What is Biodynamics?


Biodynamic farming is free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in the same manner as certified organic farming. What distinguishes a Demeter certified Biodynamic farm from a certified organic farm is that, in its entirety, a Demeter Biodynamic farm is managed as a living organism. This is the fundamental principal of the Biodynamic farming method. The special body of knowledge which underlies Biodynamic agriculture, insofar as this knowledge extends beyond previous practical and scientific experiences, is derived from Rudolf Steiner’s “Agricultural Course”, and the spiritual context of Anthroposophy, within which this Course was originally held.

The Biodynamic method dates back to 1924 and is one of the original approaches to organized organic farming worldwide. In day to day practice Biodynamic farming involves managing a farm within the context of the principles of a living organism. A concise model of a living organism ideal would be a wilderness forest. In such a system there is a high degree of self-sufficiency in all of the realms of biological survival. Fertility and feed arises out of the recycling of the organic material the system generates. Avoidance of pest species is based on biological vigor and its intrinsic biological and genetic diversity. Water is efficiently cycled through the system.

While agriculture immediately takes nature to a state that is one step removed from wilderness, the wisdom of humanity that steers its course can to a large degree mimic these ancient principles of sustainability based on a careful observation of nature as a whole. Demeter/Aurora certification requires a documented evolution towards this ideal. In the realm of day-to-day practice this requires a farming system that is minimally dependant on imported inputs for its survival. It requires holistic farm management where inputs that otherwise would need to be imported from outside arise from within the living dynamics of the farm itself.

Demeter/Aurora certification requires that as much as possible a farm be regenerative rather than degenerative. Consider carefully materials that are imported onto the modern day organic farm. Where do they come from? Often they can be tracked back to a natural resource provided by the earth. Examples of such inputs include petroleum to move materials around, ancient mineral deposits, by-products of unsustainable agriculture-related industry, and the life of the seas and water ways. An important social value of Biodynamic farming is that it does not depend on the mining of the earth’s natural resource base. Instead it emphasizes contributing to it.

Looked at in its widest view, the scale of this farm organism extends beyond the fence line of the farm and includes the tangible and intangible forces that work through it. Examples of such “forces” include the climate, inherent wildlife of the earth (above and below the ground), the light and warmth from the sun and the focusing of even more distant cosmic influences through the other planetary members of our sun’s solar system. The Biodynamic method of farming attempts to align all of the factors that stream through a living farm system in a harmonious manner. The food that results is very true to its essence and in this manner provides deeply penetrating nutrition that is medicinal to an increasingly unstable human existence.

adapted from the Demeter Association. http://www.demeter-usa.org/

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Happy New Year!
Hope you all had a peaceful entry into 2010.
We are starting the year off with our January meeting on Thursday, January 21 6:30pm - 8:30pm at Annette Weavers house.
Annette's address is :1906 E Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6405. We are currently reading lecture six. If you need a copy you can let me know and I will bring one, or follow this link for a copy : http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/Agri1958/Ag1958_index.html.
If you plan on attending please RSVP to tstaas@cox.net or 480-756-2778.
Come with a list of ideas for practical work for your spaces too.
Hope to see you all there.
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Next Meeting

Hello all,
I know this is very late notice, but we will be having a reading meeting this Thursday, yes that's tomorrow, at Pepper Brydon's house at 6:30 p.m. Pepper's phone # is 480-831-2224 and mine is 480-282-7104. She lives on mill ave. just north of Warner. It's the second house on the right. Please give either Pepper or myself a call for further directions.
Feel free to pass this information along to anyone you think who might be interested.
Thanks so much,

Tami Staas
Garden Goddess for Hire
480-756-2778
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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Next Meeting Information

Welcome to beautiful weather!! The next meeting of the Phoenix Biodynamic group will be held at Annette Weaver's house on October 22nd. We will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. and will be reading lecture 6 of the agriculture lectures. Annette's address is :
1906 E Clarendon Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85016-6405

Please RSVP to Tami Staas @ jtccstaas@msn.com or 480-756-2778, or if you have any questions.

If you do not have copies of the lectures, here is the link : http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/Agri1958/Ag1958_index.html
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Monday, September 14, 2009

Some Photo's from the Stirring on Friday September 4th 2009



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Thursday, September 10, 2009




Biodynamic Discussion Group Meeting

Time: September 17, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: Sweet Pea Cottage
Street: 2017 N Laurel Ave
City/Town: Phoenix 85007
Website or Map: http://maps.google.com/maps...
Phone: jtccstaas@msn.com
Event Type: community
Organized By: Tami Staas

We are reading through Rudolph Steiner's book of lectures: "The Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture". All are welcome - even if this is the first time you've heard of biodynamics.

Please contact Tami Staas for a copy of this month's reading (Lecture 5): jtccstaas@msn.com

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009


Community Biodynamic Stirring
Friday September 4th
Potluck starts 5 p.m. (Please bring a dish to share, one from your garden would be wonderful)
Stiring starts 5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. (Please bring a 5 gallon bucket for stirring
Location: Tami Stass' house
2037 E. Colgate Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85283

We will be stirring Biodynamic Prep 500 (horn manure) into water for one hour then taking it home and applying it to our own properties). Children are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please R.S.V.P. by Aug 15th to Tami Staas @ jtccstaas@msn.com or 480-756-2778 also include your property size, so I know how much BD 500 we will need.
A $5 donation requested to cover the cost of the BD500
More information can be found on http://azhomegrownsolutions.ning.com/group/interest_biodynamics
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Monday, February 11, 2008

notes from our february meeting

Here's a copy of the email I just sent to the group, for those who are checking the blog!

Hello everyone! We had a very nice meeting last night at Annette's house, covered a lot of information, had varied and inspirational discussions, and finally finally finished the introduction! Yay! Here's what you need to know if you missed the meeting:

* Our next meeting is scheduled for Sunday March 2, 6:30pm, at Maya's house, with whatever food you'd like to bring. We will be reading the first chapter in our book which is Spiritual Beings I, the April 3 1912 lecture.

* Our next hands-on meeting will be at Maya's Farm in the coming weeks - we'll be in touch about date and time.

* We're going to keep trying to use the new blog to facilitate the ongoing discussion about biodynamics, especially for those who can't attend the meetings - be sure to check it out! http://phoenixbiodynamics.blogspot.com If you need the invitation email again (in order to log on and contribute to the blog), let me know and I can email it to you.

Hope you're all doing well,
Melissa
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