovementthereisanextraordinarydiversityofviewsandapproaches.There


needstobesomeflexibilitytoaccommodatethatdiversity.OK,weknowthatorganicandbiodynamicstandardshavealegalaspectbecausetheproductsaretradedandthecus-tomerwantstobesureofwhattheyarepayingfor.Butmostnaturalbeekeepersarenotorganicorbiodynamiccertified.However,theydowanttobepartofacommunitythatisworkingtothesamegoalstodevelopanunderstandingofthelifeandneedsofthebee. Furthermore,beginnersmightbegladofsomeclearguidelinesastherearesomeaspectstheymightnotthinkaboutuntiltheyaremoreexperienced,butwishedtheyhadthoughtaboutearlier.ThemostembarrassingthingIdidasabeginnerstillmakesmeblush.MymentorsaidIneededparadichlorobenzenetostopthewaxmothsfromdestroyingthecombinmysupers.Idulyboughtapackofparadichlorobenzene.Itsmeltvaguelyofmothballs.IsoonrealisedthatIdidnotneeditandIneverusedit.WhenIwenttolookforitacoupleofyearsagowithaviewtoarrangingforitssafedisposal,allIcouldfindwasthepack,stillsealedinsideanotherbag.Thoughcrystalline,ithadevaporatedthroughtheplasticbagsandisnowsome-whereuptheredoingitsbittowrecktheozonelayer. Imentionedthatwetakeourcuefromtheneedsofthebee.Wherecanwefindoutwhatthebee’sneedsare?Observationofbeesisinfirstplace,seeing,hearingandsmellingasmuchasyoucanfromoutsidethehive.HeinrichStorch’sbookAttheHiveEntrancecanhelpyouwiththis.Ourbeesareourteachers. Thebestteacherswouldnodoubtbeferalhoneybees.FeralhoneybeecoloniesseemtobebouncingbackafterthefirstravagesoftheVarroamite.Indeed,apersoninthisroomknowsthewhereaboutsofatleastfortyferals.Canwelearntheirsecret? Apartfromobservingthebees,readasmuchbeebiologyasyoucan.AverygoodstartforthebeginnerisJürgenTautz’sBuzzAboutBees–ThebiologyofaSuper-organism.Itisafinesynthesisofanholisticapproachbackedbyalltheresourcesofanalyticalscience.MarkWinston’sBiologyoftheHoneyBeeisavaluableresource.Andifyouhavetime,readasmuchbeescienceasyoucanintheapi-ologicaljournals,oratleastthedigestsofitinthebeekeep-ingmagazines.Althoughweshouldkeepinmindthatalotofbeeresearchisdoneoncoloniesinframehivesandmaynotreflectthebiologyandbehaviourofthebeeatitsmostnatural. LetuslookathowsomeofPhil’sthreeprinciplescouldtranslateintopractice.WhatIpresentnowishowIwouldinterpretthemformyself.Thereisnothingherethatisintendedtobeprescriptive. Firstlythechoiceofhive:honeybeescanadapttoanysortofcavity.ThestrangestcavityI’veseenahoneybeenestinisawatercompanyvalvechamberintheground.11Beescanevensurvivethewinterhighamongstthebranchesoftrees.ButthesearehardlytheoptimumconditionsmentionedinPhil’sthirdprinciple.Soweputourbeesincontainers.IntheUK,aloghiveoraskepisprobablythemostbee-friendlyhive.BritishBeekeepers’Associationco-founderFrankCheshirecalledtheskepa‘hiveforbees’incontrasttohis‘hivesforbeekeepers’.12Inthenextconfer-enceinthisseriesIhopeskepbeekeepingwillberepre-sented.[PhilChandler:wedohaveaskephere.]Butskeps

orwoodenhivesmadefromplanksarenotnecessarilythemostsustainablechoiceeverywhere.Thatmeansthatlocalconditionsneedtobetakenverymuchintoaccountwhendecidingwhatisthemostsustainable,mostappropriatetechnology. Couldwedonaturalbeekeepinginacommonorgardenframehive,aNationaloraLangstrothforexample?Ithinktheansweris‘yes’.AllnaturalbeekeepingisonascaleofnaturalnessandevenaNationalcouldbeincluded.Youmightwanttodispensewithfoundation,aqueenexcluder,swarmcontrol,routinesugarfeedingetc.Therewereframebeekeepersdoingwithoutthesebeforeanapicentricbeekeepingmovementstartedtotakeonadistinctidentity.And,incidentally,thereisevenaframeversionofWarré’s‘People’sHive’intheearlyeditionsofhisbook. Ifyouaretryingtobesustainableyouwilluserenewablestomakeyourhives.Thatmeansmostlyplantderivedmaterials.Ifyouareconcernedaboutinterferencefrommagneticfields,youwillminimiseoreliminatetheuseofsteelinyourhives.Inanycase,steelhasahighecologicalfootprint,i.e.ittakesupadisproportionateamountoftheglobalhectareagetoproduceitanddisposeofwastecom-paredwith,say,wood. Butwedonotwanttoleavethebeekeeper’sneedsentirelyoutoftheequation.Tohusbandbeesthecontainerusedneedstohaveacertaindegreeofmanageability.Thattakesustotop-barhivessuchastheverticaltop-barhive,examplesofwhichareOscarPerone’shiveandthePeople’sHiveofÉmileWarré,totheKenyanhorizontaltop-barhive,andeventotheframehivecalledtheEinraumbeute(oneboxhive).Allfourhiveswillbepresentedaftercoffeeinfourparallelsessions:theWarrébymyself,theKenyanbyPhil,theEinraumbeutebyHeidiandthePeronebyAndyPearceandHazel.Eachpresentationwillberepeatedthreetimesathalf-hourlyintervals. Ibelievethatbeekeepersofwhateverpersuasionshouldbefreetochoosethehivethatsuitsthem.Iliketoseepluralityinhivetype.Indeed,somewaghasstatedthatitisthedutyofeverybeekeepertoinventanewhivebeforetheydie.And,lookingatthehistoryofbeekeeping,somethingapproachingthatseemstohavebeengoingon.Iurgetheof-ficialsoftheNationalBeeUnitandthebeekeepingassocia-tionstorespectthatpluralityandtoinformthemselves,eventotheextentofgettingsomeappropriatetraininginhowthemoreapicentrichivesareconstructedandmanaged. Thelinkingfeatureofallfourhivesisnear-naturalcomb.Itisnot100%naturalbecausethecombspacingispredeterminedbythebeekeeper.Significantlynarrowerspacingoccursinthewild.Irecentlyremovedaferalcolonyfromachimney.Itscombspacingaveraged29mm;30-31mmiscommon.13

Anotherfeatureofnaturalcombisthatthebeesfixittothesidesandtopofthecavities,leavingperipheralgal-leries,usuallyatthesides.Allthreetop-barhivesallowthebeestodothat.JohannesThürhypothesisesthatclosingthecombtothehivewallsisimportantforwhathecallsNest-duftwärmebindung,theretentionofnestscentandheat.14Butframedcombusedinmodernhivesisdesignedtopreventthenestfromfixingtothesideofthecavity.Ithinktheintegrityofthebeecolonysuperorganismissomethingthatweareonlyjustattheverybeginningofunderstanding.


Itisworthkeepinganeyeonunfoldingresearchaboutthis. Naturalcomballowsthebeestodecideforthem-selveswhatcellsizetheywant,inparticularhowmanydronecellstobuildintothecomb.Ahealthycolonyinhighseasonhasaboutathousanddrones.Dronesaremoreimportanttocoloniesthanforjustmatingwithqueens.Adronehasahigherheatoutputthanaworkerandcanfreeupworkersfortasksotherthankeepingthehivewarm. Notonlydoescombcellsizevaryaccordingtowhetherdronecellsareproducedbutalsonaturalworkercellsvaryinsizetoo.15Ifyouareusingnear-naturalcombyoudonothavetoworryaboutthis.Thebeeswilldecide.Butifyouusesheetsofembossedwaxfoundationyouareforcingbeesontoauniformcellsize. Onemightbeexcusedforthinkingthattheabsenceofframesinthesetop-barhivesImentionedmakesthemuninspectable.Onthecontrary,justalittlemorecareisneededforinspection,andacoupleofextratools.16

Whereshouldyouinstallyourhive?Ideallyitshouldbewherethereisagooddiversityofpollenandnectarforageovertheentireseason.Thisisofteneasilyat-tainedinacity,lesssoinsomeofthegreendesertsthatouragriculturallandscapeshavebecome.I’mluckyinlivinginaflorallydiverseareawithlotsofmarginallandandwood-land.Beekeepersrarelycommandenoughacreagetomakeasignificantdifferencetotheforageoftheirbees.Butitisneverthelessagoodplantofillthegardenwithbeeplants.Ifnothingelse,itisapleasuretowatchthebeesforaging. Whatbeesshouldyouputinyourhive?Trytouselocallyadaptedbeesifyoucan.Ihardlythinkitsustainabletousebeesthathavebeenair-freightedfromtheantipodes.Thereisoftenagoodtradeinbeesinlocalbeekeepingasso-ciationsatpriceswellbelowcommercialrates.Beginnersareoftengivenswarms.Youcanattractlocalbeesbysettingupbaithiveswithswarmlures.Ihavea35%successratedoingthis.17

Iffollowsfromthefirstprincipleofnaturalbee-keepingthatyouwillopenyourhivesonlyifthereisverygoodreasonandyouhavethepossibilityoftakingsomeremedialaction.Forexample,inahorizontaltop-barhiveyoumayneedtoadjustthecombalittleasthecolonygrows.Eachopeningofacolonydisruptsforawhiletheinteg-rityofthenest,violatestheretentionofheatandthenestatmosphere,whichincludesitshumidityandbouquetofvolatilecompoundswhichhaveyettobefullyidentifiedandassignedarole.Thisdisruptioncreatesremedialworkforthebees,andthatisanenergycosttothecolony. Nowtothecontroversialissueofcolonyreproduc-tion.Wehumansfindourownreproductioninconvenientformostofthetimeandsotrytokeepthelidonit.Weextendthistothenaturalreproductionofbeecolonieswhichisbyswarming.Mostbeekeeperstrytostopthisoratleastbringitundertheirowncontrol.Indoingsotheyareinterferingatthemostcrucialpointinthemaintenanceofthefuturefitnessofthebeepopulation.Awholear-rayofcomplexbehaviourssubjecttonaturalselectionarecircumventedbypreventingreproductionbyswarming.Ifyouwantavividdescriptionofthese,TomSeeley’sbookHoneybeeDemocracyisagoodplacetostart.Removingtheinfluenceofnaturalselectioncanprogressivelyreducethefitnessofthebees.

Probablythemostpowerfulargumentinfavourofnaturalswarmingistodowiththecontrolofdiseaseinthebeepopulation.Swarmingisassociatedwithonlyverticaltransmissionofdisease,whichtheorypredictswillselectforlowpathogenvirulence,milderpathogens,ifyoulike.18Thismeansthatifthepathogenkillsthehostthatistheendofthelineforbothhostandpathogen.Ontheotherhand,multiplyingcoloniesbysplittingthem,asiscommonbeekeepingpractice,increaseshorizontaldiseasetransmis-sionwhichevolveshighpathogenvirulence.Thisisbecausethemainreservoirfordiseaseisusuallythebroodcombsandthebroodinthem.Ifthepathogenkillsoffonepartofasplitthereisstillachanceforanotherparttosurviveandpropagatethepathogen.Itisnottheendofthelineforthepathogen.Andevenifallpartsofasplitfailthereisstillinfectedcombandequipmentpresenttospreaddisease,e.g.throughrobbing.Helpedbycommonbeekeepingpractices,pathogenscanfreelydeveloptheirvirulence.Forexam-ple,theirreproductivefitnesscanincrease,asthereislessincentivetocurbitsufficientlytoallowtheinfectedcolonytoswarmandthussecurethepathogen’ssurvivalbyverticaltransmission.Theresultisselectionforincreasedlethalityofpathogens. Anothercluetothevalueofswarmingisthataswarmgenerallytriestomoveafewhundredmetresfromtheparentcolony.Thiscanreducecolonydensityataparticularsite.Thisbehaviourcouldreducenotonlydiseasetransmissionriskbutalsocompetitionforforage.Itshouldbekeptinmindwhendecidingonhowmanyhivestoanapi-ary.TomSeeleyfoundthatwildhoneybeessurvivingVarroahadanaverageofakilometrebetweencolonies.Asthesayinggoes:theworstenemyofabeecolonyisanotherbeecolony.Myownhivedensityis2.5hivesperapiary.Outofcuriosity,Iworkedoutmyaveragehiveseparation.Myaver-agehiveseparationis1.3km.However,therangeis1metreto3.5km,andIhavenotfactoredinknownferalcoloniesoraneighbouringbeekeeper’shives. Byspeakinginfavourofreproductionbyswarm-ing,someaccusemeofbeingirresponsible.Swarmscanbeinconvenienttoneighbours.Ofcourse,noteverybeekeeperhastheluxuryofsimplylettingtheirbeesswarm.Someadaptationtolocalcircumstancesisoftenneeded,especiallyinurbanareas.Althoughwecouldequallysaythatifthepublicwanthoneybees,thentheyshouldbepreparedtotoleratethemwhentheyswarmandknowexactlywhotocalliftheswarmsetsuphomeintheirchimney.Heidiwillbeaddressingtheswarmissueinhertalktomorrow.Beekeep-ersworkingwithreproductionbyswarmingcanreduceitsimpactonthelocalitybylearningallthewaysoftakingswarms,andbystrategicplacementofbaithives.Baithivesarenotonlycollectorsofswarmsbutalso,throughtheirentranceactivity,indicatorsofimminentorrecentswarmemergence.Incidentally,Ibelievethatatleasthalfthecolo-niesIhaveremovedfrombuildingsinthepastfewyearsarefromconventional,dareIsayunnatural,beekeepers. Havingspokeninfavourofnaturalreproduction,itfollowsthatqueenbreedingissomethingthatisbestlefttothebees.Thereareallsortsofgoalsinartificialqueenbreeding.Suppressionofdefensivenessandswarminessaretwocommonones.Asscientistshavefoundacorrelationbetweendefensivenessontheonehandandproductivity


andwintersurvivalontheother,19itisdoubtfulifsuchselectionissustainable.Furthermore,theremaybeothermoresubtlecorrelationstodowithfitnessandsurvivalthatwedonotyetknowabout.Soletusleavereproductiontothebee.Inmyview,thatalsogoesfortheeffortstorestoretheindigenousBritishbeeApismelliferamelliferatopartsofBritain.Itseemstomethatitisonlysustainableifallbee-keeperssignuptoit,andeventhenagooddealofartificial-ityisinvolvedinreachingthatgoal.Thedifferencebetweenbreedingbees,andsay,pigs,isthatinthelattercasewecanhaveitsreproductionentirelyunderourcontrol. Anotherfeatureofbreedingbeesistosidelinethecommons,namelythebeesthatjusthappentobeinyourlocality.Therearefamousbreederswhohavemanagedtospreadtheiridealisedbee’sgenesroundtheworld.Iamsureyouhaveheardofthe‘Fastbuck’breedofbee. Whatisthesustainableapproachtopestsanddisease?Thesimpleansweristokeeponlyhealthycolonies.ButthereisonepestthatisstillcausinggreateconomicdamagetobeekeepingintheUK,andthatisVarroa.HowshouldwedealwithVarroainasustainableway? SomeofyoumayknowthatIamnotano-treat-mentfanatic,eventhoughIdonottreatmyowncolonies.Ifabeekeeperhasonlyoneortwocoloniesandwantstoincreasethecertaintythattheywillhavethemnextyear,maybetheywouldwanttotreat.However,unfortunately,themoreorganicofthechemicaloptionsarereallynotparticu-larlyorganicatall.Indeedtheyarequitepoisonousforthebees.AndevenconventionalapiologistswritinginNormanCarreck’srecentreviewoftheVarroaproblemagreethatthesustainableoptioninthelongtermdoesnotinvolveputtingchemicalsinthehive.20AlotofbeekeepersthatIknow,includingsomeconventionalbeekeepersinmylocality,donottreatforVarroaandseemtobeabletosustainthehigherlossesthatareusuallyinvolved.ManyintheUSAwhoprac-tisesmall-cellbeekeepingseemeventuallytofindthattheirlossesreturntothoseofpre-Varroadays.Unfortunately,itisnotpossibletofindpeer-revieweddataonthis. Nowwecometothehoneyharvest.Ifyouarelucky,thebeeswillstoresurplushoneyinyourhive.Bysurplushoney,Imeanhoneythatisoverandabovetheirneedsforeventheworstwinterinyourparticularlocality.Iseenoreasonwhyyoucouldnottakethissurplus.Indeed,inastackedhivesuchasthePeople’sHive,itcouldrepresentasignificantheatsinkduringthewinterandmaythereforebebetteroutoftheway. Ifyouareunlucky,thebeesmaynothavestoredenoughhoneyforwinter.Thenthequestionarisesofwhethertofeedornot.Ifyouareadheringtonaturalselec-tion,maybenotfeedingisworthconsidering.IhadaWarrécolonywinterononlyeightandahalfpoundsofstoresandbuilduptoswarmstrengththefollowingspring.Butifyourcoloniesareparticularlyprecious,youwillconsiderfeedingthem.Youmaybeabletofeedbackhoneyfromyourownapiary.Failingthat,honeyfromatrusteddiseasefreelocalsourcewouldbeapossibility.Ifnorelativelysafehoneyistohandthensugarisanoption,butonlyjustenoughtogetthebeesthroughacrisis.Ihavenottriedthebiodynamicoptionofaddingchamomileandthymeteasandalittlesalttosugarsyrup,butitiswidelypractisedanditcouldmitigatetheeffectsoffeedingpuresucrose.

Onceyouhavethehoneyoutofyourhivetherecomesthejobofextractingitforservingatthetable.ThehivesIhavementionedlendthemselvestolowcostextrac-tionbyallowingthehoneytodrain.Thisonlyrequiresutensilsfoundinanykitchen.Itinvolvestheleastprocessingofthehoney.However,itisrelativelyeasytomakeahygienicpressforfreeoutofrecycledmaterialsanduseittospeeduptheextractionprocess.Makingacentrifugalextractorisquiteanothermatter. Ladiesandgentlemen:thatwasameresketchoftheessenceofsustainablebeekeeping.Ihopeyouenjoytherestoftheconference.n

1 www.greenandaway.org2 www.naturalbeekeepingalliance.com3 warre.biobees.com4 Steiner, R. (1923) Bees. Anthroposophic Press, NY.5 warre.biobees.com/bfa.htm6 http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/warrebeekeeping7 www.bee-friendly.co.uk8 Heaf, D. J. (2008) Sustainable & bee-friendly beekeeping. Star & Furrow 109, Summer, 28-31.9 www.beesource.com/point-of-view/ed-dee-lusby/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Organicbeekeepers/10 www.friendsofthebees.com/natural_beekeeping.php11 www.dheaf.plus.com/beeremovals/valvechamber_cutout.htm12 Cheshire, F. R. (1888) Bees and beekeeping; scientific and practical. Vol. II – Practical. The Bazaar Exchange and Mart Office, London.13 www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/natural_comb.htm14 www.users.callnetuk.com/~heaf/thur.pdf15 www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/cell_size_measurements.htm16 http://warre.biobees.com/cutter.htm17 www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/bait_hives.htm18 Fries, I. & Camazine, S. (2001) Implications of horizontal and vertical patho-gen transmission for honey bee epidemiology. Apidologie 32, 199–214. This is downloadable at http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.9.7475&rep=rep1&type=pdf19 Wray, M.K., Mattila, H.R. & Seeley, T. D. (2011) Collective personalities in hon-eybee colonies are linked to colony fitness. Animal Behaviour 81(3) 559-568.20 Carreck, N.L. (Ed.) (2011) Varroa – still a problem in the 21st Century? International Bee Research Association, Cardiff.

http://www.greenandaway.org

http://www.naturalbeekeepingalliance.com

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/warrebeekeeping

http://www.bee-friendly.co.uk

http://www.beesource.com/point-of-view/ed-dee-lusby/

http://groups.yahoo

http://www.friendsofthebees.com/natural_beekeeping.php

http://www.dheaf.plus.com/beeremovals/valvechamber_cutout.htm

http://www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/natural_comb.htm

http://www.users.callnetuk.com/~heaf/thur.pdf

http://www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/cell_size_measurements.htm

http://warre.biobees.com/cutter.htm

http://www.dheaf.plus.com/warrebeekeeping/bait_hives.htm

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.9.74


the story so far…

on 1 august some 30 people crowded into the classroom of the natural Beekeeping trust (www.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org) in ashurst Wood, sus-sex, for a remarkable one-day course given by rev roger druitt, priest of the christian community at canterbury and kings langley. Beingentitled‘NewEyesforBees’,thecourseappearedonpapertopromisepracticalexercisesinobserv-ingsomeofthehivesinthegardensaroundtheclassroom.Butthiswasmoreanexerciseindevelopingtheinnereye.Indeed,itwasnotuntilthefourthofthefoursessionsthatRogerturnedtoconsideringbeesexplicitlyatall.Instead,wespentmuchofthedayonleafobservation:consideringtheformsofdifferentleaves,theprocessofmetamorpho-siswhichlivesunseenbetweenthevisibleforms,andthegestureoftheplantwhichlivesunseenbehindthemetamor-phosis.Thepurposewastoawakenustothecosmicdimen-sionofsuchobservation,insofaras,whenwegothroughthisprocessofmetamorphicthinking,wearehelpingtobringcosmicforcesintotheplant.Ouractivityofobservationhelpstoliberatethespiritoftheplant,andtorenderwhatweobserveimmortal. How,weweretheninvitedtoconsider,canweap-plysuchaprocessofobservationtothelifeofabeecolony?Howdowefindform,metamorphosisandgestureinthehive?Rogerofferedseveralinstances.Theconstantmove-mentfromcentretoperipherytocentrewithinthewintercluster,aninnerdynamicthatmaintainsthetemperaturerequiredforsurvival.Orthedispersaloftheclusterwhenforagingactivitybeginsinthespring.Orthedistinctpat-ternsofegglayingandbreedingwhichgoverntheproduc-tionofworker,dronesandqueens. Wespentsometimeconsideringtheswarm(“apouringintolevity”,asRogermemorablycalledit),whichcombinesbothdispersalandclustering.Unlikeotheranimals,whichhaveagroupsoulforthewholespecies,each

NewEyesforBeesBy Hugh Salveson

colonyofbeeshasitsowngroupsoul.Thehatchingofanewqueenistherisingofanewsuninthehive,promptingtheoldqueentoleave.Herdepartureisakindofdeath,asthegroupsoulofthecolonyleaveswithher.Therefollowsrapidflight,theformationofanewcluster,andthefindingofanewhomeinakindofrebirth.Theanalogywiththegerminationoftheseedisclear:“Exceptacornofwheatfallintothegroundanddie,itabidesalone:butifitdie,itbringsforthmuchfruit”(John12,24). Theanalogywithplantscanhelpusfurtherinobservingbees.Whenwefirstseealeaf,thereisaninitialfleetingmomentofpureperception,strippedofthoughtsandjudgements,akindofcollisionbetweenoursenseorgansandoursentientsoul.Wecanexperienceasimilarjoltwhenweobservebees;butitismoreacutebecausethebeesinturnarecommunicatingwithus.Theyrespond,freeofjudgement,towhatwesaytothem,andeventowhatwethink.Ifwelistentothem,theycanhelpustorealiseour-selvesmorefullyashumanbeings.Andweinturncangivethemwhattheyneedinordertosurviveinanincreasinglybee-unfriendlyworld.

and What’s coming up…

Inresponsetoreactionstothisevent,RogerDruitthasgenerouslyofferedtogivethecourseagain,butthistimeinexpandedformoverthreesessions,oneamonth,withtheaimofdeepeningourperceptionsofthenaturalworldandinparticulartheworldofbees. Thefirstsession,onMonday30January2012,willaccordinglybedevotedtotheobservationofouterformsinplantsandbees:whatweactuallysee,hear,smell,andtouch.Thesecondsession,onMonday27February,willmoveontoconsiderthemetamorphosesbetweentheseouterforms;andthethird,onMonday26March,willmoveyetfurthertowardstryingtograsptheessentialgestureofthebeingthatisthesubjectofourobservation.VisittheNaturalBeekeep-ingTrustwebsiteforfurtherdetails.n

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next year, on february 27th (steiner’s birthday) a film called the challenge of rudolf steiner, made by Jonathan stedall – with the participation and encouragement of many people world-wide – will be given its premiere in londoni. Jonathan’s nu-merous previous films, distinguished by and loved for their thoughtfulness, include explorations of the life and work of gandhi, tolstoy and Jung, and the candle on the hill series about the camphill movement. What he is working on now, about rudolf steiner, is however, he feels, the most im-portant film he has made – and certainly his own greatest film-making challenge. after what has in many ways seemed to be a lifetime of preparation for this project – with innumerable meetings and conversations serving to deepen his personal con-viction about the profound importance of steiner’s contribution to humanity – Jonathan began filming earlier this year for a documentary about steiner, and about what our relationship has become to-day to the legacy of wisdom that he left us with. HavingtravelledwithJonathanandhisfilmcrew,andquietlywitnessedhoursofremarkablematerialslippingintothecan,ondayaftercommitteddayofstaggeringlythoroughfilmingatlocationsacrosstheglobe,IhavenodoubtthatinFebruarysomethingveryspecial,withgreatpotentialtoenthuseandinspiremanypeople,willemergefromtheinnersanctumofthediningroomatJonathan’shouse,whereheandhiseditorhaveyettospendmanyhard-workingweeks.HowtohonedownsuchawealthoffootagegatheredfromWaldorfSchools,Camphillcommu-nities,Colleges,Clinics,Biodynamicfarmsandgardens,andbyinterviewinganenormousrangeofpeoplewithdeeplythoughtfulthingstosayaboutSteinerandabouttheirownpracticalapplicationofhisideastotheirlivesandwork,seemstometobeadauntingtask.Jonathanrelishesit,andhasbeenspeakingenthusiasticallyofhowbesttomakeavail-ablewhathas,asthehoursspentfilminghaverolledby,ef-fectivelybecomeanarchive.Inadditiontomakingthefilm,heplansnowtowriteabook,andpossiblyalsotoproduceasetofDVDsinwhichsomeofthefascinatinginterviewsfromwhichhewilldrawcanbeshownatgreaterlengththaninthefilm. Withmyownbackgroundnotbeinginfilm,butinbiodynamicgrowing,myratherunder-qualifiedattachment

TheChallengeofRudolfSteiner

tothecrew,tohelpwithadministrationandresearch,sprangfromapersonalwishtograsptheunexpectedopportunitytoleavethenarrowfocusofmyownactivitiesforawhile,andtoseesomeofwhatisgoingonintheworldtodayasregardsbiodynamicagriculture.Therewascertainlyplentyofthisontheschedule,andthefilmprovidespotentialbothtointroducethesubjecttoawideaudiencewhomaynotbeawareofit,andtobringtopeoplewhohavealreadytakenupbiodynamicpracticeshearteningreportsofthemanywaysandmanyplaceswhereSteiner’sinsightsintothenaturalworldarebeingfollowedup.Icanrevealaglimpseofwhatistobeshown,intermsofbiodynamics,inthefilm(with-outIhopespoilingtheplot!)bywritingalittlehereoftwoextraordinarilycontrasting,andequallyexciting,experienceswhichwehadofthebiodynamicworld–oneinSouthernIndiaandoneinCalifornia. WespentaweekfilminginIndia,ourtravelsthereguidedbyJayakaran,or‘Jakes’ashewasbetterknown.Ioverheardhimintroducehimselfatatalkhewasgivingbysaying,withthehumilitywhichsocharacterizedhisapproach,thathe‘happened’tobethepresidentoftheBiodynamicAssociationofIndia‘atthemoment’.MaybeJakespersonallywassurprisedtohaverisentohispostattheheadoftheBDAI.ButasIobservedhimoverthedays-seeinghimquiteunfazedoncamerabydeepquestionsfromJonathanaboutsomeofthecomplexitiesofbiodynamicpractice-hearinghisclear,simple,gentleandundogmaticexplanationsabouttheplanetstoagroupoftraineebiody-namicfarmerswhomwefilmed–witnessinghiskindness,warmthandsensitivitytoeveryoneheencountered-andgatheringasenseofhisenthusiastic,knowledgeableandrealisticapproachbothtobiodynamicsandtoIndia,myconvictionbecamedeeplythathewasjusttherightpersonforthejob. DuringalongdriveinthedarkalongbumpyroadsfromMaduraitoDindigul–pilotedtoourhotelbyJakeshimselfinhisdelightful,leatheryMorrisOxford-Ilistenedwhilsthespokeatlengthabouthiscountry,herchallenges,theparticularplaceofbiodynamicsthere…Chemicalagri-culturewasintroducedbythegovernmentinthe1960s,hetoldus,andpushedheavilyasbeinga‘greenrevolution’thatwassupposedtofeedeveryone.TheterribleresultofthismisguidedapproachtoproducingfoodisnowanextremestateofdegradationofIndia’sland,andtheappallinglysadfactthatathirdofIndiahasbecomeman-madedesert.With

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TheChallengeofRudolfSteinerIndia’sswellingpopulation(nowat1.2billionpeople,andconstitutingonesixthofallthepeopleintheworld)thereisthelowestpercapitalandavailabilityintheworld–amere.25ofahectareperperson.Indiaisinthethroesofland-trauma,withgovernmentagronomistsrelentlesslydrivingagriculturewithmaterialistic,reductionist,chemically-biased‘solutions’.Monsantoisanever-growingpowerintheland.Heart-breakingstoriesoffarmers’suicidesarereportedallthetime.Thehealingpotentialofbiodynam-ics,withitspowertore-enlivendeadenedsoils,andtobringbacksanityandhopetocommunities,isdesperatelyneeded. ThebiodynamicimpulsereachedIndiainthe1990’s,initiallythroughaBrazilianbiodynamicconsultantcalledintohelpaDarjeelingteaproducer.AtasubsequentconferenceoforganicteagrowersinNorthernIndia,theBiodynamicAssociationofIndiawasformedandformallyregisteredin1999,bravelysettingoutuponthetaskto‘makebiodynamicagriculturemainstreamagricultureinIndia’.Twelveyearson,biodynamiccultivationisstillverylargelyexport-driveninIndia,tendingtobetheprovinceoftea,coffeeandfruitgrowers,butenormouseffortsarebeingmadetospreadknowledgeofthebasicsofbiodynamicstoordinarysmallfarmers.PeterProctor,whommanywillbefamiliarwithfromthefilmOneman,Onecow,Oneplanet,didagreatdealofworkupanddownIndiainthisrespect.JakesspoketomepassionatelyabouthisfeelingthatgettingknowledgeofbiodynamicmethodsintothehandsofthesesmallfarmersiskeytohelpingIndiaoutofthedesperatedead-endthatchemicalfarmingistakingIndiatowards,andtalkedenthusiasticallyoftheworkbeingdonetopromotethis.Hepromisedtoshowussomeofthe400hectaresoflandthatheandhisfamilyhavegraduallyturnedfromwaste-landtobiodynamicfruitcultivation,andtogiveusaninsightintotheworkthatgoesintomakinglargequantitiesofthe‘PurpleHills’biodynamicpreparationswhicharenowdistributedtogrowersalloverIndiafromhisKurinjifarms.HewouldalsotakeustoaprojectwithwhichhehashadalonginvolvementataplacecalledSevapur.Here,anex-tensive(and,aswefound,paradise-like)biodynamicherbalmedicinalgardennestlesintoavalleyofsmallbiodynamicfarms,andisthesitewherehehopeseventuallytoopenabiodynamicfarmingschool,tobuildupontheworkheal-readydoesthereoftrainingfarmers,andoftrainingtrainerstotrainfarmers… Jakespointedoutthattheaboundingopen-nesstoSpiritinIndiamakesitveryeasytoconveytheideathatunderpinsbiodynamicpractice-thatthenaturalworldispartofaspiritualmacrocosm.Seeingthatthegrowthofplantsislinkedtothemovementoftheheavens,forexample,isnottoodifficultforpeopletoacceptinacountrywhereitisroutinetoconsultanastrologeraboutmarriage.However,whilstthiseasewiththeconceptofaspiritualrealitypen-etratingandinformingthematerialworldofthesensesisanenormousheadstart,agreatchallengeseemstobethatIndiahassomanydifferentlanguagesandregionalvariations,makingforobstaclesingettingbiodynamicswellknown,andinprovidingswiftandadequate‘extensionwork’withfarmerswhoarespreadoversuchphysicaldistancesanddiversecultures.Jakeswas,Isaw,carryingahugeresponsi-bility–aburdenwhich,howevergracefullyhecarriedit,Ifeltadeepwishtotryandfindwaystohelphimtoshoulder.

HespokeofIndianeedingmoralandfinancialsupportfromothercountriestohelpbiodynamicagriculturetogrow,andofwantingassistancewithbasicpracticalthingsthatcouldmakearealcontribution–likehelptoorganizeandpayfortranslationsofsimpleexplanationsofbiodynamicprinciplesintolocallanguages.ii Jakes,andthesmall,committedteamthatsur-roundshim,areatfullstretch.OurconversationsrevealedthattheywerekeepingmoreballsintheairthanIcouldeas-ilykeepcountof.WhenwevisitedJakes’‘homefarm’tofilmhornmanurepreparationsbeingliftedoutofdarkredsoilunderaroastingtropicalsun,wehadlunchafterwardsontheshadyterraceoutsidehisbeautifulwoodenhousewhichstandspeacefullyandsimplyamongstfruittreesfringingthelowerslopesofthe‘purplehills’,andIheardhimexpresshowrarelyheisabletobeinresidence,withsomuchthatcallsforhisattentionupanddownthecountry.Recentlyhehas(somehow)alsobeenmakingtimetotraveltoNorthKorea,China,CambodiaandTibettohelpsmallgroupsoffarmerstoadoptbiodynamicagriculturetheretoo.JustfourweekslaterwewereintheU.S.A.,drivingthroughgloriousgoldeneveningsunshinewhichburnishedtheluxuriantlygrassyundulatingcontoursoftheCalifornianlandscape,headinguptheSonomaValley,deepintowine-growingcountry,foravisittotheenormouslysuccessfulbiodynamicwinery,Benzigers.Wewereallexcited,notleastbecausewehadheardthatBenzigers’winewasfabulous,andwefoundithardtoimaginethatwe’dleavewithoutagoodchancetoformourownopinionsonthismatter!Thecameramanwasperhapsequallyexcitedbythelight,how-ever,andassoonaswedrewupatthevineyard,hejumpedoutofourvehicleandrushedupthesideofanextinctvol-canoplantedwithbiodynamicvinestogetshotsofwhatwasastaggeringlybeautifullandscapethatseemedtoglowwithasuper-chargedliveliness.Aprofusionofredandwhiterosesbloomedamongstlinesofgrapesandterracesoflavender,weavingatapestryofcolourandfragranceallaroundus.Insectsandbirdswereinabundance,sheepandcowsgrazedpeacefully,andtreesandwoodlandaroundthepropertyaddedtheirmaturemagnificencetothescene.InthemidstofallthisarrivedChrisBenziger–super-chargedinhisownway,withanenormousCalifornianenthusiasmforlife,andapassionforthelandwhichheandhisfamilyowned,whichcamerollingoutofhimlikewavesfromtheoceanonahighspringtide.Ifbiodynamicsisinpartabouteveryland-hold-ingbeingallowedtofindexpressionasabeautifulsymphonyofparts,thenthislarger-than-lifebiodynamicgrape-growerwastheperfectmantocomplementthepowerfullyenergeticlandscapeofthehangingbowl-shapedvalleyhereonthesideofSonomaMountain. ThefollowingdayChriswasjoinedbyMatiasBaker,ayoungmanwhosewisdomandinsightseemedfarbeyondhisyears,andtogethertheywalkedandtalkedusandthecameraroundtheestate.Matias,whenIpinnedhimdownwithafloodofcuriosityabouthisknowledgeabilityaboutbiodynamics,toldmethathe’d“hustledupabunchofdollars”sometimebackandsetouttofindpeopletoteachhim,travellingtoIndiawherehe’dworkedwithPeterProc-tor,andwithJakesandothers,beforereturningtotheU.S.A.toassistDennisKlocek(someonewhomwefilmedafewdayslaterinamostextraordinarygarageinSacramento…)


Screen grabs from the film by Jonathan Stedall

Close-upJakes/India.

ChrisBenziger/USA.

Groupwithcowhorns/India.


Close-upcowhorns/India.

Jakesandgroup–planets/India.

ChrisBenzigerandMatiasBaker/USA.

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ForChrisBenziger,Matiashadbecomeaconsult-ant,andafriend–visitingthevineyardregularlytoofferadviceandguidance,anditwasadelighttowatchandlistenasthesetwomenrespondedintheirowndistinctivewaystothesearchingquestionswithwhichJonathangentlyallowedthemtorevealtheirthoughtsandfeelingsaboutbiodynam-ics.MatiasspokelucidlyandinspiringlyaboutTheAgricul-tureCourse,aboutRudolfSteiner’salchemicalgenius,andaboutthe‘inneragriculture’ofman,andhowworkonthelandandworkontheselfcanideallybecomeanintimatelyrelatedunityakintobreathing.HisphilosophicalmoodsensitivelyencouragedbyJonathan,hespokemovinglyofthewaythatnatureiswisebutnotfree,whilsthumanityisfreebutnotwise… Chris,robustlydowntoearth,fullofenthusiasmforhiswork,spokeoftheauthenticityofbiodynamicagri-culture.LookingroundattheincrediblebeautyoftheBen-zigerland,withallitslayersoflifecontrastingsostronglytothegreenandsilentdesertsofvastswathesofagriculturallandinlargepartsoftheU.S.A.whichareroutinelysprayedfromtheairwithchemicals,hesummeduphisanswertoJonathan’squestionsaboutmanandspiritandnaturebysuggestingthat“thebestchurchintheworldisabiody-namicgarden”. Wehadmanyadditionaladventuresinthein-spiringlandscapesoftheworld’sbiodynamicfarmsandgardens,culminatinginfilminginplacesacrosstheU.K.,

andeverywheremetevidencethatagreatdealofthought-fulnessistodaygoingintopositiveactiontoleadhumanityforwardsintoalessselfishandmorewide-awakerelationshiptotheEarth.Worldwidebiodynamicacreagesmayasyetbesmallincomparisontothosefarmedlessconsciously,butIreturnedhomefromthegreatprivilegeofgainingthisglobalglimpsewithafeelingthat,intermsofthestrengthofthecommittedstrivingthatIhadwitnessedfrombiodynamicgrowers,whatisgoingonwithbiodynamicagricultureamountstoahomeopathicallypotentdoseofhopefulnessfortheworldprocess.n

i ‘The Challenge of Rudolf Steiner’ is now being produced in two 90 minute parts, and will be available on DVD early in the new year (see Cupola Produc-tions website: www.rudolfsteinerfilm.com).Part One will be premiered at Rudolf Steiner House on Monday February 27th at 7.30pm. Both parts will be shown at the Subscription Rooms in Stroud on Sunday March 18th at 5pm and 8pm; and at Michael Hall School in Sussex, Part One will be shown at 8pm on Saturday June 30th, and Part Two at 8pm on Sunday July 1st.Filming took place throughout 2011 in Austria, Switzerland, the USA, India and in the UK. In Part One there are sequences looking at Biodynamics in India, at Plawhatch and Tablehurst Farms in Sussex, and at The Grange Camphill Community in Gloucestershire. Featured in Part Two are sequences filmed at Hawthorn Valley Farm in Upstate New York, at the Benziger Winery in Califor-nia, and at Weleda

ii I would be happy to take on the task of compiling a simple introduction to biodynamic methods and helping to organize its translation into different Indian languages, and into others that would be useful (Cantonese, Mandarin…) If anyone can offer financial or practical assistance with this, please contact me via Star and Furrow.

posters supporting the work of the Biodynamic association of india

India is hungry for learning about biodynamic methods of farming. the spread of knowledge could be much assisted by making clear information on the basics available in the many different languages used in India.

Profits from the sale of these posters will go towards a project to produce a simple booklet about biodynamic methods and to get it translated into as many regional Indian languages as possible.

Donations in support of this project are also very welcome and can be made through the BDA.

Posters cost:A2 £10 plus £1.50 post and packingA3 £6 plus £1.50 post and packing

Email: [email protected]: 01803 813740

Hannah Townsend

healing Waterinstitute

think like nature may 4 - 6, 2012 & June 1 - 3, 2012

the rhythmic poWer of Watermarch 23 – 25, may 11 – 13, July 6 – 8, 2012

with Paul van Dijk

n open up and transform our powers of observationn intensify our wonder and clarify our feelingsn become cautious, careful and lively in our reflections.

healing Water institute, Emerson College, Forest row, East Sussex, EnglandContact for more information: Email: [email protected] Telephone: +44 1342 827965

distance learning accredited level four diploma: Biodynamic: principles and practices

n Eleven modules covering the Biody-namic approach to food productionn Suitable for beginners right through to practising professionalsn Video lessons, lectures, wiki-pages, chat room, virtual classroom and forumn All content produced and supported by the experienced teaching staff at BDAC

enrol now – next term starts January 2012!

Biodynamic agricultural college, Emerson Campus, Hartfield road, Forest row, East Sussex, rH18 5JX, EnglandTelephone: +44 (0) 1342 827771 email: [email protected]

www.bdacollege.org.uk

http://www.rudolfsteinerfilm.com




http://www.bdacollege.org.uk


the trouble is with land, as mark twain once said, they are not making it anymore! as part of researching the feasibility of setting up the Bio-dynamic land trust in Britain, i looked at how french farmers are engaging with developing affordable farmland access. given that our legal systems are so different (in france you are free to do anything, as long as it is permitted, and in Brit-ain thanks to common law you can do anything unless it is forbidden) it was interesting to see how similar solutions are emerging, and we hope there will be a european wide learning exchange with land trusts, ethical banks, farmers and csas next year. i FrancehasaheadstartontheSoilassociationandtheBiodynamicLandTrustswithTerredeLiens(TdL),anationalcitizen-based,civilsocietyorganisation.Thisisanationalfarmlandtrust,constitutedasanon-profitco-op,withco-opshareinvestmenttoraisecapitalforlandpurchasesfororganicfarming.Itiscomposedofaseriesofassociations,onenationalandtwenty-oneregional,coveringallexceptoneofFrenchregions,and2financialtools: 1. LaFoncière,asolidaritycompanylimitedbyshares,organizespublicissuesofsharesandhascollected€22millionsince2007,from8000shareholders,allowingfortheacquisitionof80farmssince2007.Shareholders,aswiththeBiodynamicLandTrust,donotgetafinancialreturnontheirinvestment.Theycandecidetodedicatetheirsharetoaspecificproject,regionorleaveitopen.Untilrecently,shareholdersbenefitedfromataxrebate(ontheirincometaxand/orwealthtax),whichhasnowalmostdisappeared. LaFoncièrebuyslandonlywhencontactedbyafarmer/newentrantwhohasidentifiedaspecificpieceoflandandhasavailableplanofhowtouseit.TheFoncière

examinesthefeasibilityoftheproject,andifitisappropri-atefortheland.Atleastathirdofthemoneyusedtobuythelandmustcomefrommoneycollecteddirectlyfortheproject,soastoshowlocalsupport. Fromthestart,themoneycollectedlargelyex-ceededourexpectations.Atfirst,mostshareholderscamefromTdLorganicandfamilyfarmingorganisations,ruraldevelopmentorganisations,ethicalbankingnetworks,plusorganicconsumers,farmersandproject-developers.TdLnowhasrecognitionasoneformofethicalinvestment. 2.LeFondsisanendowmentfundthatraisesdonationsincashorkind,mostlyfromindividuals(about1000donorshavecontributedabout€400,000and7farms,with5morefarmsontheway).Itisabouttobecomeafully-fledgedlandtrust.Itwillthenbeabletofullyresorttonon-profitstatuteandtoolstodecommodifylandinthelongrun.TheFondsometimesbuyslandandwillhavetofindfarmers.Sofar,allfarmsthathavebeendonatedstillhadfarmersonthemoralreadyhadsuccessors. Allthefarmsareorganic,biodynamicorfamilyfarms;almostalldodirectmarketingorshort-supplychains,andareconnectedwiththeirlocalarea.Manyfarmsalsoundertakeactivitiesthatbenefitlocalcommunitiesorareinthepublicinterest,suchaswelcomingorganic/andbiody-namicapprentices,conservationofrareortraditionalbreedsandspecies,agro-tourism,educationalactivities,etc.).Farmsareofalltypessuchasmarketgardens,cereals,breeding,andarespreadthroughoutFrance.(See:http://www.terredeliens.org/spip.php?article453).Thefarmsrepresentover2100hectares,withabout240workingadultsastenantfarmers,farmworkersandnon-farmingworkersengagedinotherruralactivities.Thisismorethantwicethenationalaverageofagriculturalworkerperhectare. Almostalloftheworkdonetointeractwith

AffordableLandforFarmersinFrance:

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farmers/projectholders,localstakeholders,municipali-ties,citizens/andshareholdersisdonebyTdLstaffintheregionalbranchesandvoluntaryworkers.Therearestronglocalgroups,resourcepersonsontheboardoftheLaFoncionaireandLaFonds.TdLcurrentlyhasabout35staff,only2intheFoncière,2intheFond,but25intheregionalbranches.TdLalsohasanetworkof1000membersalloverFrance. InFrance,farmtenanciesandthelandmarketarehighlyregulatedascomparedwithmostEuropeancoun-tries.Thedurationandconditionsofleasesarestrictlyde-finedbylaw,rentpriceshavetobewithinaregionalbracketdefinedbyanadministrativeauthorities,andpricesaremuchlowerthaninmostWesternEurope,withanaverageof6,000Eperha.TdLusuallyconcludesleasesfor9or18years(i.e.standardleasesinFrance)butincreasinglymovestowards“career-long”leases.Allleasesincludelegallybind-ingclausestopromoteenvironmentallyfriendlyfarmingpractices(almostallleasesincludecertifiedorganicfarm-ing),andbanpractices,whichhaveanegativeimpactonnaturalresources,biodiversityorthenaturalheritage.TdLcarefullynegotiatestheseclauseswiththefarmers,toensurethatcommitmentsaresustainableandpartofacontinu-ousimprovementprocess.TdLalsodevelopsparticipatoryactivities,toinvolvecitizensandotherlocalstakeholdersinlandstewardship.Thesecommitmentsareattractivetoshareholders/donorswhowishtoensurethattheirmoneyisusedfororganicfarmingand/ortoprotecttheenvironment. Besidesacquiringland,TdLhasabroadaimofraisingawarenessabouttheissueofaccesstolandandthedevelopment/maintenanceoflocalorganic/biodynamicandpeasantfarming,andadvocatingforsocialandpolicychangesaroundtheseissues.Forthepasttwoyears,ithasthereforealsoengagedmoreandmorewithlocalauthorities,toinformandtrainthemabouttheirowncompetenceswithregardtoenvironmentprotection,landplanning,etc.andtoaccompanythoseseekingtosetuplocalorganicfarm-ers(includingbyofferingtechnicalassistanceandfinancialmanagementthroughtheFoncièreandFonds).Tocoverforitsrunningcosts,andstrategicactivitiessuchasworkingwithlocalauthorities,Europeanprojectssuchasresearchintocommunityconnectedfarmingii,etc.),Terredeliens(bothnationalandregionalbranches)receivesfundingfromlocalauthoritiesandprivatefoundations*.

learning so far1. Thereisconsiderableinterestandsupportfromcitizens,consumersandshareholdersforlocalorganic/,biodynamicandfamilyfarmingandtohavingasayinthetypeofagri-culturethatshouldbedeveloped.ThismeansTdLcanfindenoughmoneytoreacheconomiesofscale,butalsothatwecanconvincefundersandlocalauthoritiesthattheyshouldsupportusandgetinvolvedthemselvesandgetinvolvedwiththepublicdebateaboutlanduse,andlandasacom-monsoracommodity. 2. Itisvitaltobestronglyrootedlocally,tohaveasupportgroupforfarmers,toinformandraiseawarenesslocallyofthestakesofmaintaininglandinorganicandorbiodynamicuseandtoraisemoney.Itisalsoimportanttoworkcloselywitharangeoforganisationsandnetworkssuchasruraldevelopmentgroups,organisationssupporting

youngfarmersandnewentrants,CSAgroupsandregional/nationalnetworks,environmentalgroups, 3. Itisindispensabletobuybothlandandbuild-ingsbecausefarmersneedbuildingsandtoavoidfurtherdisconnectionbetweenlandandbuildings,forexamplebe-ingsoldoffforresidentialandtourismpurposes.However,buildingsrepresentthemajorpartoftheburdenintermsofpropertymanagement.Itistime-consuming,requiresdiversegeneralandtechnicalskills,andfarmvisitstoassessneededworks,andcosts.Wearetryingtohiresomebodytodothatjob,relyheavilyonlocalvoluntarygroupsandarenowdevelopingasystemwhereinfarmershaveanextendedresponsibilityformaintenance/improvementworksonthebuilding,forwhichtheywillbecompensatedwhentheyleave. Fortunately,fortheBiodynamicLandTrustwecanlearnfromTdL’sexperienceandfromelsewhere.Tosum-marise,theessentialsarecompetentfarmers,aviablefarmbusinessandfarmbusinessplan,localcommunityengage-mentwithdirectmarketingopportunities,andanationalorganisationtooffertechnicalassistance.IdeallythereneedstobealandtrustliketheBDLTthatisconstitutedasacom-munitybenefitsocietywithcharityatlawstatus(whattheFrenchmeanbyasolidarityorganisation)andalsoanotherbodysuchasabiodynamiccommunitybenefitsocietyforprovidingworkingcapitalforfarmandfoodrelatedbusi-nessesandforofferingshareholdersandinvestorsamodestbutfairrateofreturn.Atatimewhenourmoneymaynotbethatsecureorethicallyinvestedintheglobalfinancialcasino,thiscouldbeawelcomefurtherprojectbytheBDLTtosupportthedevelopmentofbiodynamicagriculture.n

*Note:TdLdoesnotreceivemoneyfromthenationalgovernment-mostofthepublicmoneycomesfromtheRegionalCouncils.

Note:CommunityconnectedfarmingwasfirstputforwardbyNeilRavenscroftasanumbrellatermgoingwiderthattheusualCSAdefinitions.

This case study information was supplied by Veronique Roucfoiul of TDL, for the BDLT Feasibility Study, the full version of which is available on www.biodynami-clandrust.org.uk

© Cécile Dubart (Terre de liens)

http://www.biodynami-clandrust.org.uk




that one needs a little astronomy, besides geom-etry, to explore the morphology of living, growing buds will not surprise those engaged in biodynam-ic husbandry. LawrenceEdwards’studiesofProjectiveGe-ometryledhimtoinvestigate[1],bydirectobservationandcarefulmeasurement,actualbudsofmanyspeciestoascertainwhetherornotbudsareformedasfamiliesofpathcurves.Thesecurvesarisefromthetransformationofspaceintoitselfinthemostelementarywayandarethesimplestaltogetherpossible.

diagram 1: path curves and the Bud.The bud profile projects into well-defined exponential series on two sides ofan invariant triangle with one vertex (here Z) usually at infin-ityand the other two (X and Y) at the tip and the base of the bud. The Shape Factor, λ, is the ratio of the characteristic multipliers of these series.

Hisresultsencouragedhimtothinkthattherewasaverygoodcaseindeedfortakingtheseutterlyfundamentalcurvesastheactualcurvesofrealbuds,goodenoughtojustifyus-ingthemtostudyhowtheformsofbudsdevelopthroughaseason.Hegathereddetailedtemporalinformation. Whiledoingthis,hecaughthintsofsmall,tran-sientbutregularchangesoftheformofallthebuds,ofwhateverspecieshehappenedtobemeasuring.Intrigued,heinvestigatedandtrackedthechangesandfoundthat(subjecttotheusualscientificdisclaimers)theywererealevents—andthattheyoccurredfortnightly.Diagram002isadirectcopyoneofhisλgraphs,pertainingtoaBeechbud;theboldtraceisathreedayrunningmeanoftherawdata.Thefortnightlyrhythmisclearlytobeseenasaseriesofminima(or,lessformally,“λ dips”).

diagram 2:Form-variation of a Beech bud at Strontian, Scotland, 1984 -1985

WheninthelaternineteeneightiesIjoinedMrEdwardsinthiswork,andbegantomeasurebudsinAberdeen,ontheEastcoastofScotland,Ifoundthattheytooexhibitedregular,transientformchangesatthesame,fortnightly,calendarmomentsasMrEdwards’budsaroundStrontianontheWestcoastofScotland.Nowscientistsarereallyquiteencouragedwhentwoormoreworkingindependentlyandinseparatelocationsreportsimilarresults.InduecourseitwouldbefoundthatbudsmeasuredinEngland,Swit-zerland,Romania,AustraliaandtheUSAalsoshowthesetransientchanges.Theimplicationisthatallaroundtheglobe,eversoslightly–butquitemeasurably–budsbeatlikehearts. Thedownarrowsindiagram2exactlymarktheepochsofthelunaralignmentswithSaturnthatoccurredintheperiodoftheobservations.Itwillbeseenthattheypacetheepochsoftheminimaquiteaccurately,albeitwithatemporaldisplacementofabouttwodays. SuchEarthandMoonalignments(whetheroppo-sitionorconjunction)withbodiesoftheSolarSystem,likethe“budevents”(thedips),comeaboutfortnightly,onceperbodyperhalf-orbitoftheMoon,withtimingsthatvarywiththecontinuallychangingspatialdistributionofthebodieswithrespecttothelunarorbit. Lawrence Edwards discovered that bud events correlate with these alignments –and, as far as can be ascertained, with absolutely nothing else, such as interbody distance, or tidal pattern, or season. Thisisentirelyremarkable,becauseitisquiteoutofkeepingwithordinaryphysicalexpectation.Wewillcomebacktothis. It is even more remarkable that the correla-tion of buds with alignments is specific.BudeventsofBeech,forexample,arefoundgenerallytocorrelatewiththelunaralignmentsofSaturnwhilethoseofOakgenerallycorrelatewiththelunaralignmentsofMars.Birch–inEdwards’expression–“acknowledges”Venus.Itturnsoutthatspecificcorrelationsarenotconfinedtotreebuds.ThehumbleSnowdrop“answers”totheSun.

TerrestrialAstronomyby Graham Calderwood

Fundamental to the biodynamic work is the connection between the moon and planets and the soil. In the following article, Graham Calderwood describes some ground breaking scientific work showing the effects that the moon has on the shape of the bud.


KnapweedflowerbudsacknowledgeJupiter(thebindinginthiscaseseemsquitestrong:theimpactofcometShoemak-er-LevyonJupiterin1994quitemeasurablydisturbedtheformofKnapweedsinStrontianforsomeweeks). Diagram4belowdepictstwo“semi-lunarrasters”.Theychartcalendareventsagainsthalf-orbitsoftheMoon.Bothpertaintothesamegrandperiod,andthesamecalendarevents,andrepresentabout5monthsofob-servationofaBeechbudinmygardenontheWestbound-aryofAberdeen,Scotland,intheyears1998and1999.

diagram 4: semi-lunar rasters

ThesechartsarebuiltinthesamewayasTVpictures–hence,“raster”–andshowataglance,againstacyclicback-ground,whatmayhavetakenmonthstodevelop.Theyaresynchronisedtothe“axialmoments”oftheMoon,whicharethecalendarepochsofitspassagethroughthemajoraxisofitsorbit,throughperigeeandapogee.Rasterlinesstartandrestartonthem.Wearesurveyingeventstimedbythelunarclock. Thedown-arrowswitha‘t’(meaning‘tuned’)markthemomentsofthetransientminima(the“λ dips”)oftheAberdeenBeechbud’sprofile.Theotherevents(besidesthecivildates)markedontherasterlinesarelunaralignmentsofMarsandSaturn,annotatedbytheirusualsigns.(Their“zigzags”havetodowithKepler’sSecondLaw,theoneaboutequalareasinequaltimes.) Now,ifbudeventsreallydohaveatemporalcor-relationwithlunaralignments,thebudmarkersshoulddojustwhatthealignmentmarkersdo,zigzagsincluded.TheleftmostrasterindicatesthattheepochsofthedipsfortheAberdeenBeechcorrelatewiththealignmentsquitewell,butnotatthesameepochs.Thereappearstobeatimeshift. Therightmostchartshowsthedipmarkersartificiallytime-shiftedrightthreedaysbythecomputertocheckthematchofepochsdirectly:andthematchisquitegood[x]–sowecanhavesomeconfidenceinboththecor-relationandthedisplacement. Sofarwehaveseentwobudsshowingtemporaldisplacementofλminimawithrespecttothealignments:theAberdeenBeechattheturnof1998,withashiftofthreedaysandtheStrontianBeechsomethirteenyearsprevi-ously,withashiftoftwodays.Nowwerethesetheonlyonesshowingshiftthatwehadeverencountered,wemightbepromptedtoask,“Istherealwaysashift?DoesitpertaintoallBeechbudseverywhereatthesametime?”Thesetwo

shiftsdifferbyaday,andoccurredthirteenyearsapart,sowemightwonderhowtheshiftchangedinthatinterval.WemightalsowonderwhetherornottheshiftisconfinedtoBeechbuds,andifitisnot,whethertheshiftisthesameforthemall,ordifferent. Assoonashedetectedtemporaldisplacement,MrEdwardsasked,and(overa17yearperiodextendingfrom1983toverynearlythebeginningofthe21stcentury)methodicallyansweredalltheabovequestionsconcerningwhatcametobecalledthePhaseShift.Diagram5graphshisfindingsfromthatperiod.

diagram 5: the phase shift from1983 to 2000

InEdwards’words,eachcrossonthechartdenotes,“thePhaseShiftofasinglespeciesforaseason”.Thatis,thearithmeticaverageoftheshiftsobservedforthebudinstancesofaspeciesinaseasonwasplacedonthechartattheirtemporalcentroid.Thecrossesrepresentseveralthou-sandsofinstancesofseveraltensofspeciesofbud,observedandmeasuredalmostdailyoveranintervalofnearlytwentyyears.Thischartisunusuallywellsupported. ThechunkybluearrowpointstothebluecrossmarkingthethreedayshiftoftheAberdeenBeechabove.Onceagain,itisscientificallyencouragingthatbudsfromoppositecoastsofScotlandappeartohavebehavedalmostidentically,thistimeinrespectoftemporaldisplacement. Whatdoesthisgraphsaytous? ItsaysthatthePhaseShiftisclearlynottime-invariant,butitissubstantiallythesameforallspeciesatanygivenmoment.Inotherwords,itbetokensauniversalslipofthebuds’dip-epochswithrespecttotheiralignmentepochs. Itsaysthattheshift,beingonlyeitherzeroornegative,isneveralag,butastrictly-increasinglead.Inotherwords,theformsofthebudschangeincreasinglyearlierthantheiralliedalignments,whilekeepingtotheiralliedrhythms.Ifthiswereamusicalmatter,onewouldsaytheywerecontinuallyslippingfromsynchronytosyncopationandback. Itsaysthatthebudswere“ontime”nearthestartof1983,andagainontimesevenyearslateratthestartof1990,andyetagainsevenyearsafterthat,atthestartof1997.Thus,whilewedonothavetheabsolutecountofthecycles,wedoknowwhenthreeofthembegan,andweknowthattwoofthesecycleshadaperiodofalmostexactlysevenyears. So,withthis,wasthepatternfound?Wouldacyclecomeeverysevenyears?Suchquestionsdemandpre-diction(surelythesinequanonofScience);forpredictionitisnecessarytoknowhowcycleshappenatall.Thishasbeenafocusofmyresearchforseveralyears[3]. Becauseformisintrinsicallynon-physical,likethegeometrywhichpurportstodescribeit,itwasalongtime


Butwhataboutpredictingthephaseshiftsbetweenthesesalientpoints? Forthis,weneedwhatIcallthe“bisectoid”.Itisthedirectionalequivalentofacentroid,whichisthesinglepositionthatbestrepresentsaclusterofpositions.Thebisectoidisthesingledirectionthatbestrepresentsaclusterofdirections.Itisthelinethatasnearlyaspossiblebisectsallthedirectionsoftheclusteratonce.Iftherearejusttwolinesinthecluster,thebisectoidistheirbisector.Itisthelinecorrespondingtotheaverageofthecluster’sdirectivities(seebox).

beforeIconcededthatIshouldperhapstakeaccountofmass–ofallpropertiespossiblythemostquintessentiallyphysical.WhenatlastIdidsoandmodifiedmyprogramtoworkoutoutthelocation,velocityandaccelerationoftheCenterofMass(CM)oftheplanetsofourSolarSystem,Istumbleduponwhatisprobablyakeycorrelation. TheprogramcouldalreadyfindtheCenterofPosition(CP)–justthepureposition,withoutregardtomass–oftheplanetsandcoulddrawthelinefromtheSuntotheCP(theheliocentricradius).IhadtheprogramshowthevectorsofmotionoftheCenterofMassandsatbacktowatchwhattheydidintheperiodcoveredbyMrEdwards’PhaseShiftchart. EventuallyitdawnedthattheaccelerationvectoroftheCMlies parallel to the heliocentric radius whenever the λ dips are on time (that is, in full synchrony), and lies at right angles to that radius whenever the λ dips are seven days early (that is, in full syncopation).

diagram yyy: directional and temporal correspondences


ThedirectivityorstrengthofalignmentofthebisectoidoftheCMaccelerationvectorandtheheliocentricradiusisplottedinblueonMrEdwards’PhaseShiftchart,below.

ThecorrelationwiththePhaseShiftisnotperfect,butitisfartoogoodtoignore:itsaysthat- ThetimingoftherhythmsofbudformagainsttherhythmsoftheirlunaralignmentsdependsinsomeasyetunknownwayontheorientationoftheaccelerationpasttheSunofallthematteroftheSolarSystemnotintheSun. Notethatonlyorientationsareinvolvedinthiscorrelation.Vectorquantitiesarethreefold,butonlythedirectionoftheaccelerationvectorseemstobeactivehere.Theothertwofeaturesseemsetaside,inthatneithertheamountofacceleration,noritssense,playsarole.AndthevariousdistancesofthetwoCentresfromtheSunandfromeachotherseemtobeunimportant. Weappeartohavecomeacrossaline-to-linephe-nomenon. Butphysicalphenomenaaregenerallyfoundtoworkpoint-to-point.Wherephysicalrelationshipsareconcerned,distancesbetweenthepointsareordinarilyveryrelevant.Andthemagnitudeandsenseofavectorareoftenmoresignificantthanitsdirection. Now,if,inpuregeometry,wesubstitutelinesforpoints,androtationsfortranslations,wedualise.Ifwedual-isewithrespecttoaconic,wepolarise.DarewethensuggestthatthatwhichunderliesthePhaseShiftis“polarphysi-cal”?Withthiswearesimplyasking,“Arethereline-to-lineforces,polartothepoint-to-pointkind,andaretheyatworkhere?” Thenotionhasaspeciousattraction,buttherearedifficulties.Unitsandnumbersarenotnativetothesyn-theticgeometryofthebud,andthereisnogeometricaxiomofequality.Theconversionofgeometryfromsynthetictoanalyticisfarfromstraightforward:itissaidthattheonlynumberpreservedunderprojectioniscrossratio,butthiswillbethecaseonlyifitispossibletomeasurelengthinastrictlyprojectivecontext.Sincelengthsarenumbersarisingassumsofequalunits,andsincetheselatteritems,aswehavejustremarked,arenotnativetoprojectivegeometry,wehaveatleastaconundrum,ifnotacircular,“bootstrap”argumentorasimpleimpossibility.Thisisexactlytheissuewhichconfrontsusinregardtothebudsandtheplanets,inthatconstructionfrommeasurelessgeometryisbeingfoundvalidbybestmeasurement.Andthelines-of-vectorswewouldliketouseprojectivelywerenotfoundprojectively.Thesearecurrentconceptualandtheoreticalchallenges. Well,theysaytheproofofthepuddingisintheeating.Alltheforegoingdiscussionisacademicifpredic-tionsbasedonthismodelfail.Wehaveseenonebud(the

AberdeenBeech)insidethespanofMrEdwards’chartthatmatched;letusseeifwecansuccessfullypredicttheshiftforabudthatgrewattheturnof2006,atimewellaftertheperiodofMrEdwards’chart.

ThisWalnutbudwasphotographeddailyinRomania;its(Fourier-smoothedandtuned)λdipsaregraphedbelow.Theredtraceisderivedfromtherawλdata.Thebluetracecomesfromrunning-mean-of-threeλdata.Thisbud’sformwasclearlybeatingtimewithSaturn.TheverticalsbetweentheuncappedSaturniconsmarkthetrueepochsoflunaralignment.TheverticalsbetweenthecappedSaturniconsmarktheepochsatwhichthedipsshouldhaveoccurred(someninedaysaheadofthelunaralign-mentswithSaturn)ifourshiftmodeliscorrect.Andweseethatallbutonedipmatchedpredictionreasonablywell. ThenearsinusoidatthebottomofthisgraphrecordstheinstantaneousdirectivityoftheEarth/MoonlinerelativetoSaturn.Thisisitsactualamplitude.


Muchabouttheinterpretationofalltheseresultsmustbeomittednow,butafewthingsinjustthisconnectionshouldstillbementioned.Weneedcontinualobservationofbudseverywhere,forcorroborationandcontinuedresearch,andweneedcollateral,similarly-behavingphenomena,espe-ciallyifwewishtoteaseoutthealmost-certainrelevancetoBiodynamics. Thepossibilityofline-to-line,polar-physicalforceshasbeenmentioned.SomewouldcallthemEthericforces,andtheymaywellberighttodoso,assuchagentsaresaidtogoverntheformsoflivingmaterialinextra-materialways.Curiously,theseforcesarenotexpectedtogovernsimplegrowth,becausegrowthhastodowithsize,notform.Abudcaninprinciplegrowlargerwithoutchangingitsform.Anditisreasonabletoexpectthatabiggerbudwillcontainmoresubstancethanasmaller:infactabudwouldbeexpectedtohaveamassequaltoitsvolumetimesitsaveragedensity. Yearsago,MrEdwardsandIcollaboratedonaninvestigation–whichreallyshouldberepeated–intojusthowmuchsubstancethereactuallyisinabud,irrespectiveofphysicalexpectation.Interestfocussedonsap-content:MrEdwardsthoughtitpossiblethatalackofconformitytopathformwouldreducethelifeofthebud,andthatthesap-contentcouldbeanindicatorofthereduction.Ibuiltasimpletorsionbalancecapableofmeasuringtoatenthofamilligram,andMrEdwardsusedittocomparethewetanddryweightsofmanybudsofpre-measured λ allfromthesametree.Itturnedout,againstphysicalexpectation,thatform(notvolume)didaffectcontent,butnotatallasanticipated.Thequalityofthepathcurvematchofabudhadnorelevance;rather,thesapreducedwiththedepartureofabud’sfromthemeanofallthebuds.Sothereispow-erfulevidencethatsomethingismediatingbetweenformandsubstance,andthatelementsofastronomyaredeeplyinvolved.Wemaynowhavethemeanstodiscoverwhatthatsomethingis.n

[1]“TheVortexofLife”,LawrenceEdwards,secondedi-tion,FlorisBooks

[2]Diagram4:Observantreaderswillhavenotedthatthisbudapparently“switchedallegiance”fromMarstoSaturnaround24thJanuary,whenthelunaralignmentsofthetwoplanetscamenearlytogether.NowasaruleBeechworkstoSaturn,notMars,butexceptionssuchasthisonedooccur,andthereisgrowingevidencethatswitchinghappensfairlyfrequently.Thephaseshiftisunaffected.Sothespecificationofbudwithbodyislesssimplethanatfirstitseemed,andneedsfurtherresearch.

[3]http://budworkshop.co.uk

the geometry of form in nature(and how to see the cosmos in an oak bud)2 day Seminar exploring projective geometry with some recent findings about the fundamental principles at work in all 4 kingdoms of nature With John Blackwood from australia and graham calderwood from aberdeen

ruskin mill, nailsworth. gloucestershire uk.february 13th-15th 2012. cost: £125 including mealsfor more information please contact:- simon charter, 01453 755614 , [email protected].

http://budworkshop.co.uk



using equisetum — tWo approaches

ThecustomaryintroductiontotheuseofEquisetumiswellillustratedbythebasicinstructionsprovidedbytheJosephinePorterInstitute(JPI)inUSAintheone-pageleafletentitled“Brief Directions for the Use of the Biodynamic Sprays,”andalsothebooklet“BiodynamicSprays”byH.H.Koepf.Theone-pageleafletwasinheritedbyJPIfromJosephinePorterin1984andtheinstructionsthereinwereprobablyoriginatedbyDr.EhrenfriedPfeiffershortlyafterhebroughtbiodynamicagriculturetothiscountry,andmay,indeed,havebeenbasedonthestandardpracticeinEuropeanbiodynamiccircles.ThebookletbyDr.KoepfwasbasedonapamphletbyEvelynSpeidenGregg,which

waslikelycompiledunderDr.Pfeiffer’sdirectionintheearliestdaysofbiodynamicagricultureinthiscountry.Thusfar,wehavenotbeenpresumptuousenoughtosupersedethoseinstructionswithourownversion,althoughwehaveattemptedtosolicitinputfromvariouspractitionerswithaviewtorevisinginstructionsforallthespraypreparations. AswillbeseenfromtheinstructionsforBD#508,itisidentifiedasafoliarspray.Dr.Koepfspecifiesthat“Horsetail is used against such fungal diseases as mildew, rust, monilia, scab, soil born pathogenic fungi.”Herecommendsthat,“One sprays this tea frequently, especially on garden crops.” HeretheimplicationwouldseemtobethattheEquisetumisregardedalsoasafoliarspray. WhenoneexaminesthebookBiodynamicFarm-

RevealingtheHiddenForcesofEquisetumarvense

by Hugh J. Courtney

if applied diligently and in a timely manner in spring, equisetum helps to combat fungal diseases. in order to understand the nature of the equisetum plant and how

it works the following extract has been reproduced from the newsletter of the Josephine porter institute - applied Biodynamics. it is reproduced with their kind permission.

© W

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ingPracticebySattlerandWistinghausen,whichisusedasthebasictextinafour-yeartrainingprogramforbeginningbiodynamicfarmersinEurope,itisinterestingtonotethatabsolutelynoreferencetoidentifyingitasabiodynamicpreparationismade.ItispointedlynotreferredtoasBD#508anditappearstobegroupedalongwithseveralotherusefulplant-basedsprays,suchasseaweed,stingingnettle,wormwoodandtansy.Immediateuseoftheteaasapre-ventativeisrecommended,althoughthestatementismadethat“...storedinabarrel.Itwillfermentinduecourseandturnintotheliquor,whichdoesnotaffectitsusefulness.”(79)Thissourcealsoindicates:“DonotaddhorsetailwhenstirringPreparations500and501.”(79)In1997,someeightyearsaftertheinitialpublicationofBiodynamicFarmingPractice,anotherbooklet,“TheBiodynamicSprayandCompostPreparations-DirectionsforUse”,jointlycom-piledbyfivedifferentEuropeanbiodynamicpractitioners,includingtheWistinghausenofthefirstbook,providesabriefone-pagementionforEquisetumundertheheading“Horsetail (508) Equisetum arvense, a biodynamic plant care Preparation.” Thefollowingstatementsonthispageareworthnoting: “The high silica content in this plant can be re-leased either by decoction or by fermentation and be used to regulate fungal growth.” “In autumn and spring this Horsetail tea may be sprayed on the soil to control potential fungal infection and where crops are at risk, directly on the plants as a preventive measure.” ThusitisonlyaftersomefiftytosixtyyearsormoreofbiodynarnicpracticethatEquisetumismentionedforapplicationtothesoilratherthanjusttoplants,anditspreparationbyfermentationisendorsed.Thisdelayoc-curredinspiteofSteiner’sveryclearstatement:“Neverthe-less,youhaveaguidingline,andyouwillnowinvestigatehowequisetumworkswhenyoutransformitasdescribed,intoakindofliquidmanure,andsprinkleitoverthefields.”(Agriculture,118)Itisalmosttransparentlyevidentthat“liquidmanure”isbestarrivedatbyfermentingtheEquise-tum;andthatitisapplicationtothesoilthatismeantwhenwearedirectedto“sprinkleitoverthefields”asonewoulddoifmakinganykindofmanureapplication. AlthoughwehavehadthelecturesSteinerhasgivenusforalmosteightysixyears,wesometimesdonotreadthemcarefullyenough.Thequestiontoaskis,“Are we choosing to make our own assumptions rather than really paying attention to what he says?” HereattheJosephinePorterInstitute,wehavelongreliedonwhatwehavegleanedfrom“Agriculture of To-morrow” byLillyandEugenKolisko.Onpages82-84ofthatwork,LillyKoliskosuggests,whentheMoonforcesaretoostrong,theneedto“re-establish the right balance with equise-tum.” Indescribingthemakingofthetea,shestatesthat“It is necessary to boil equisetum for rather a long time. The tea is of a light green colour, and we found it best not to use it immediate-ly, but in a few days’ time, when a certain smell is developing.”Onpage84,twopicturesderivedthroughthetechniqueofCapillaryDynamolysisaregiven,oneofthefreshteaandoneof“Equisetum Tea matured until the characteristic smell develops.”Itwasclearthatthematuredor“fermented”Eq-uisetumprovidedadramaticallymoreimpressivepictureof

forcesorenergyatworkthandoesthefreshtea,andwehavebeenusingandrecommendingthefermentedEquisetumteasincethelate1980s.Furthermore,basedonSteiner’sstatementthatwe “sprinkle it as liquid manure over the fields,” aswellaspracticalapplicationingardenandpastureoveranumberofyears,thefermentedteaBD#508appliedasasoilsprayfollowingBD#500inthespringhasprovenmoreeffectivethanfreshteaasafoliar.ThepreventativeroleofEquisetumisemphasizedwiththeearlyseasonapplication,althoughthefermentedteaiseverybitaseffectiveasthefreshteawhencombatingfungusthathasalreadyappeared.Weareinclinedtoencouragealatefallapplicationtothesoilaswell.Itshouldbenotedthatinourexperiencethe“char-acteristic smell” mentionedbyKoliskoisaratherpowerful“rotten egg”orhydrogensulphidesmell,whichiseverybitaspowerfulasisevidentinafermentedstingingnettlebreworliquor.Itismostinterestingtorealizethatsulphurisamajoranti-fungalagentinorchardandvineyardpractice,sothesulphurouscharacterofthefermentedversionofEquisetummaybringtobearanotherdimensionofanti-fungalforcesbeyondthelevelachievedbythefreshtea.

equisetum in the context of the cosmic forces Within our solar system

ThroughouttheentiretyofLectureSixoftheAgricultureCourse,Steinermakesfrequentmentionof “Cosmic Forces.”OneoftheexercisesIhavepursuedinanefforttopayatten-tiontoSteiner’sadmonishmentthatwelookatthevariouspreparations“not as substances, but as forces”,istoimaginewhichpreparationrelatestowhichmemberofoursolarsystem.Myownschememaydiffertoaconsiderableextentfromrelationshipspostulatedbyothers.Forinstance,com-paredtoLievegoedin “The Working of the Planets and the Life Processes in Man and Earth”,myinterpretationmayalsobeseenassomewhatsimplistic,butithasworkedverywellforme,dueinlargeparttomypreviousstudyofthefieldoftraditionalastrology,andmycurrentinterestinastrosophy.Oftheninepreparations,itisveryeasytoidentifyBD#500withtheEarth,andBD#501withtheSun.Almostevery-onewhohasapproachedthisquestionassignstheYarrowPreparation,BD#502,totheplanetVenus;theChamomilePreparation,BD#503,toMercury;andtheDandelionPreparation,BD#506totheplanetJupiter.Withrespecttotheremainingprincipalmembersofthesolarsystem,Moon,MarsandSaturn,myperceptiondifferssubstantiallyfromotherviewsthathavebeenexpressed.MyschemeassignstheMoontotheOakBarkPreparation,BD#505;MarstotheStingingNettlePreparation,BD#504;andfinallySaturn,theoutermostplanetofthevisiblesolarsystem,totheValerianPreparation,BD#507.Atfirstglance,onecanpresumethatthesolarsystemassignmentsarenowessential-lycomplete,andneednotconcernoneselfwithEquisetumasabonafidebiodynamicpreparation;ifinfactitismerelysomethingconfinedtouseasananti-fungalagent.However,inmyreadingofotherlecturecyclesbySteiner,Ifoundanumberofintriguingconceptsandimages.Inthefirstplace,SteineridentifiestheLemurianageasthetimeoftheseparationoftheMoonfromtheEarth,andalsodescribestheEarthofLemuriantimesasoneofhighlyactiveand


flexiblegrowthforces,especiallypriortothatseparation.Geologically,theEquisetumplantfamilywasextremelyabundantduringthissameagewhichiscorrelatedwiththeMesozoicperiodbyEugenKolisko.NumerousfossilsofEquisetumplantsarefoundinseamsofcoalthroughouttheworld,andsuchplantshavebeendeterminedtohavegrowntoheightsofeightyfeetormoreandfossilremainshavebeenfoundinasmanyasseventy-sixlayersoneontopoftheotherwithclayorshalelayersinterspersed.SuchafindingservestoconfirmthepossibilityofthehighlyactivegrowthforcesmentionedbySteiner. TheLemurianageisalsoidentifiedbySteinerasare-capitulationofthe“Old Moon”incarnationoftheEarthwhichimmediatelyprecededourpresentEarth.InfurtherdescriptionsofLemuriantimes,Steinerassignsaveryprominentmembergroupofoursolarsystem,whichheidentifiesastheComet,asbelongingtothisage.SteinerstatesthataCometisbornoutoftheSun,anddiesintotheSun.TheSuncanthusbeidentifiedwithacosmic/silicaforce(BD#501fromthecentreofthesolarsystem,whiletheCometcanbeidentifiedwithacosmic/silicaforce(BD#508)fromtheperipheryofthesolarsystem.Veryspecifi-cally,SteineralsodescribestheCometasthebearerofthe“primal feminine force”whichopposesthe “primal masculine force” oftheMoon.WhenoneexaminestheformoftheCometanditspatternofperiodicreturnandthenturnstoEquisetumarvenseandtakesacloselookatitsform,onecanseeinthephysicalexpressionofthisplantthesamepatternofperiodicityintheleaforfrondwhorlintervalsthatareexpressedintheComet.Whenonefurtherun-derstandsthatSteineradvisestheuseofEquisetumasthecarrierofacounterforcetoMoonforcesandassignstotheMoona“primal masculine”character,itisnotoutofordertounderstandtheEquisetumplantasacarrierof“primal

feminine” forces.Whatcanbetterservetoharnessorbalance“primal masculine”(Moon/Watery)forcesthana“primalfeminine”(Comet/Equisetum)force?Thus,if/whentheMoonforceiseithertoostrongortooweak,Equisetumistheappropriateremedy.ThekeytothetimingofapplicationofEquisetumliesintakingnoteofwhetherconditionsaretoowet(Moonforcetoostrong),orwhetherconditionsaretoodry(Moonforcetooweak).Intheformercase,oneismorelikelytoachievethedesiredresultsiftheapplicationismadewhentheMoonisinaFireorFruitconstellation.Inthecaseofadrought,ifonemakestheapplicationwhentheMoonisinaWaterorLeafconstellation,theprobabilityofsomemoisturereliefismuchmorelikely.

practical application of an aBstract intellectual theory

Allofthetheoryintheprevioussectioncanremainjustsomuchabstractintellectualismunlessanduntilitcanbeputtosomepracticalusewithadependableconsistencyofresults.Initially,thetheorywasputtoapracticalusewhenIattemptedtoaddressaproblemofdroughtin1988,withthethoughtthatifbiodynamicagriculturecouldprovidetotheenvironmentoftheplantorthecropwhatisneededforitsbestgrowth,thenbyapplyingtherightpreparationorprep-arationsinagivensituation,onecouldstimulatethedesiredresults.SinceIwasnotsufficientlyastuteorclairvoyanttobeabletofocusonjusttherightpreparation,Iresortedtoa“shotgun” approachandcameupwiththe“Sequential Spray Technique” usingBC(BiodynamicCompoundPreparation),followedbyBD#’s500,501,and508inaveryshortperiodoftime.(SeeAppliedBiodynamics,IssueNo.6).Theinitialresultwasatleastatemporaryreliefofthedrought.EventhoughIhadnotreachedthepointinmyunderstandingof

top view504/505 alternating

this side506/507 alternating

this side502/503 alternating

507 sprinkled on exterior of pile

508

508 508504 505 504 505 504 505

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Biodynamic prepration

placement for piles over 10yd3

n BD502 and BD507 are opposite each other (±)n BD503 and BD506 are opposite each other (±)n BD504 and BD505 are placed on top of the pile alternating with each other (±)n Fermented BD508 is placed into holes in the ends, and the middle of the sides.

© Wikipedia


applyinginonlyaLeaf/Waterperiodtostimulatemoisture,coincidentally,itappearedthatmyinitialeffortwasactuallyappliedwhentheMoonwasinaLeaf/Waterconstellation.Subsequentapplicationsthatyear,althoughresultinginrain,didnotyieldasdramaticamoisturereliefbecauseatleastsomeoftheapplicationsweremadeduringtimeswhentheMoonwasinaFruit/Fireconstellation. Afewyearslater,whenmyunderstandinghadmaturedsomewhat,duringanotherdroughtintheearly1990s,whenthethengovernorofVirginia,DouglasWilder,madeplanstosuspendorcancelthedeerseasonbecauseoftheextremefiredangerfromcarelesshuntersinthewoodsandforests,aconcertedgroupeffortwasinitiatedtostimulatemoisture.Wewereabletocoordinateasequentialsprayapplicationbysixdifferentpeopleatsevendifferentsites,involvingfarmandgardensituations,inbothVirginiaandNorthCarolina.Therainscameveryshortlyafterthisapplication,andthethreatenedcancellationorsuspensionofthedeerseasonwasnolongernecessary.Sincethattime,many,manypeoplehaveemployedtheSequentialSprayTechniquewithahighpercentageofpositiveresultsinat-tractingbeneficialmoistureconditions. Ifnothingelse,thistechniqueprovidesevidencethatEquisetumshouldberegardedasamulti-dimensionalpreparation,ratherthanasanafterthoughtbySteinerlimit-edmerelytocounteringsomefungusconditions.InkeepingwithanefforttobroadenthehorizoninusingEquisetum,Ihavechosentouseitinthecompostpileasthoughitwereaseventhcompostpreparation.Theobservedresultisthatthemoisturedistributionwithinthepiletendstobemoreeventhroughoutwithnocold,wetspotsorhotspotsexhibit-ingsocalled“fire-fanging.”Suchapracticecanbereadilyrecommendedforadoptioninanycompostingsituation(seeopposite).

AnotheravenuethatrevealsEquisetumasdeserv-inggreaterattentionandusageistheincrediblysignificantincreaseinthecountofbeneficialfungiincompostteaswhenitisaddedtotheteabrewerasastandardpractice. Altogether,thereisagreatdealmoretobeexploredbeforewehavefullyfathomedthepotentialroleofEqui-setuminourbiodynamicpractice.TheonecaveatIwouldmention,isthatalloftherecommendationsthatSteinermakesthroughoutLectureSixinthewayofweed,insect,andanimalpest “peppers” willprovidebetterresultsifonehaspreviouslyappliedthebiodynamicpreparationsinoneformoranothertotheareaofconcernbeforetreatingwithanyparticularpepper.Inparticular,itisofprimeimpor-tancethattheEquisetumpreparationbeappliedinordertoachievetheoptimumresults.

equisetum as primary support for “peppering” and for the farm individuality

Whenweconsidervariousinsectanddiseasepestprob-lems,IwouldspeculatethatwewillseedifferencesinsuchproblemsdependingonwhethertheMoonforcesaretoostrongortooweak.WehaveaparticularmovementoftheMooneachmonthwhichgivesuspossibilitiesofawidedifferenceinthestrengthoftheMoon’sforces.WhentheMoonisfarawayfromtheEarthatapogee,theMoonforcesareweakerandwhentheMoonisquitecloseatperigee,wehaveaperiodwhentheMoonforcesareparticularlystrong.Closerobservationofprevalentinsectproblems,forinstance,mightrevealthatonewouldseemoreflyinginsectswhentheMoonforcesareweak,andwhenMoonforcesarestronger,wewouldseemorenematodeandfungalproblems.Orches-tratingtheparticularinsectenergythatmanifestsat

spray Bd #508 — for use on foliage: standard instructions (ORIGINATING WITH E.E.PFEIFFER)

Keep dry and in darkness until needed. Part portions may be cooked, keeping same proportions. Fully effective only when used following other biodynamic preparations.

time During wet, damp or sunless warm weather as preventative of or care for fungus diseases.Only during warm time of year.Usually in two-week intervals, more frequently in emergency.when there is no wind.Not when a rain will soon wash it off.

use One portion of BD #508 to one quart water (for cooking).two gallons water for later dilution.Same stirring equipment as for BD #500.

prepare By cooking slowly in covered vessel for twenty minutes.Strain and dilute.Stir as for BD #500, but only for fifteen minutes.

spray with clean sprayer, as for BD #501.Using fine mist spray.within a few days when once cooked and diluted.Gradually more dilute the more frequently it is used


anygiventimewouldbetheMoon’ssojournthroughthedifferentconstellations.MariaThun’sworkseemstosuggestthateachweedappearstohavearelationshiptoaparticularconstellationastheMoontravelsthroughthezodiac.)Whenwehavetodealwiththepestiferousmembersofthehigheranimalkingdom,Steinerdirectsourattentiontoadditionalmembersofthesolarsystemthathestateshavetodowiththeforcesofreproduction,namelyVenusandMercury,andmostespecially,theplanetVenuswhenittraversestheconstellationScorpio/Scorpion. Tosubstantiatethecaveatrenderedintheprevioussectionwithregardtoourabilitytoobtainbetterresultsofour“peppering”effortsifthebiodynamicpreparationsNCIarefirstused,IwouldcallattentiontoseveraladditionalquotesfromSteiner.InLectureThree,p.55,hementions“The silica nature is the universal sense within the earthly realm,...”Earlier,however,onpage38ofLectureTwo,herequeststhatwe,“Look at the Equisetum plant. It has the peculiarity: it draws the cosmic nature to itself; it permeates itself with the siliceous nature. It contains no less than 90% of silicic acid. In equisetum the cosmic is present, so to speak, in very great excess, yet in such a way that it does not go upward and reveal itself in the flower but betrays its presence in the growth of the lower parts.” Finally,onpage118ofLectureSix,asheisabouttogiveustheremedybasedonEquisetum,whichwenowrefertoasBD#508,hestates, “The true force of fertility depends upon the Moon’s influence being normal.” TheseveralrhythmsandmovementsoftheMoon(thatis,fullmoon,newmoon,apogee,perigee,descending,ascending,andsoforth)provideafullrangeofpossibili-tiesastostrongorweakeffects.WhenfurthermodifiedbytheforcesoftheparticularconstellationthroughwhichtheMoonistraversing,onecanbeoverwhelmedbyallthedatathatonemightneedtotakeintoaccount.Theagentfor“normalizing”theMoon’sinfluenceisnoneotherthanEquisetum,whichthroughitssilicacontentbringstobeartheCosmicwithinthefarmindividuality.SonotonlyaretheEarthlyforces,reinforcedbyanunbridledMoonatplay,buttheCosmicforcesarethereaswell.ItisBD#501,andespeciallyBD#508(byvirtueofits“normalization” oftheMoon’sEarthlyenergies)whichstimulatethesenseorgansofthefarmindividuality.Withoutthatstimulation,and

withthevaryingandoftenabnormalMoonforces,theothermembersofthesolarsystemcannotbringtobeartheirpow-erswithinthatorganofthefarmtowhichtheymostrelate.Forinstance,theplanetJupitercannotbringtobearthoseforceswhichinthehumanbeingrelatetotheliver.Thusthecleansing“liverforces”withinthefarmindividualitycannotfullyfunctioniftheMoonforcesarenot“normalized.”Such“normalization”isprovidedtothefarmorganismonlybytheuseofEquisetum.Similarly,theotherplanetscannotexerttheirforcestothemaximumforlung(Venus),digestiveorgans(Mercury),heart(Sun),andotherorganfunctionsrelatingtoMars,andSaturn.Whenthebiodynamicpracti-tionerrelegatesEquisetummerelytothemoreinsignificantroleoffungusprevention,thefullexpressionofthefarmindividualityishindered.ItisthispictureoftheimportanceofEquisetumthatissocompellingtomeandwhichdrivesmyinsistenceontheabsoluteimportanceofusingEquise-tumarvense,HorsetailHerb,(BD#508)inourbiodynamicpractice.n

notes 1. Lilly Kolisko, Agriculture of Tomorrow (Bournemouth, England: Kolisko Archive Publications, 1978).2. Rudolf Steiner, Agriculture, trans. George Adams (London: Biodynamic Agri-cultural Association, 1984). 3. Rudolf Steiner, Art of Lecturing (Mercury Press). 4. H. H. Koepf, Biodynamic Sprays (Kimberton, PA: Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc., 1971). 5. Friedrich Sattler, Eckhard von Wistinghausen, Biodynamic Farming Practice, trans. A. R. Meuss (Stourbridge, UK: Biodynamic Agricultural Association, 1992). 6. C. von Wistinghausen, W. Scheibe, H. Heilman, E. von Wistinghausen, U. J. Konig, 7. The Biodynamic Spray and Compost Preparations — Directions for Use (UK: Biodynamic Agricultural Association, 2003). 8. Bernard Lievegoed, 7he Working of the Planets and the Life Processes in Man and Earth, 1951. 9. Eugen Kolisko, Geology No. 3, “Lemuria — The Mesozoic Age” (Kolisko Archive Publications, 1998). 10. Maria Thun, Matthias Thun, The North American Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2010, trans. Bernard Jarman (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 2009).

Bd #508 fermented recipe

the following is a slightly modified recipe of the one developed by Lilly Kolisko.

take one unit of shredded Equisetum arvense, which is about eight ounces by volume and one and a half ounces by weight. Bring to a boil in one gallon of water and simmer for one hour. Let cool and transfer to a crock or other storage container with a loose fitting lid. Store this in a cool place, e.g. basement, and allow to ferment ten to fourteen days, until the “characteristic smell” described by Kolisko, develops. thereafter, strain the remaining herb particles out, fill the tea in a glass jug, and store it in a cool, dark place until ready to use. It can be stored six or more months without losing effectiveness.

to use, add one-half gallon of fermented tea to four and a half gallons water, stir twenty minutes in the biodynamic fashion, and use to treat up to one and a half acres. One unit of horsetail can thereby treat up to three acres with as powerful effect as can be achieved by the fresh tea recipe on only one acre. ratio for diluting is one part fermented tea to nine parts water. the fermented BD #508 most likely should be applied as a soil spray, whereas the fresh tea version is most likely the form to use as a foliar spray.


three kings day at the asha centre on the 6th Jan 2011 was a beautiful celebration to start a new biodynamic year in the garden. the day was misty and reasonably mild, such a contrast to the year before where, because of deep snow i had to walk over 3 miles to get to the centre! the day was inspired by hugo erbe (1885 - 1965), a ger-man biodynamic farmer. following the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki in 1945 he observed massive disruption and flight of elemental beings from his farm land and experienced a deep wound in the sheath of the earth. to help heal the dam-age, he developed a preparation from the gifts of the 3 wise men.

GoldcanbeseenasrepresentingthepastandisanancientsymbolofEarthlywisdomfilledpower.

Frankincenseisanimageofthetransienceofthepresent,theWorldEther.Thespiritintheeveryday.

Myrrhcanbeseenaspointingtothefutureandisanan-cientsymbolofthetriumphoflifeoverdeath.

AlthoughreferredtoasThreeKingsDay,the6thofJanisEpiphanyintheEasternChristiancalendar–theBaptismofChristintheJordan.Iamtoldthatthesub-stancesofGold,FrankincenseandMyrrhassymbolsandgiftsactuallyhavetheirrootsinamucholderreligion,thatofZoroastrianism. ThecelebrationatASHAisatimewhenwemakeaconsciousgifttothegardenandtheforcesofnaturethatweworkalongsideeveryday.Thesprayalsooffersusameanswithwhichtodefinetheboundaryofourland,providingacircleofconsciousnessandprotectionforoursite.BecauseofthebusyworkinglivesthatthestaffatASHAleaditwasnecessarytodeviseacelebrationthatenabledeveryonetoplayapartwhilststillhonouringtheconsciousspacethepreparationdeservesandrequires. Thedaystartedintherosegardenat11.45amwiththelightingof12candlesandthanksforthepastyear.WethenwalkedwithourlightstotheEcoLodgewhereweplacedtheminacirclearoundtheoutsideoftheroom.

ThreeKingsDayatTheASHACentreBy Rachael O’Kelly

Thesecandlesservedto‘hold’thespiritofallatASHAandstayedalightforthedurationoftheceremonyrepresentingeveryonewhetherornottheycouldparticipateforthewholetime. Wethenstartedthegrindingofthesubstancesaswereadthecalendarofthesoul.Thiswasaspacetoexperi-encetheGold,FrankincenseandMyrrhwithalloursensesandtodiscusstheirpropertiesandsymbolism.ThegrindingcontinuedforanhourwhilstreadingexcerptsaboutNatureSpiritsandPlantlifefromSteiner’s‘ManasSymphonyoftheCreativeWord’.TheroomwasfilledwiththeheadyscentofFrankincenseandMyrrhandlitwithcandlelight–atrulybeautifulexperience. AfterlunchthestirringstartedonthebalconyoftheEcoLodgeoverlookingtheriver.Peopledroppedinandouttoparticipateinthestirring.Evenoutsidethefroth-ingliquidsmeltdivineandthemixbecametangiblymoreviscousasthestirringprogressed.At3.30pmtheASHAstaffregroupedandwerejoinedbydearfriendstosprayourgiftontheland.Wemadebrushesfromthymepruningsandthenewtwigsofthesilverbirchtree.SilverbirchisthefirsttreeintheCeltictreecalendarandrepresentsamongstotherthings,anewstartandprotection,soitseemedaperfectcomplementtothespray. Individualstooktheirbrushesandbucketsofpotentisedliquidandchoseanareatospraytheir‘gift’.Wewalkedinaspiralfromtheperipheryin,accompanyingourgiftwiththoughtsandhopesforthecomingyear.Theboundarywasalsowalkedandsprayedtoreaffirmthemes-sagetoelementalforcesthatweareconsciouslyholdingthisspaceandworkingpositivelyandtruthfullywiththeforcesoflight. ThedaywasroundedoffbywalkingwithourcandlesbacktotherosegardenwhereCarolineleadusintheEurhythmygestureof3L’s.Thecirclewasclosedwithwishesforlove,lightandlaughterforthecomingyear.n

The ASHA Centre is a UK charity recognised for its interna-tional contribution to youth leadership, sustainable living and peace & reconciliation. Located in the Royal Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, the ASHA centre is a magnificent listed Geor-gian home with 5 acres of beautiful biodynamic gardens. To find out more see: www.ashacentre.org

© R

acha

el O

’Kell

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http://www.ashacentre.org


the pictures on this postcard published in 1916 by the koberwitz estate have a strong symbolic value of what was going to happen during Whit-suntide in 1924, several years later. for the setting of rudolf steiner’s agricultural course, a large estate of farms producing intensively cultivated sugar beet in the black soils of silesia, the early sepia photographs show the mansion soon to be inhabited by count and countess keyserlingk; the warehouse where produce was stored, the sugar beet factory which had been set up and the little railway station – exporter of produce from the estate. AllweretoplaytheirpartwhenRudolfSteinerar-rivedfromSwitzerlandandGermanytothisSilesianvillageestateinJune1924,withanentourageofeurythmistsandhelpersandanaudienceofdoctors,farmers,nutritionistsandthelocalandthrivingGermanspeakingAnthroposophicalcommunityatBreslaunowWroclawsome15kilometresawaytothenorth.HerewasanewlyfoundedWaldorfSchool,abranchoftheAnthroposophicalSociety,anewlyordainedChristianCommunitypriestandKoberwitzitself,anagri-culturalestateinthecentreoftheremarkableblackearthsofSilesiawithnearinexhaustiblefertility,soontobethesiteforthebirthofanewagriculture. ItwasnowonderthatthisfirsttrialatacommercialagriculturalenvironmentatKoberwitzneededanswerstopressingquestionsabouttaste,qualityandnutritionalvalueofproduce,notably,thesugarbeetnowshowingsignsofpestanddiseaseinvasionunderintensivecultivation. Itwasafterallanindividual’squestiontoRudolfSteineraboutthedecreasingqualityofhismeditativework,

whichbroughttheresponsefromSteinerthatitwasthenutritionalvalueoffoodthatcausedtheproblemofalackofconcentration.ThisthenbecamepartofthebasisoftherestorativeandhealingqualityofThePreparationsacentralpictureintheestablishmentofBiodynamics. ThepostcardanditsphotographswereagifttomefromthenewlocalcouncildistrictofKoberwitzinsouthwestPoland.Thedistrictcouncilwascreatedin1993whenthemansionwheretheAgricultureCourseoflectureswasgivenbecamethenewtownhallandheadquartersforsocial,economic,culturalandadministrativeaffairs,afocalpointofdevelopmentofthisLowerSilesianRegion.TheauthorwasgivenaguidedtouroftheKoberwitzMansionwhenalongdreamedofvisithappenedinNovember2010.GuidedbyBernardJarman’scomprehensivearticlein2009whichwasasaresultofaBiodynamicInternationalCouncilgather-ingthere,myvisitbroughtupasmanyquestionsasanswerstomywantingtofindthephysicalsettingoftheseworldchangingsetoflecturesinthestoryofagricultureandlandstewardship. ItisanimportantpointthatwhenIcameacrosstheAgriculturalCourseinthe1970sitwasthetextthatmat-tered,Iwastoldthatthetextgiveninthelecturesneededtobeunderstoodandeachsentenceheldauniqueknowledgeandthereforecouldbethesubjectofandhour’sstudy–averythoroughapproach. AmorerecentapproachhasbeentocontextualisetheAgriculturalCourse,whereandhowwasitgiven,under-standingthepeoplewhocametothelectures,theWhitsunsetting,thehospitality,eventhecoffeebreaks!Thisapproachcanrevealthemood,whatwasgoingonpolitically,whatwashappeninginTheAnthroposophicalSocietyatthetimeand

APostcardfromKoberwitzBy Vivian Griffiths


variousbooks,themostrecentfromPeterSelg,showtheKoberwitzcourseinitsveryremarkableplaceinhistory. Sofromthepostcardtherearesomecluestothesettinganditsenvironmentbothsociallyandphysically.TherewastheMansionwiththewarmthandhospitalityoftheCountandCountesswelcomingatiredandstressedRudolfSteiner,theywritethisfactanditisreportedinPeterSelg’sbook,whohadagreedtofitintohisbusyscheduletheselectures.Astoaresponsetothesetting,alsoreportedbytheCountandCountess,RudolfSteinerseemedtogetbetterbytheday,positivelyenjoyinghisAgricultureCourselecturesinthemorningsandgratefulthattheywerereceivedwell,andasaguestofthelocalAnthroposophicalSocietygivingimpor-tantlecturesinnearbyBreslauintheevening. IllustratedonthepostcardasyoucanseebesidetheMansionthereisthefactorywithitsinsatiabledemandforthesugarbeet,alifelinetomakingalivinginthevolatilein-flationdominatedpost1stWorldWarenvironmentofMiddleEurope.ThereisalsotheWarehouseforKoberwitzproducefromtheestateandtherailwaystation,whichbecameinJune1924,thetravellingpointoftheguestsandstaffinvolvedintheAgriculturalCoursecomingandgoingtoBreslauandback. Themansiontodayhasaplaqueonthewall,asculptureofRudolfSteinerandtoacknowledgethegiv-ingofthelectures,achapterisdevotedtothesubjectinthecomprehensiveguidebookissuedbythelocalcouncil.ThebookhonourstheAgricultureCourseamongadvertisementsfornewindustrialestatesandhousingprojects,showingthatthispartofLowerSilesiaistryingtofinditselfinthemodernEuropeancultural,socialandeconomicenvironmentandtobuildanindustrial,agriculturalandcommercialenvironmentfromthepreviousEasternBlocPolandwheretheKoberwitzmansionwaspartofanagriculturalresearchstation. WithitsGermanpopulationforciblyremovedin1945fromtheareaaroundBreslauandamixtureofPolish,Russian,Ukrainianandotherethnicminorityworkersinse-curelysettledduringtheCommunisttime,withcollectivefarminginverydominantlychemicalagriculturalregime,theinheritanceofthisregionintothePolishnationisacompli-catedissue.ThePolishGovernmentisfedupwithGermanfamilieswantingthisgoldenlandbackandsomeofthesefamiliesaghastatthelocalstateauthoritybuildingvastoutoftownshoppingmallsandindustrialunitsonthisbeautifulsoilsopreciouswithitspotentiallyinexhaustiblefertilityunderthreat. PerhapsitwasthemelancholyAutumnmistwhichhungaroundKoberwitz,perhapsthelingeringsensethathistoryhasnotbeenkindtothispartofEasternEurope,thatsomethinghasnotbeenproperlyfulfilledinthispreciousfoodbasketareawiththedestructionofwarandthestrongmemoryofStalin’sdeterminationtoeradicatethepeasantfarmerwithhiscrudeandbadlymadegianttractorstearingallthatwentbefore. ThusthesiteoftheAgriculturalCourseintheareawherepeasantandcountryestateinfluencedagriculturalhus-bandrywasforciblygivenovertocollectivefarmingwithitswideuseofchemicalsissignificantonanotherlevel.PerhapstherewasachancethroughthehealingpowerofthePrepara-tionstobalanceandevenshowanotherwaytothebirthofalargerscalecommercialagriculture.FortheAgriculture

Coursewasnotgivenonsomebeautiful‘Bavarianfamilyfarm’,itwasofferedbyrequesttoaplacewhereanindustrialprocess(intensivesugarbeetgrowing)wasthreateningsoilquality.Andthestoryofindustrialagriculture’sblindfaithinchemicalsanditsrelentlessmarchinbotheasternandwest-ernpoliticalcultureswhereStalinforcedcollectivechemicalfertilizerfarmsandtheAmericanprairiedustbowlagricul-turalpracticeallcontributedtoamodern‘rapeoftheearth’inthelast100years.Itisakindofsecond‘Fall’wherewebreakourtietotheearthanditsneeds. ItisherethatKoberwitzstandsatatippingpointbetweeneasternandwesternformsofagriculture,akindofbeacontoanotherwaybetweenrenewalofaninstinctive,naturalhusbandryanddistortedcommercialagriculture. ItwasastrongexperiencebeingatthesiteofTheAgriculturalCourseandnoteasytocometotermswiththeconsequencesofwhathappenedafterthat1924eventasthedestructionoftheestateinwartimeandallthesubsequentrecordsofthenewlyemergingbiodynamicpracticeonKoberwitzandanumberofneighbouringEasternEuropeanfarmswastostopbiodynamicworkafter1940. IwastoldthatanexhibitioninPolishandGermantohonourthesiteoftheKoberwitzestateasthebirthoftheAgricultureCoursehadbeenstoppedjustbeforethepanelswereduetogoonshow.ConspiracytheoristswereremindingmethattheRomanCatholicChurchsostronginPolandstillhasproblemswithAnthroposophyandthemakingpublicofesotericChristianknowledge. Perhapsitistimetoreturntoaminutestudyofthetext…n


markus grew up in glencraig, a rural camphill community in northern ireland, where he accom-panied his father, who was the farmer at the time, around the farm from early childhood. from the age of five, markus said he wanted to be a farmer and never waivered. in later years, he followed his early intentions and enrolled at Brooksby agri-cultural college in leicestershire. amongst the things he embarked on there, he did a project on biodynamic farming. he also won an award for being the most practical student. after complet-ing college, he returned to northern ireland and from there set off to work on a swiss farm for one year, followed by travelling around australia for a year, picking up work along the way. this included a two-month stint on a fishing trawler, and he found it easy to settle to the work required of him. NewZealandcamenext,atfirstworkingonafarmatCanterburywithJeffWilson,followedbyworkingfornearlytwoyearsatHohepaVillage,whereMarkuswasinchargeofthefarm.AfterreturningtoEnglandwithKate,hisnewwife,hetookupapositiononHelenBrowning’sorganicfarmatBishopstonenearSwindon,lookingafterpigsandpoultry.ButMarkus’andKate’swishtobecomeinvolvedinaCamphillcommunitygreweverstronger,andsoitwasthattheyfoundthemselvesatSturtsFarm,whereMarkustookoverthefarmfromAlfredoPerralta.MarkuswastobethefarmeratSturtsFarmfor17years.IfirstmetMarkus11yearsagoinDecember2000onmyfirstvisittoSturtsFarm.MarkusandKateandtheirdaugh-terAmyhadalreadylivedatSturtsforalmost7yearswiththeirtwoyoungerchildren,JennyandBrendan,whowerebornthere. Istillrememberthisvisit,asitwastodeterminewhetherSturtscouldbecomeanewhomeandpurposeformyfamilyandmyself.Itwasaverywetwinterthatyearandthefarmmetmewithaverywetandgreyface,butthesmallfriendlycommunitymadeupforthatandIwasgreetedandwelcomedwithalotofhumanwarmth.

ThepicturesofMarkusthatcometomindfromtheseearlymemoriesareofhiminthemilkingparlour,sittingnexttohisdairyShorthorncowsonastool,handmilking.TherewasalwaysabigteamofCompanionsandCo-workersaroundhim,supportingthemilking,feedingthecalves,pigsandseeingtoothernecessaryfarmchores. Helovedtheworkonthelandand,inatrueCamphillway,hefeltdeeplyprivilegedtoworkwiththecompanions.Hewasaveryhardworkerandledothersbyexample.Hewasalwaysthefirstinthemorning,oftensit-tinginhisofficewellbefore5.30amwithacandlelit,doinghisinnerworkbeforethelongday’sworkahead.Afterthishewasoutinthefarmyard,preparingforthemilking,andwasnotpleased,tosaytheleast,ifhisteamwaslateforwork.Hewasstrictwherehefeltheneededtobe,buthealsohadalotofhumour,loveandrespectforpeople.Helikedteasingorfoolingaroundwithpeopletocheerthemuporwithsomeofustochallengeusinthisway.Inthosedays,itwasstillpossibletochallengepeople,companionsandco-workersalike,togettotheirpotentialortosupportthemtoreachacertaingoalorcarryacertainresponsibilitywithintheirworkorjusttomanagetobeontime.ItwasnotalwayseasytokeepupwithMarkus,becausehehadsuchgreatdisciplineinhiswill.Hewasabletoleadthelandworkethosforthewholecommunity.Thisradiatedoutandattractedpeoplewithsimilarideals.Itwasagreatprivilegetoworkalongsidehimasacolleague.Histeamusedtocomeandsupportmygardenteamwiththeweedingwhenweneededsupportor,viceversa,wehelpedoutwiththehayharvest. MarkusstronglyvaluedhavinghissonBrendanonthefarmwithhim,teachinghimthefarmways.ItwasahugechallengeforMarkustojugglehisfamilytime,whichhehighlyvalued,withhisworkandothersocialneedsthathefeltheneededtosupport. Throughhishugeheartforces,Markuseasilyandnaturallyconnectedtotheworldofelementalbeingsandthestarryskies.Hehadadeeploveforhismilkingcowsandlikedtodescribetheparticularitiesofeveryanimal,includ-ingthewayitshornswereshaped.Hethenponderedwhat

appreciation of markus könig (17/09/1963 – 17/08/2011)

By Henning Koester


themeaningofthedifferentlyshapedhornswas.Markuswasstronglycommittedtobiodynamicfarming,althoughtheneedtosupplyourlocalCommunitySupportedAg-riculturescheme,setupwithourneighbouringCamphillcommunitiesinRingwood,withfoodfromthefarmwasmoreimportantthantheidealsofaclosedfarmorganism.Oursoilsarepoorandacidandweregularlyhadtobuyinsomebiodynamicgrainandstrawtocoverourneeds.Markusalwayshadapprenticesonthefarmandwasanac-tivememberofthebiodynamicapprentice-traininggroup.Hewasdedicatedtotrainingpeople,notfromthehead,butthroughrealworkledbyexample.Hehimselfhadpartici-patedinandcompletedtheCamphillbiodynamicseminar. HewasactivelysupportingtheRingwoodWaldorfSchoolandtheSheilingSchoolbyofferingfarminglessonstopupilsthroughouttheyear.Markuswaslovedbyalltheschoolchildrenandhecouldbeseenatthecentreofatten-tionstirringandsprayingpreparationsduringfestivaltimes.Hiscommitmenttotheschoolsandeducationwasverymuchappreciatedbytheteachersandparents. Markuswasalsowellknowninthelocalcommu-nitywherehefosteredgoodrelationshipswithfarmersandotherlandworkers.Markusmadealsocontactwiththelocalcountryparkwherehehadhiscattleandsheepgrazing.Thefarmteamcouldbeseendailydrivingoutinthepick-uptrucktochecktheanimalsthere.Markus’shappyfacewaswelcomedeverywhere,especiallyinthelocalvillage,buyingabunfromthebakeryorintheCo-oporsometimesgettinghisfishandchips.Everybodyseemedtoknowhim. Markuslovedfood.Hewasoftenseenatthecom-munityBBQswithanaprononandtakingexpertchargeofthemeat!Markuswouldthenonlyeatwheneveryonehadbeenserved,makingsurethatpeoplewouldeatplenty.MarkuswasalwaysverysociablewithmealsandeveryNewYearsdayheinvitedeverybodyinthecommunityandcookedaproperfarmer’sEnglishbreakfast. Hewasnotaperfectionist,butadoer.Anybuild-ingwork,machineserviceormaintenance,hewouldgetinvolved.Hehadaninterestinallthingsmechanical;hecol-lectedoldMeccanoandsomeoldclocks.Helovedcyclingandsailing;hehadacoupleofsmallsailingboatsthathewouldtakeoutonanearbylakewhenhehadachanceandwasn’ttooexhaustedonhisdaysoff. Markuswasaverygoodlistenerandalwaystooktimetodoso.Hehadagreatinterestinpeopleandwouldal-waystrytokeepintouchwithfamily,friendsandothersthathadcrossedhispath.Hewasacommunityperson,feelingresponsibleforpeopleandthespacebetweenthem.Hebe-cameSturtsFarmCommunity’sfirstco-workertrusteeontheSheilingTrustandwasformanyyearsaboardmemberonHARCHousingAssociation(asmallGloucestershire-basedCamphillhousingassociation).Markuswasalwaysreadytoofferhishelpandsupportwherenecessaryand,withnodoubt,hefeltstronglyresponsiblebeingpartoftheKönigfamilywithintheCamphillMovement. Earlyin2011,Markuswastakenintohospitalandshortlyafterdiagnosedwithararecondition.Somethingwaswrongwithhisautoimmunesystem–hisbodywasbreakingdownhishealthymuscles.TheteamofdoctorsandnursesatPooleHospitaltriedforseveralmonthstofindacureforthisrareconditionanditwasheartbreakingtosee

Markusduringthattime.Hewasdeprivedoftheuseofhislimbs,hecouldnotswallowandwasthereforeunabletoeatand,towardstheend,hewasunabletotalk.Thiswashap-peningtoMarkus,wholovedbeingoutsidedoingphysicalwork,eatinggoodfoodandtalkingtopeople. Buteventhetimeinhospitaldidnotchangehiscause,hewasstillinterestedinallthosepeoplehecarriedinhisheart,andheevenmadestrongconnectionsandrelationshipswiththedoctorsandthenursesthatcaredforhimthere.Althoughbeingsoweakandveryill,henevermissedsayingaPleaseorThankyou.Hewastrulyahumbleindividualwithtremendousheart-forces. Aftermonthsoffightingandsuffering,Markussadlypassedawayintheeveningofthe17thAugust2011inPooleHospitalsurroundedbyhisfamilyandsomeclosefriends.WewereveryfortunatetohaveMarkuscomingbacktoSturtsFarmforthevigilandthefirstpartoftheChristianCommunityfuneralservice.Hisfuneralwasheldonthe22ndofAugustonanunusuallyhotlatesummer’sday,wherehewasaccompaniedbyhisfamilyandacoupleofhundredfriends.AtMarkusgraveside,Kateaddressedtheassembledcompany.SherecalledanimportantmessagetoallfromMarkus:thatMarkushadlearnedduringhistimeinPooleHospitalthatthemostimportantinlifeistherelation-shipsbetweenpeopleandhowthespacesbetweenpeopleneedcaringforandfostering. SturtsFarmwillneverbethesameagain–thefarmisstillmourning-hisfamilyistryingtocometotermswiththeirgriefandfindanewmeaningandsecurityinlife.TheCompanionsarewithouttheirlovedworkmasterandthestrongworkethoshasbeenlost.Theco-workersonthelandarewithoutastrongleadingexample,thefieldsareworkedbycontractors,thecowsarenotbeingmilkedatpresentandthelittleRobinRedbreastthatMarkususedtogreeteverymorningintheyardiswonderingwhat’sgoingtohappennext.


rudolf kirstdied 22nd august 2011

By John Wellsrudolf was born in cologne in germany where he also grew up. later he met elf-riede, his wife, in holland. he first worked in england at the rudolf steiner school in leeds in 1956. When that closed in 1961 he went on to teach at the kings langley steiner school, where he taught german and music. all of his four chil-dren were also educated there. HethenrealisedthatSteinereducationwaseffec-tivelyonlyforwelloffpupils.Hefeltitshouldbemorewidelyavailable,sohetookupteachinginthestatesystem,andin1981becameheadteacherofWhittleseaSchoolinHarrow.Therehebecameverygoodatnegotiatingwiththelocalauthoritybureaucracy. Thiswastostandhiminverygoodsteadinhisnextventures.Oneofthesewasthevigorouscampaignagainstthegeneticmodificationofseeds,whichhecouldseewasprofitmotivatedbyMonsantoandseedfirms,whichhadpatentedseedsandbrokentheirpromisesforGMproducts.TheBrit-ishGovernmentalsowantedtokeepthedooropenforGMresearchandthepossibleuseofGMtechnology. Rudolfconsideredtheprovisionofgoodhealthyfoodtobethemostimportantchallengefacinghumanity.WithhisknowledgeoftheworkingsofbureaucracyhegotontomanyinfluentialGovernmentadvisorycommittees.HealsohadaccesstothescientistsatRothamsteadResearchstation,whichhevisitedoftenandpromotedthebiodynamicandorganicviews. PeterWatts,thepresentchairmanofthelocalKingsLangleybiodynamicgroup,hadthistosayaboutameetinghewenttointheHouseofCommonswithRudolf:“RudolfKirstinvitedmetojoinhiminthe‘GrandCommitteeRoom’oftheHouseofCommonstohearDrHansHerrenspeakon‘AgricultureattheCrossroads’.Theoccasionwasveryspecial,thesubjectveryinterestingandthesurroundingsverygrand.ButformethemoststrikingfeaturewashowwellknownandrespectedRudolfwas.Hewasknownacrossalargesectionoftheparticipants,coveringahugenumberofgroupswithexpertiseandinterestswithinthefieldofgood,sustainablefoodproductionacrosstheworld.” RudolfandIwereoldcolleaguesandIcametoworkwithhimbecausehedidnothaveacomputer,whereasIdid.ConsequentlyIusedtotypeuphiscontributionstothedebatesanddiscussthemwithhimandhelpwiththeEnglishidioms,whichbeingGermanhestillhadtroublewith,beforetransmittingthem.TherepliesallcamebacktometoprintoutandpassontoRudolf.ThereforeIgotawindowontohisimpressivework.WhentheKingsLangleyschoolboughtthePrioryandwestartedthebiodynamicgrouphejoinedit.Healsotookonaplot,whichhekeptwellcultivatedandproductive.Healsotookanactiveroleinourmonthlymeetingstellingusofhisactivities.OneofthesewashissupportfortheNationalPureWaterAssociation,whichhepersuadedthegrouptojoin,as

weallagreedthatmedicationofthenation’sdrinkingwaterwithfluoridewasbothharmfulandimmoral.Whenheretiredwithastatepen-sionat65,hispersonalincomewasassuredandsohethrewhimselfvig-orouslyintonewdirections.Hein-troduced‘WaystoQuality’withUdoHerrmannstorferfromDornachtohelptheadministrationofSteinerorganisations.Thiswasparticularly

forCamphillandothercommunitiesforpeoplewithspecialneedswherethecommunityisthrowncloselytogetherandantagonismsandmisunderstandingseasilyarise.HeorganisedseveralconferencesinourKindergartenbuildingduringthesummerholidays,aswellasothersinStAlbansandroundthecountry.HelaterhandedtheorganisationovertohisdaughterOdiliawhostillcarriesiton. Heboughtthelandbehindthekindergartenatthebottomofhisgarden,fromPhilipBowronwhoseverygener-ousoffertotheschooltobuildanotherkindergartenbuildingonitforfreeifhecouldhaveaflatontop,wasrefusedbytheschool.(ThisledtothesubsequentfoundingoftheOttawaSteinerSchoolinCanadabyPhilip.)Onthislandtherewasawoodenbuilding,whichbecamethechaletforRudolf’sfamilytousewhentheycameovertovisit. Afewyearsbeforehedied,hisdaughterLinziandherfamilybecamehomelessandRudolfmanagedtogetretro-spectiveplanningpermissionforherfamilytoliveinitshortlybeforehedied. RudolfwasakeenfollowerofRudolfSteiner’sphi-losophyandhestudiedanthroposophyallhislife.

John Wilkes1930-2011

By Thomas Wilkes & Jochen Schwuchow

John Wilkes was born in 1930 in tettenhall near Wolverhampton, three and a half years after his sister gwyneth, and began his schooling at tettenhall college, a small public boarding school. a dreamy child in his early years, the decision that he should repeat a year gave him a big shock, and became a decisive moment for his future. from then on, he was top of his class and later became a prefect. his focus was in science, but a change came in 1946 when a new special-ist art teacher arrived in the school and John became increasingly interested in the arts, with pottery his next passion. Thischangesethimontheroadtohiseventualprofession. In1948,admissiondirectlyintothesecondyearoftheTettenhallArtCollegetostudysculpture,wasfollowedbyacceptanceintotheRoyalCollegeofArtinLondon.ItwastowardstheendofhistimeinWolverhampton,thathehadhisfirstcontactwithAnthroposophywhenheattendedacourseatAttinghamParkandmetSirGeorgeTrevellyanandDr.ErnstLehrs,whowasabouttopublishhisbook


‘ManorMatter’. NationalServicenowinter-vened,transferredtotheRoyalSignalsCorps,hespenthisservicetimeinAustria. Onhisreturn,Johnfollowedparallelstudies:thatoftheRoyalCol-legeandalsoofAnthroposophy.HemetGeorgeAdamsforthefirsttimein1953,andinitialquestionsrelatingtohisthe-sis,entitled‘ThelivingNatureofForm’,ledtoinstructioninaspectsofmodernProjectiveGeometry. Upongraduationhewasim-mediatelyaskedtojoinBromleyCollegeofArttoteachstonecarvingtwodaysaweek. JohnmettheeurythmistAlfhildHammerstaedtin1958andofferedasahopefulyoungmantomakeaportraitofher!Theygotmarriedin1962andhadtwochildren,JohannaandThomas. ThroughtheacquaintancewithGeorgeAdams,JohnWilkesstartedtocollaboratewithTheodorSchwenkinthenewlyfoundedInstituteforFlowSciencesinHerrischried,Germany.Histaskbecametheimplementationofthepathcurvesurfaces,developedtheoreticallybyGeorgeAdams. Andin1965,JohnWilkestookonthesculpturecoursesatbothEmersonCollegeandtheRudolfSteinerSeminarinJärna(Sweden).AtimeoftravellingbetweenEngland,SwedenandSwitzerlandbegan. Inthebeginningof1970,TheodorSchwenkaskedhimtocomebacktoHerrischried.Althoughtherewasnoimmediatetask,JohnWilkeswantedtoworkonthesubjectofresistanceinstreamingwaterandtheresultingrhythms.Duringtheseexperiments,hefoundthatbycreatingacertainresistancetothewaterflowinavesselwithdefinedproportions,apulsingfigure-of-eightflowpatternwouldarise,thusdiscoveringtheFlowformprinciple,whichwouldbecomethefocalpointofhisfurtherworkandresearch.JohnWilkesinstalledhisfirstFlowformcascadeinJärna(1971)commissionedbyArneKlingborg. ThesculpturalworkwithFlowformdesignsfounditsreflectioninthesculpturecourses.Hetravelledtomanycountriesoftheworld,heldclassesorgavelectures,installedcascadesandworkedwithmanypeopledevelopingunder-standingofthelifesupportingqualitiesofwater. SincethedevelopmentoftheFlowformmethod,therehavebeenmorethan5000installationsandprojectsinabout50countries.Flowformdesignsexistasartisticworks,butarealsousedinawidevarietyofapplications,including:-Biologicalwastewatertreatmentsystems;usingFlowformcascadesincombinationwithreed-bedsandlagoons.-DairyfarmstreattheirdailyeffluentwithFlowformcascades;transformingwasteintoanorganicliquidferti-lizer,sometimesincombinationwithbiodynamiccompostpreparation.-Drinkingwaterandfoodprocessing,suchastheproduc-tionofgrainmilkorforbakingbread.

Furtherprojectsincludetapwaterandpondtreatment,aswellashomoeopathic,medicinal,therapeuticandeducationalapplications. AllhislifeJohnWilkeslivedwithfundamentalquestionregardingwater:Howcanwaterbeusedinordertobeabletosupportlife?Howcanwepreservethehomeoftheelementalbeings?Anddoeswaternothaveafunctionasthe‘bloodoftheearth’? Hisworkwaspenetratedbyanthroposophyandprojectivegeometry.Hewasstimulatedbytheunderstandingofmorphologyandbytheobservationandcontemplationofmovement.Hisvitalityandenergyhereceivedfromhisfamily,whoalwayssupportedhimandenabledhisworktobecomemanifest. Havinglivedwithaheartcondi-tionformanyyears,itbecamecritical

duringavisittoDornachforRudolfSteiner’s150thbirthday.“Ineedtomoveforward.”JohnWilkesspokethesewordsbeforetheoperation.Theheartoperationwentwell,howeverasubsequentinnerbleedingcouldnotbearrested. JohnWilkescrossedthethresholdduringthenighttowards27thMarch2011. ThespreadingoutoftheFlowformmethodallaroundtheworldappearstobeareflectionofJohnWilkes outgoingqualities,enthusiasmandkindness,hiscapacitiesofmeetingpeoplewithallimaginablebackgrounds,withwhomhewouldsharehisdeepinsights,hisjoyandinspiration.ForanyonewhohasexperiencedJohnWilkes classesandlectures,itisunforgettablehowwithdeepenthusiasm,joyandhumourhesharedhisideasandinsights.Healwaysfoundaninspiringwordofencouragementtobecomemoreopentothephenomenaaroundusandtodeepenourcapaci-tiesofobservation. Takingpartinhiscoursesonwaterandrhythmsinnature,wasadeeplyimpressive,aestheticandharmonizingexperience.JohnWilkes’life’sworkandimpulsescertainlyhelpedincreatingadeeperawarenessofthelife-givingsubstancewateranditspresenceinarhythmicalcontext,enablingittobecomecapableofsupportinglifeinsomanyways.n

Literature:

- John Wilkes (2003) Flowforms - The Rhythmic Power of Water, Floris Books

- Jochen Schwuchow, John Wilkes, Iain Trousdell (2010) Energizing Water – Flowform Technology and the Power of Nature, Sophia Books, Forest Row

- website: http://www.flowform.net/

http://www.flowform.net/


energizing Water: floWform technology and the poWer of nature.by Jochen schwuchow, John Wilkesand iain trousdell. sophia Books. 117pp. 2010

Review by Richard Thornton Smith

Flowformsarebowlswhichpermitmovingwatertoexperi-enceparticularmotions,andareusuallyarrangedasmul-tiplesorcascades.Weareallsensitivetothetasteofwater–thisisourfirstmeetingwiththenotionofwaterquality–andthatwaterismorethanjustH2O.Itisperhapsnotsosurprisingthen,thatunderlyingwater’soutwardlypercep-tiblecharacteristicsliesubtledifferencesinitsfabricandenergypatterns.EnergizingWaterpresentsbothascienceofwaterandanunderstandingofhowadesigntechnologycanexertmeasurableeffectsonwaterquality. Thebookopensbyofferinganoverviewofthepropertiesofwater,howitwasregardedinancienttimesandhowitsremarkablepropertiessupporttheprocessesoccur-ringinlivingorganisms.Thisexcellentgroundinghelpsusappreciatethatwaterhastwomainrolesasamediuminthelivingworld.Onehastodowithbasicbiochemicalproc-esses–aroundwhichuniversitydegreeshavebeenbased.Simultaneouslyitisconcernedwiththatlargelyunrecog-nizedcreativeactivitybywhichlivingthings–andforthatmatter,organicsubstances–areshaped.Itisimportantweunderstandthisdistinction,forthecapacityofwatertounderpinhealthandvitalityinorganismswilldependonitsinnatepropertiesandpatterns.Thisistheessentialaimofthescienceofflowforms. Twosubsequentchapters(andalaterappendix)tellushowthedesignofflowformshascomeaboutandtheusestowhichflowformscanbeput.Thesearenotsimplyartisticallycreatedbowlsbutformswhosesurfacesdrawtheirultimateinspirationfromnaturalprocesses.Carefulconsiderationhasalsobeengiventothemethodofwatercirculationinflowformstogetherwiththematerialsusedinbowlconstruction,enablingustosaythatthisisasneartoatrulyholistictechnologyaspossible.Oneisstruckbytherangeofapplicationsfromstraightforwardre-energizingofwater,totreatmentofagriculturalslurryandbiodynamicpreparations,aswellastheuseofflowformsinaestheticdesignandtherapeuticcontexts. Followingthisoutlineoftheiruses,theremainingpartofthebookpresentsasummaryofflowformresearchsofarcarriedout,withparticularattentiongiventoworkdonebytheHealingWaterInstitute,setupbycolleaguesindifferentpartsoftheworldandbasedatEmersonVil-lage,ForestRow,Sussex.Awidevarietyofexperiencesarereported,includingenhancementsofwaterasevaluatedbyqualitytestingmethods,directmeasurementofoxygenationanditsretention,effectsonmicrobiologyandnotsurpris-ingly,onplantgrowth.Thelatterhassofarbeenconfinedtolaboratory-replicatedexperimentswithseedlingsgrowninvitro.Here,onecansaythattheresultsarerevealingas

wellasshowingthequalityoftheresearchitself.Generallyspeaking,thereisagoodresponsetoflowformwaterbutthisisreflectedinrootgrowthratherthanthewholeplant.Thereadermustthereforewondertowhatextenttheexperi-mentalconditions–inthiscaseopen-sidedglasses–playintotheresults.Sogiventhesepositiveindications,futureresearchshouldsurelybelocatedinamorehorticulturalandlesshydroponicmilieu. Aswaterrecyclingbecomesevermoreimportantacrosstheworld,besideschemicalquality,theenergeticpropertiesofwaterneedtobebroughtwithintheradarofwaterproviders.Andwhilecertainqualityassessmentmethodsmaynotyetbederigeurinwidercircles,ongoingflowform-basedresearchcontinuestoshowthatsignificantbenefitscouldarisefromuseofthistechnologyinmanyfields.Thereisinfactenormousscopeforfutureresearch. Thisisaclearlywrittenandbeautifullyillustratedvolume,packedwithfascinatingideasandenhancedbyitsscientificapproach.Itisaccessibletothenon-specialistreaderandthereforedeservestobewidelyread.Theauthorsdedicatedthebookto‘wateranditslife-supportingcapaci-ties’.Sadly,JohnWilkesdiedsoonafteritspublicationsoinviewofthemanyyearsworkhegavetothebirthanddevelopmentofflowforms,theworkcanalsorightlybeamemorialtohim.

revieWsNot all of these books are available via the Biodynamic Association. Please check the BDA online store before phoning the office.


queen of the sun: What are the Bees telling us?an anthology compiled by taggart siegel and Jon Betzpublished by clairview Books (isBn 978 1 905570 34 8)

Reviewed by Hugh Salvesen (Trustee, Natural Beekeeping Trust)

ManyreadersofStar&FurrowwillbefamiliarwithTag-gartSiegel’smultipleaward-winningdocumentaryfilmTheRealDirtonFarmerJohn(2007),inwhichhetellsthestoryofhowJohnPetersonovercameahostofobstaclesinordertotransformhisfailingfamilyfarminIllinoisintoAngelicOrganics,nowahighlysuccessfulexampleofacommunity-supportedagricultureproject.Siegel’slatestproductionisQueenoftheSun:WhataretheBeesTellingUs?,comingtoascreennearyousoon.Toaccompanythefilm,heandhisproducerJonBetzhavecompiledasumptuouslyillustratedanthologyofessaysandarticleswrittenbymanyofthepeoplewhoappearinthefilmitself. Bothfilmandbookareimportantcontributionstothegrowingdebateabouttheplightofthehoneybee.Someoftheessays(e.g.DavidHeaf ’s)aremorehands-on,practicalanddown-to-earthinstyle,others(e.g.MatthewBarton’s)moresearching,meditativeandpoetic.ThosebyVandanaShivadon’tactuallydiscussbeesmuchatall,andcoulddespitetheirintrinsicinterestperhapshavebeenomitted.Butallhaveincommonanurgentsenseofthecrisisfacingthebees,recognisingthat,asRajPatelputsit,“beesarecollateraldamageinindustrialagriculture’swaronnature”.Moreover,becauseofthehoneybee’sindispen-sableroleasapollinatorfromspringtoautumn(beautifullydescribedinthecontributionbyJohannesWirz),thebees’crisisisalsoourcrisis.Inoneofhistwoexcellentarticles,GuntherHaukmodestlyacknowledgesthatmanyhavesaidbeforehimthatthehoneybeeis‘thecanaryinthemine’.Butthemetaphormeritsrepetition,bringingoutthestarkconsequenceswefaceifwefailtoheedthesignalwhichthebeesaresendingusastheydieineverlargernumbers. Acommonthemetooisthat,sadly,muchoftheresearchintoColonyCollapseDisorderismissingthepoint,bylookingforcuresforsymptomsratherthanforunderly-ingcauses.AsSiegelandBetzsayintheirintroduction,scientistsarestillhuntingforanillusorysilverbullettocureCCDandsopreserveamulti-billiondollarindustry.Buttheirfindingscanonlyeverbelimited.Yes,nodoubtthisbacteriumorthatvirushassomethingtodowithit.Orpesticides.OrGMOs.Orelectrosmog.Buttheseare,asGuntherHauksays,merelysymptomsofaweakenedorganism;andtheorganismhasbeenweakenedaboveallbyabusivebeekeeping.ComparingthehoneybeestruckedtoandfroacrosstheUnitedStatestomigrantworkersisinadequate.Atleastmigrantworkersaregenerallypaid.ThesebeesaremoreaccuratelydescribedbySiegelandBetzintheirintroductionasinsectslaves. Sotheanswerwillnotbefoundinlaboratories,asHeidiHerrmannoftheNaturalBeekeepingTrustsaysinherforeword.InsofarasItooamaTrusteeoftheNaturalBeekeepingTrustIshouldperhapsdeclareaninterest;butifbusyreadersdon’thavetimetoreadthewholebook,

justreadtheforeword....!OrperhapstheforewordandthepoemVirgil’sBeesbyCarolAnnDuffy,PoetLaureateandtheTrust’sPatron,whichimmediatelyfollows.Havingthisverseasafrontispieceisamarvellousoverturetothepagesbeyond,thoughithastheunfortunateconsequenceofexposingtheratherlessstellarqualityoftheotherpoemsinthebook,byJacquelineFreeman,whodescribesherselfasa‘beelistener’(aren’tweall?).Itisgoodtohaveheressayonthedronesandwhytheymatter,sincedrone-cullingisyetanotheroftheaberrantandobnoxioustechniquespractisedbymanymodernbeekeepers.ButonewishesratherformorebeepoemsbyCarolAnnDuffy. WhythetitleQueenoftheSun?Severalofthecontributions,mostnotablythosebyGuntherHaukandMichaelThiele,considertheconnectionbetweenthequeenbeeandsunlightwhichisoneofthemostunfathomablemysteriesattheheartofthehive.ItwasRudolfSteiner,thepresidinggeniusbehindthisbook,whosaidinhisbeelec-turesof1923(vividlyevokedinHorstKornberger’sessay)thatthequeenbeeisacreatureofthesun,whomateshighupinthesunlight,andwhosodazzlestheworkerswhensheisbornthatthecolonycannotfacetheblindinglightandisdriventoswarm.Ofcourse,itisnotaphysicallight:thein-teriorofthehiveistoallphysicalintentsandpurposesdark.Butthequeenilluminatesthehivewithspiritualsunlight,andtheworkersreceiveit.Fromthisthoughtitisnotabigsteptothefurtherthoughtthattheabilityofthequeentopermeatethehivewithspiritualsunlightmustsurelyhavebeenprofoundlycompromisedanddegradedbygenerationsofbeekeeperspractisingartificialqueen-breeding,fertilisingqueenswithtweezersontheworkshopbench.Andamongthemanyaberrationsofcontemporaryapicultureitwaspre-ciselythepracticeofartificialqueen-breedingwhichRudolfSteinerpropheticallysingledoutin1923asliabletoleadtotheterminaldemiseofthehoneybeewithin80to100years. MichaelThiele’sclosingessayabouttheBien,thehoneybeecolonyasonebeingincountlessbodies,isamongthebestinthebook.Hesaysthathepreferstoavoidusingtermslike‘beekeeping’and‘beekeeper’altogether.Thatisagoodpoint.Itmaybethecase,asSiegelandBetzsayintheirintroduction,thathoneybeescouldnolongersurvivewith-outus.Paradoxicallythisisbecausewehavesomistreatedandexploitedthemthattheycannolongermanagewithoutthechemicalsthatwegivethemtocombatpestsandthecornsyrup,whichwegivethemwhenwehavetakenawaytheirhoney.Butthisdoesnotentitleustocallourselvestheir‘keepers’.Wehavearesponsibilityrathertotendandlookafterthem;or,asCarolAnnDuffysays,to“guardthem”.Insummoningitsreaderstorisetothisurgentchallenge,thisbookdeservesthewidestpossiblereadership.


carol ann duffy: ‘the Bees’published by picador, £14.99 (isBn 978-0-330-44244-2)

Reviewed by Hugh Salveson (Trustee, Natural Beekeeping Trust)

Inautumn2009,shortlyaftertheNaturalBeekeepingTrustwasfounded,CarolAnnDuffy’spoemVirgil’sBeeswaspublishedinTheTimesLiterarySupplement.Itseemedtoogoodtobetrue:hereinpeerlesspoeticlanguagewasastatementofwhatweattheTrustweremoreclumsilyandprosaicallytryingtosay:that“beesarethebatteriesoforchards,gardens,guardthem”.WethereforeaskedCarolAnnDuffyifwemightpublishthepoemontheTrust’swebsite.Notonlydidsheassentatonce,butsheaskedifshemightbecomeourPatron.Ofcourseweinturnsaidyes.IntheteemingmarketofcharitiesjostlingtosecurethemosteminentpublicfiguresastheirPatrons,weweresurethatinCarolAnnDuffywehadfoundthebestpossiblespokes-personforthecauseespousedbytheTrust,andforthebeesthemselves. ThissenseisreinforcedbythepublicationofTheBees,CarolAnnDuffy’slatestcollection,andthefirsttoappearsinceherappointmentasPoetLaureateinMay2009.Inthe56poemsinthecollectionshespeaksinallhermanyvoices:therearelovepoems,funnypoems,angrypoems,elegies,odesandthrenodies.PoemsaboutthewasteofwarwithpowerfulechoesofSassoonandWilfredOwen.Cheekypoemsmockingthesilli-nessofpoliticallycorrectcontem-porarypubliclife,includingthesplendidMrsSchofield’sGCSE. Butaboveall,asagoldenthreadthroughthevol-umeandreflectedinitstitle,therearepoemsaboutbees.Virgil’sBeesisthereofcourse.Soisthewonder-fulBeeCarol,whichappearedinTheGuardianlastChristmas,

andinwhichthepoetinvitesthereaderto“ComewithmeonChristmasEvetoseethesilenthive...”.SheasksforasinglejarasaChristmasgift;“buthoneyleavetofeedthewinterclusterofthebees”.Alinethatoughttogivepausetoallthosemisguidedbeekeeperswhostriptheirhivesofhoneyattheendoftheforagingseasonandexpecttheircoloniestooverwinteronsugarsolution. Someofthebeepoemsareprotestsagainsttheenvironmentaldepredationwhichhascontributedtothecrisisfacingthebees.InAriel,thelovelysongofProspero’sairyspiritissavagelytwistedtotellusthat,inourmoderndystopia,“wherethebeesucks,neonicotinoidinsecticidesinacowslip’sbelllie...;seethingintheorchardsnow,undertheblossomthathangsonthebough”.TheHumanBeedescribesahumanbeingwhospendshislifepollinatingorchardsbyhandbecausethebeeshaveallgone.Forallhiswork,heknowsattheendthatitwasabarrenandfruitlesslife(“IcouldnotflyandImadenohoney”). Butsomeofthesebeepoemsaremorethanjustpoems‘aboutbees’.SometimesthebeesappearastheverywellspringofCarolAnnDuffy’spoetry.InBees,whichopensthecollection,theyare“blursonpaper...mypoetbees...yourscentpervadesmyshadowed,busyheart,andhoneyisart”.Hiveisabeautifulevocationofthesacredmysteryofthebeehive,inwhichthebees,thepoetandeventhereaderareall“concelebrants...freightedwithlight...in-dustrious,identical...”.InARareBee,withwhichthebook

ends,thepoettellsofaquestwhichleads,inanechoofYeats’LakeIsleofInnisfree,toagladeinaforest,whereahermitkeepsabeewhosehoneyissopurethat,“whenpressedtothepoutofapoetitmadeherprofound”.Thepoetfindsthehermit’shive,andasksthebeeinprayertoblesshertonguewithrhyme.Thebeestingsheronthemouth-anddies.Butthepoetlivesonwiththegiftofverse.

H i v e

All day we leave and arrive at the hive,concelebrants. The hive is love,what we serve, preserve, avowed in Latin murmursas we come and go, skydive, freightedwith light, to where we thrive, us, in time’s hum,on history’s breath, industrious, identical …

there suck we,alchemical, nectar-slurred, pollen-furred,the world’s mantra us, our blurry soundalong the thousand scented miles to the hive,haven, where We unpack our foragers;or heaven-stare, drone-eyed, for a queen’s star;or nurse or build in milky, waxy caves,the hive, alive, us - how we behave.

By Carol Ann Duffy Patron, Natural Beekeeping Trust. Reproduced with kind permission of the author

revieWsNot all of these books are available via the Biodynamic Association. Please check the BDA online store before phoning the office.


advertise in the star & furroW!Star and Furrow reaches not only the membership of over 1000 people. It is also read by a wider audience in the organic movement and in educational institutions around the country and abroad.

the advertising rates are as follows: the charge for small advertisement is 12p per word for members of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association and 25p per word for non-members. the charges for display advertisements are:n Outside back cover £300 n 1/4 page £50 n Inside back cover £200 n 1/8 page £25 n Full page £200 n INSErtS £65 (per 1,000) n 1/2 page £100 (all prices inclusive of VAT)Discounts are available on request. Cheques and money orders should be made out to the Biodynamic Agricultural Association or BDAA. Foreign advertisers are requested to pay by international money order. the closing dates are: 1st April for the summer issue and 1st October for the winter issue. Advertisements not received and paid for by these dates may not be accepted. Please send advertisements to the Editor’s address (see inside front cover).

Supplier of Bio-Dynamically Grown

Vegetable, Herb and Flower Seeds

Catalogue available on request Stormy Hall Farm, Danby, Whitby. North Yorkshire YO21 2NJ

Tel 01287 661368 Fax 01287 661369

E-mail : [email protected]

Bronze Garden Toolshand-crafted

hardwearing

garden-friendlyImplementations

P.O. Box 2568 Nuneaton CV10 9YR Tel 0845 330 3148

www.implementations.co.uk

Bro

nze G

arde

n To

ols n hand-crafted

n hardwearing

n garden-friendly

implementationsPO Box 2568NuneatonCV10 9YrTelephone: 0845 330 3148

By the light of the lanthornWorking with people with special needsA Cultural and Social Impulse in a Changing World

siegfried W. rudelpublished by temple lodge publishingisBn 9781906999278 £14.99

Reviewed by Richard Swann

ThePeredurTrusthasplayedquiteasignificantroleinthedevelopmentofthebiodynamicmovementintheUK.FormanyyearstheyhostedtheannualagriculturalExperimen-talCirclemeetings.TheywerethefirsttopublishMariaThun’ssowingcalendarusingtheirpublishingcompanyofLanthornPress,andcontinuedtodountilquiterecently.TheyalsopublishedsomekeyworkofDrPfeiffer,someofwhicharenowjustcomingbackintoprint.OneshouldalsonotforgetthattheymaintainedbiodynamicfarmsinbothEastSussexandCornwallwheremanypeopleweregiventheopportunitytoworkontheland. ThischarmingbookrelatesthemanifoldnessoftheworkatPeredur.ItiswrittenbySiegriedRudelwhoalongwithhislatewifeJoanwasoneofitsfounders.Itiswritteninaveryintimatealmostchattyway.Attimesonecanalmostimaginehimsittingbythefiretellingthestory. Throughitsschoolandhome,firstinEastGrinsteadandtheninCornwall,Peredurhasgivenmanydisadvantagedyoungpeopleopportunitiesforgrowthanddevelopment.ApartfromthehealingaspectoftheSteinerCurriculum,theworkonthelandandwithcraftsisalsoveryimportant. Thisbookgoesintoquitesomedetailonthehealingbenefitsthatworkingonthelandandinnaturecanhaveforyoungpeople.TheauthornotonlydrawsonhisownexperiencebutalsoquotestherecentworkofDrAricSigman. IworkedforashortperiodasabakerinPerdeur.Itwasbothachallengingaswellasaveryrichtime.Duringthattimeitbecamequiteclearthatnutritionwasverymuchattheforefrontoftheirpedagogicalapproach.ThisisborneoutbyachapterwhereSiegfriedRudelwritesabouttheinspirationbehindthis.Inoneofhisanecdoteshewritesofaninstancewherethe‘Peredurwholefooddiet’helpedanoveractiveyoungmanbecomequietandcalm.Butwhenhewenthomehewouldbecomerestlessagain.Hisparentsthenchangedtoawholefooddietandloandbeholdtheyoungmanwasatpeaceagain! Iwouldrecommendthisbookforanyonewhoisinterestedtoreadaboutthepositiveandeducationalbenefitsthataholisticlifestylecanhaveonayoungpersonwithchallengingbehaviour.n

www.implementations.co.uk


http://www.implementations.co.uk


We are looking for a mature, experienced,multi-skilled, reliable and trustworthy

rural estate management person or couple to help us to run a tranquil rural estate with a small firewood business near the cheviot hills in northumberland.

main aspects of JoB and key skills

nYou will be responsible for the effective and efficient day to day management of the Estate and will work in partnership with the Director of the company. nYou must be able to work under your own initiative and ensure that projects are managed on time. You will not be afraid to get “hands on” as the job needs and have the ability to deal with all situations with a ‘can-do’ attitude. nYou will be the first point of contact for residents on matters concerning tenancy conditions, this needs good communication skills and experience of residential lettings. nYou will deliver a responsive repairs and assistance service for our residents by identifying and resolving building defects and be capable of working on minor building repairs or escorting specialist contractors on the estate to ensure that good quality work is undertaken. nYou will need to be computer literate with a good working knowledge of relevant software, word, Excel and web (e-mail). nYou will be dealing with budget controls and you must be able to stick to budget. nYou will manage incoming telephone calls, invoicing, reports, dealing with outside companies and organising contractors. A basic understanding of Company Accounts would be an advantage. nYou will ensure all Health & Safety obligations and Duty of Care are met effectively and that all rou-tine checks are in place and carried out (to include regular auditing). nYou will be familiar with woods (with a basic knowledge of Continuous Cover Forestry) and wildlife and how to best manage both. From fences and gates to waterways and drainage, you will complete regular site checks and help to control bracken and rhododendron. this will include tree-felling (chain-saw licence), fencing and general maintenance and keeping an up-to-date knowledge of the estate. nYou will need to have already 5 to 10 years experience in a similar estate management role, but most important is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. nYou will need a car for this position, although there is a generous mileage allowance. nYou should provide effective answers to emergency queries out of normal office hours.

Job TyPE: Permanent – We must stress that we want a person or couple who are looking for a long term position. your accommodation will be on the Estate.

START DATE: Spring 2012 - SAlARy: Negotiable - depending on experience. To apply for this position, please email your CV to: [email protected] Only successful candidates will be contacted.



contact Biodynamic association office and Jessica for: Membership,joining,renewalsandinquiries,leaflets,bookandprepsales(oruseourwebshop),questionsandqueries,promotionalliteratureforfarmshops/showsetc,

apprentice training diploma - nir halfon [email protected],questionsaboutbecomingabiodynamicap-prenticeorfromtrainingcentreswhowishtojointheschemeorexistingcentreswhowanttoupdatedetailsorhavestudentquestions,etc.

Biodynamic preparationsTheBiodynamicPreparationsformauniqueandintegralpartofthebiodynamicapproachtofarmingandgardening.Theirusehelpstoincreasesoilvitality,regulateimbalances,improveplanthealthandbringthegardenorfarmintoharmonywithitssurroundings.ThePreparationscanbepurchasedreadymadeaswellasthematerialsyouneedtomakeyourownfromtheBDAAOffice.Westock:nHornManure(500)&HornSilica(501)nCompostPreps(502-507)nEquisetum(508)nMausdorfCompostStarternBarrelPreparationnThreeKingsPreparationnPlus:materialsforpreparationmaking.Foracurrentinfo&pricesheetpleasecontacttheBDOfficeordownloaditfromourwebsiteatwww.biodynamic.org.uk.Thelinkisatthebottomofthehomepage.

Workshops 2012 Afteraverysuccessfulconference,wearelookingforwardtogettingourworkshopschedulefor2012completed.Althoughwedonothavefirmdatesyet,ourintentionistoofferthefollowingcourses–docontacttheBDAifyouwouldliketoattend.Detailswillbeavailableshortly.

1) groW your garden With Biodynam-ics - may / June With monty WaldinOnedayworkshopatGardenOrganic,WarwickshireMonty’sapproachtobiodynamicsisverydowntoearth.Hewillexplaintheintricaciesofthisuniqueapproach(e.g.thebiodynamicpreparations,compostmakingandtheplantingcalendar)inawaythatanyoneandeveryonewillbeabletounderstand.Thisonedayworkshopaimstoshowthateve-ryonecaninfactuseandbenefitfrombiodynamicswhatevertheirindividualsituatione.g.homegardenerorprofessionalgrower. TherewillalsobeachancetoseethewonderfulBiodynamicDemonstrationGardenatGardenOrganic.

2) more groW your garden With Biodynamics – autumn 2012 With monty Waldin OnedayworkshopatGardenOrganic,WarwickshireFollowingonfromhisintroductoryday,Montywillguideyouonthenextstepofyourbiodynamicjourneywithamorein-depthlookatbiodynamicpreparationsandbiodynamicpractices.Perfectforthosewhohavedonetheintrodayorthosewhowishtodeepentheirbiodynamicknowledgebase.

From the BDA …3) groW your garden With Biodynam-ics - autumn With monty WaldinOneDayworkshopattheBiodynamicAgriculturalCollege,EastSussex. Theperfectintroductionandhelptogettingstartedusingbiodynamicsinyourgardenorallotment.Seeno1fordetails

4) get to grips With Biodynamic fruit & grape groWing With monty WaldinApractical,technicalonedayworkshoptolearnhowtoman-ageyourfruittrees,orchardsandvineyardsusingbiodynamicmethods.SuitableforanyoneworkingwithfruitorgrapeproductionVenue–TBC

stop press fundraiser urgently sought forthe Biodynamic association

WeareputtingoutaheartfeltcallforavoluntaryfundraisertohelpusraisemoniesfortheAssociationandallitswonder-fulprojects.Weknowthereismoneyouttherebutwelackthetimeandskilltoapplyforitproperly. BiodynamicFarmingandGardeninghasahugepotentialtomeettheurgentneedsofourtimeandtobuildahealthyandsustainablefuture. Biodynamicfarmingandgardeningmeanslivingsoil,vitalplantsandanimals,andhealthyvibrantfoodandhumans. ThemissionandpurposeoftheBiodynamicAsso-ciationismorebiodynamicacresandthereforemorebiody-namicfoodtonurturebody,mindandspirit. Asaregisteredcharityallofourworkisenabledthroughdonations,legacies,membershipandmoniesraisedthroughtheretailingofbiodynamicbooks,preparationsandevents/training. Withoutthesesourcesofincome,ourworkwouldnotbepossible.Therearemanyarea’swearedevelopingwhichweurgentlyneedfundsfor:n Maintaining free access to biodynamic information via telephone, email, post and website n Biodynamic seed saving and Plant Breeding Project - without open pollinated biodynamic seeds we cannot grow biodynamic foodn Raising the awareness of Biodynamics with an effective communications projectn Training the Biodynamic farmers and gardeners of the future via: l A new E-learning programme l Having a bursary fund for students and apprentices l Developing an occupational standard for biodynamic and organic education to underpin the courses at the Biodynamic College and for our Biodynamic Ap-prentice Learning Course.

DO you have the skills or know someone who might?With your help you will be helping to shape the future of the earth and humanity.

FormoreinformationandtoapplypleasecontactTimothyBrink(CEO),[email protected]

special offer for star and furroW readersRudolf Steiner Press & Clairview Books are offering the following two books at a special price for Star and Furrow Readers:Biodynamics in practise – by tom petherick for £14the Biodynamic food and cookBook – by Wendy cook for £13.00 (Please contact the BDA Office for details)


http://www.biodynamic.org.uk


star-gazing Journey of a life-timeMArCH 11tH tO 25tH 2012

For further information, and to book, please contact: larry leighton, flat c, thrupp house, gunhouse lane, stroud, glos. gl5 2dd, england.tel: (0044) (0)1453 755370; e-mail: [email protected]

following our successful star-gazing Journey through morocco in march 2011, we will again be exploring mountains and desert, with an emphasis on naked-eye observation of the stars. this time we will be guided by ian Bailey, who leads astronomy courses in various Bio-dynamic training courses in u.k. and has a regu-lar star column on the B.d.a.a. website.we will trek together in the High Atlas, search for fossils in the Anti- Atlas and meander in the Sahara, meeting with Berber people and their culture. And every night we will explore the endless wonders of the dusk, the night sky and the glow-ing dawn. In particular, we will follow the paths of Jupiter and Venus on their journey to meet each other. Our nature-experiences will be enriched through colour-work and planet-eurythmy ( an art of movement).we will take time to share our individual impressions and experiences , and deepen these. this journey will provide a refreshing and widening outlook, which trustfully will give each of us a transformed and creative new approach to life. Experienced star-gazers and novices will find an equally rich tapestry to explore.the Journey will be organised by Larry and Juliette Leighton. Juliette is a Eurythmy therapist who was born in Morocco, growing up there till she was 14. Larry has developed a strong

connection to Morocco and has a life-long love of travel, teaching, craftwork and Adult Learning.

cost: £1,200 per person, inclusive of accommodation*, evening meals and breakfasts, all costs in mountains, transport in Morocco, , geology outings, good local guides, etc.Not included: Air fare to Morocco, travel insurance, lunches while on road and in town (to give time and space for individual exploration and rest.)this cost is based on between 10 and 12 participants.[ *We will stay in special places overnight, where we will be able to experience the character of the surroundings. ]A Deposit of £200 will secure a place for you on this exciting adventure.


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