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Biodynamic Preparations Minimum Till Urban Farming JOURNAL OF THE BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION n ISSUE NO: 127 n JUNE 2017 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £5.50 BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONS MINIMUM TILL URBAN FARMING SHIRE FARM THE Biodynamic Land Trust STAR & FURROW BIODYNAMIC The purpose of the Biodynamic Land Trust Limited ASSOCIATION (BDA) (BDLT) is to secure land for biodynamic farming, Journal of the Biodynamic Association gardening and food growing in the long term. We Published twice yearly The Association exists in order to do this in many ways, including: gift and lease back, Issue Number 127 - June 2017 support, promote and develop the bequests, partnerships, community involvement ISSN 1472-4634 biodynamic approach to farming, and share offers. gardening and forestry. This unique STAR & FURROW is the membership form of organic growing seeks to The BDLT is a charitable community benefit magazine of The Biodynamic Association. improve the nutritional value of food society No 31448R, registered with the FSA (now It is issued free to members. and the sustainability of land by FCA) in 2011 and directed by a small board of nurturing the vitality of the soil through volunteer directors who are elected by members Non-members can also purchase Star and the practical application of a holistic at Annual General Meetings. Members join by Furrow. For two copies per annum the rates are: and spiritual understanding of nature investing in withdrawable, non-profit shares. Both UK £17.00 including postage and the human being. Put simply, our individuals and organisations can join, each member Europe (airmail) £21.00 aim is greater vitality for people and has one vote. The BDA is the custodian trustee of Rest of the World (airmail) £25.00 planet through more biodynamic acres, the Biodynamic Land Trust. more biodynamic food and more Editor: Richard Swann, understanding of biodynamics. Biodynamic and Organic Plant E-mail: [email protected] Breeding and Seeds Limited, Design & layout: Dave Thorp of ‘The Workshop’ trading as Seed Co-operative Membership is open to everyone. Our members The Biodynamic Association has been instrumental Printed on a 100% recycled FSC paper are interested in working with, developing and in bringing about the Seed Co-operative. It is work- by Severn, Gloucester learning about biodynamics. Subscription rates are ing to provide a future for OPEN POLLINATED £35 (for up to 2 adults per household) or £20 SEEDS. These seeds are vital for our food future. Published by the Biodynamic Association concessions. Membership income funds in part Due to genetic diversity these seeds are able © Biodynamic Association 2017 the work of the Association, so they are directly to naturally adapt to their local conditions and Charity No: 1158301/VAT No: 791 2859 91 furthering the aims of the BDA; however there are changes in climate. also further benefits. The function of Star and Furrow is to encourage the We work in three main themes: free exchange of ideas and experience among those Members receive a quarterly newsletter, Star and n Breeding new strains of open pollinated plants. who work with, or are interested in biodynamic farming, Furrow twice a year, early booking on training n Producing certified biodynamic and organic seed. gardening and related subjects. Contributors subscribe courses and events days. They get involved in n Sharing knowledge and skills about seed saving, to no dogma and are bound by no rules. Their organising and supporting biodynamic initiatives plant breeding and the importance of seed and contributions are personal documents, through the local group network and there are food sovereignty. not official utterances by the Association. conferences, the AGM and many other events that they can attend. Many are supported in their own The Seed Co-operative is registered under Final dates for contributions are 1st April for the biodynamic practical work through advice from the Co-operative and Community Benefit summer issue and 1st October for the winter issue. the Association from whom they also source their Societies Act 2014 as a Community Benefit Copy can either be submitted in a typed printed biodynamic preparations and books. Society, registration number 7013 format or as an electronic text document by e-mail. Please send articles to the editor at the Biodynamic Biodynamic Certification The BDA is a custodian trustee of the Association Office. The Association owns and administers the Dem- Seed Co-operative eter Certification Logo that is used by biodynamic Our Roots in Anthroposophy BIODYNAMIC producers in the UK to guarantee to consumers Biodynamics was first envisioned by Rudolf Steiner ASSOCIATION that internationally recognised biodynamic produc- (1861-1925) in a series of lectures given in 1924. tion standards are being followed. These standards Since then, biodynamics has continued to develop Patron: Patrick Holden CBE, cover both production and processing and apply and the Association keeps abreast of developments Director: Lynda Brown, in more than forty countries. They are equivalent in science, nutrition, education, health and social Council Chairman: Chris Stockdale, to or higher than basic EU organic standards. The reform. It is linked to the Agricultural Section of the Council Members: Ian Bailey, Sophie Christopher certification scheme is accredited by the United School of Spiritual Science (Switzerland) and affili- Bowes, Peter Brown, Spencer Christy, Odilia Kirst, Kingdom Accreditation Service and is recognised in ated as a group of the Anthroposophical Society in Beatrice Krehl, John Lister, Chris Stockdale, the UK with the coding GB-ORG-06. Great Britain. It is also a full member of Demeter Julia Wright International, SUSTAIN and IFOAM. Executive Team: Lynda Brown, Jessica Standing Biodynamic Agricultural College and Richard Swann The stated aims of the college are to provide Spiritual Purpose Association Administrator: Jessica Standing education in biodynamic agriculture. This is done by The BDA makes the most of every penny; we Telephone: 01453 759501 providing two learning opportunities. are determined and focussed on achieving our purpose. Our resources are used effectively and Distance Learning efficiently and the co-workers in our organisation BIODYNAMIC A distance learning course called Biodynamic are empowered to direct their free and active will CERTIFICATION Principles and Practice, which makes education to their task. We also notice the last line of the in biodynamic agriculture available to students Foundation Stone Meditation by Steiner ‘With Certification Board Chairman: worldwide and at the same time offers sup- Single Purpose’ and let it resound in our hearts and Richard Thornton-Smith port to an international culture of learning in our organisation. Managing Director: Tarry Bolger and researching biodynamic agriculture. www. Telephone: 01453 766296 bdacollege.org.uk Funding Email: [email protected] The Association is a small organisation wholly Administrator: Margaret Richardson Work Based Learning Programme dependent on subscriptions, donations and grants. Telephone: 01453 766296 A practical two year apprentice training in bio- There is a growing interest in biodynamics and Email: [email protected] dynamic agriculture and horticulture. This takes to meet this welcome development additional place on well-established biodynamic holdings funds are being sought. Becoming a member and around the country and is open to everyone encouraging others to join is an important way of aged 21 and over. Apprentices usually live and supporting the work. Donations over and above @biodynamicUK work on the farm in exchange for board, lodg- the recommended membership subscription are ing and training. Their practical tuition is sup- also extremely helpful. Even the smallest contribu- ported by weekly tutorials and a programme of tion can make a real difference. For those consider- seminars and block courses. ing making a Will and possibly leaving something to @biodynamicUK support biodynamic development, a legacy leaflet is The objective of the course is to gain basic now available. Please contact the office for a copy. agricultural/horticultural skills, understand the For information on all aspects of the Association’s principles and practice of biodynamic tech- work contact: @biodynamicUK niques and create a foundation for developing an independent understanding of the earth, life For information on all aspects of the and human beings from a spiritual perspective. Association’s work contact: Biodynamic Association, Kate Urry at Shire Farm, OPENhouse, Painswick Inn, Lincolnshire Gloucester Street, Stroud, GL5 1QG © Richard Swann +44 (0)1453 759501 [email protected] www.biodynamic.org.uk 2 Star & Furrow Issue 127 June 2017 JOURNAL OF THE BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION n ISSUE NO: 127 n JUNE 2017 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £5.50 Editorial CONTENTS page From the BDA Director Lynda Brown 4 Soil Fertility and the Preparations Several threads run through this summer issue of Star and Furrow. The most obvious Uli Johannes König 5 one is the biodynamic preparations. They lie at the heart of our biodynamic work. They Using the Horn manure are also the theme of the year that the worldwide biodynamic movement is working with Claire Hattersley 7 Using the Horn silica as suggested by the Agriculture Section in Dornach (see: www.sektion-landwirtschaft. Alistair Clark 8 org/en/events/agricultural-conference/jahresthema-201718). We have been asked to be The Compost Preparations especially attentive to how we are using them and to share our experiences. Felicity Pearce 9 The Stag and the Yarrow A start has been made in this issue where several readers share their personal experiences Alistair Clark 10 of using the biodynamic preparations. I would like to invite more of you to contribute to The Biodynamic Preparations - this sharing for the next issue. Sharing is a kind of informal research process where we also your experiences 11 Harmony in Food and Farming encourage each other. Richard Swann 12 Minimum till is another theme that our agricultural advisor Peter Brown has picked up in Help us to change hearts and minds Lynda Brown 13 a couple of articles.
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