A Window on Nature Stirring the Biodynamic Preparations Jimmy
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Journal of the Biodynamic agricultural association n ISSUE NO: 112 n WINTER 2010 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £4.50 harnessing the energy of the soil chromas - a window on nature stirring the Biodynamic preparations Jimmy anderson - in conversation the Biodynamic seed development project STAR & FURROW agricultural The Association is working to develop a sus- Journal of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association association (BDAA) tainable on-farm plant breeding programme, Published twice yearly increase the availability of high quality seed Issue Number 112 - Winter 2010 The Association exists in order to sup- varieties suited to organic growing condi- ISSN 1472-4634 port, promote and develop the biodynamic tions and encourage the establishment of approach to farming, gardening and forestry. a cooperative network of biodynamic seed This unique form of organic growing seeks producers. The breeding and development of STAR & FURROW is the membership magazine to improve the nutritional value of food and appropriate site adapted varieties is of vital of The Biodynamic Agricultural Association the sustainability of land by nurturing the vi- interest to biodynamic farmers and offers (BDAA). It is issued free to members. tality of the soil through the practical applica- the only long term alternative to biotech- Non members can also purchase Star and tion of a holistic and spiritual understanding nology. It also requires an ongoing research Furrow. For two copies per annum the rates are: of nature and the human being. Put simply, commitment that is entirely dependent on UK £11.00 including postage our aim is greater vitality for people and gifts and donations. Europe (airmail) £13.00 planet through more biodynamic acres, more Rest of the World (airmail) £16.00 biodynamic food and more understanding of our roots in anthroposophy biodynamics. Biodynamics was first envisioned by Rudolf Editor: Richard Swann, Contact via the BDAA Steiner (1861-1925) in a series of lectures Office or E-mail:[email protected] Membership is open to everyone. Our given in 1924. Since then biodynamics has Design & layout: Dave Thorp of ‘The Workshop’ members are interested in working with, continued to develop and the Association Printed on a 50% recycled FSC paper by developing and learning about biodynamics. keeps abreast of developments in science, Severnprint, Gloucester Membership rates are £30 or £12.50 for nutrition, education, health and social reform. concessions. Membership income funds in It is linked to the Agricultural Department of Published by the Biodynamic Agricultural part the work of the Association, so they are the School of Spiritual Science (Switzerland) Association © B.D.A.A. 2010 directly furthering the aims of the BDAA; and affiliated as a group of the Anthropo- Charity No: 269036 however there are also further benefits. sophical Society in Great Britain. It is also VAT No: 791 2859 91 a full member of Demeter International, Members receive a quarterly newsletter, Star SUSTAIN, IFOAM and the Five Year Freeze. The function of Star and Furrow is to and Furrow twice a year, early booking on encourage the free exchange of ideas and training courses and events days, plus access spiritual purpose experience among those who work with, or to a members’ library. They get involved in The BDAA makes the most of every penny; are interested in biodynamic farming, gardening organising and supporting biodynamic initia- we are determined and focussed on achiev- and related subjects. Contributors subscribe to tives through the local group network and ing our purpose. Our resources are used no dogma and are bound by no rules. Their there are conferences, the AGM and many effectively and efficiently and the co-workers contributions are personal documents, other events that they can attend. Many are in our organisation are empowered to direct not official utterances by the Association. supported in their own biodynamic practical their free and active will to their task. We work through advice from the Association, also notice the last line of the Foundation Final dates for contributions are 1st April for the from whom they also source their biody- Stone Meditation by Steiner “With Single summer issue and 1st October for the winter namic preparations and books. Purpose” and let it resound in our hearts issue. Copy should either, be typed/printed in and in our organisation. black on A4 paper, on disk in a format accessible demeter certification to Microsoft Word or sent by e-mail. Please send The Association owns and administers the funding articles to the editor at the BDAA Office. Demeter Certification Mark, that is used by The Association is a small organisation biodynamic producers in the UK to guaran- wholly dependent on subscriptions, dona- BDAA COUNCIL tee to consumers that internationally recog- tions and grants. There is a growing interest Chairman: Sebastian Parsons nised biodynamic production standards are in biodynamics and to meet this welcome Treasurer: Ian Bailey being followed. These standards cover both development additional funds are being Other Council Members: Elspeth Austin, production and processing and apply in more sought. Becoming a member and encourag- Peter Brown, Charlotte von Bülow, than forty countries. They are equivalent to ing others to join is an important way of sup- Brian Cavendish, Vivian Griffiths, Heidi or higher than basic organic standards. The porting the work. Donations over and above Herrmann, Robert Lord, David Macgregor Demeter scheme is accredited by the United the recommended membership subscription Pat Schofield, Chris Stockdale and Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and are also extremely helpful. Even the smallest Richard Thornton Smith is recognised as a UK Organic certifying contribution can make a real difference. For body (GB Organic Certification 6). those considering making a Will and possibly BDAA Executive Team: leaving something to support biodynamic Sebastian Parsons (chair) Ian Bailey, apprentice training development, a legacy leaflet is now available. Timothy Brink, Bernard Jarman, Jessica Standing A two year practical apprentice training Please contact the office for a copy. and Richard Swann course is offered in biodynamic agriculture Association Administrator: Jessica Standing and horticulture. Apprentices work in ex- For information on all aspects of the Email: [email protected] change for board and lodging on established Association’s work contact: biodynamic farms and gardens and receive DEMETER COMMITTEE tutorial guidance and instruction from ex- Biodynamic Chairman: Huw Shepherd Tel: 0131 229 7803 perienced practitioners. Practical training is agricultural association, Scheme Co-ordinator and Secretary: supported with regular theoretical sessions painswick inn project, Angela Wilson Tel: 01453 766296 either on the farm or in coordination with gloucester street, stroud, Email: [email protected] other local centres. Two week-long block glos, GL5 1Qg Demeter Manager: courses are offered to all UK apprentices tel. 0044 (0)1453 759501 Timothy Brink Tel: 0131 478 1201 each year. Graduating apprentices receive a Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] certificate from the BDAA. Website: www.biodynamic.org.uk STAR AND FURROW EDITORIAL GROUP Richard Swann, Bernard Jarman and Jessica Standing. Proof reading: David Macgregor Front cover photograph © Richard Swann 2 Star & Furrow issue 112 Winter 2009 Journal of the Biodynamic agricultural association n ISSUE NO: 112 n WINTER 2010 n ISSN NO: 1472-4634 n £4.50 Editorial This is the 20th issue of Star and Furrow under my editorship. I started my journey contents at the cusp of the millennium 10 years ago when I dramatically changed the format and page layout from the previous smaller ‘pocket’ edition. At the time there was a bit of anxiety as Biodynamic Association Chairman - to whether the new format would be accepted by the membership, especially as the larger Sebastian Parsons 4 format could ‘cause problems’ on the book shelf. Luckily it was accepted and since then has Interview with Jimmy Anderson been an excellent format to work with. Huw Shepherd 5 For those earlier issues I would like to thank graphic designer Bill Hicks, whom Corpus Christi I met on a Millennium Walk in the Sinai. He designed the magazine for six of those ten The Earth as the Body of Christ years and helped steer me through the teething problems and rapid developments in the Alan Potter 8 emerging technology. Ten years ago many of the articles came to me in a hand written form Sowing the Future 10 which had to be typed up. Photographs also only came as prints, which were painstakingly Practical aspects of biodynamics scanned by Bill. Tom Petherick and Jeremy Weiss 12 Four years ago Dave Thorp took over the graphic design work and has helped the Harnessing the energy of soil Richard Thornton-Smith 14 Star and Furrow develop into a professional looking magazine. Thank you Dave. The Microbiology of the The Biodynamic Association has equally seen many changes over these 10 years. Biodynamic Preparations Training courses and workshops have been developed and become very popular. The Elaine Ingham 17 Demeter Certification scheme is now a professionally run part of the organisation. We have Chromatography become more sophisticated at getting our message out through the media and the internet. A window on nature, to help Biodynamics and Demeter are becoming more well known in the public arena. Our website view natural processes has also come a long way from the ‘Morris Minor style’ and colour (green) of 10 years ago. Matt Adams 24 Since I took on the editorship I have tried to bring to members current topics and The BDAA Soil Conference 28 cutting edge issues from the world of biodynamics. This issue is no different. The recent Stirring the Biodynamic Preparations Life Time Achievement Award to Jimmy Anderson was a very warm and special event. One Lynette West 30 person stood up and said that she felt it to be an honour for Rudolf Steiner House to host Obituary - Nolani McColl 33 an event where someone was praised and credited for his practical work arising out of the Obituary - Liz Ellis 34 work of Rudolf Steiner.