R ET H IN K IN G AG R I C U LTU R E
SUMMER/FA LL 2 016 N E W S L E T T E R
O P EN IN G T HE FLO O D GATE S Spirit u al it y an d A gric u lt u r e By Rob e r t K a rp, B D A C o -D ir e ct o r It could readily be argued that the driving force behind the sustainable agriculture movement is a kind of spiritual awakening, a shift in consciousness, a deep change of heart that results in new ways of seeing and being in the world. This inner shift, sudden or gradual, conscious or unconscious, can lead one to feel the earth and her creatures as a part of one’s own essential being and extend one’s sense of empathy and responsibility to include the whole planet.
Connecting the Sacred in Agriculture to a Moral Economy Wednesday, November 16 in collaboration with the Institute for Mindful Agriculture at the 2016 Biodynamic Conference, Santa Fe, NM
Though there are hundreds, if not thousands, of stories from the pioneering farmers and leaders of the sustainable agriculture movement that attest to this reality, this aspect or dimension of the sustainable agriculture movement has not been commonly recognized or celebrated—until recently, that is. On March 31 and April 1 of this year—in the historic and hallowed halls of Harvard Divinity School, no less—a remarkable gathering took place, the significance of which, I believe, will echo on for years and years to come. The event, called the “Spirit of Sustainable Agriculture” was co-sponsored by the Biodynamic Association (BDA) and brought together over 200 farmers, activists, and academics working for the renewal of agriculture out of diverse spiritual orientations and traditions.
with Zane Adams, Neddy Astudillo, Dan Hobbs, Deborah Madison, Dan McKanan, Kierstan Pickens, Rachel Schneider, Steffen Schneider, Robin Gail Seydel, Appachanda Thimmaiah, and Ursula Versteegen Our current times pose a great and urgent challenge to us, which can be approached by the following question: How can we learn to live in “right relationship” once again with our earth, with each other, and within our own individual beings? The Institute for Mindful Agriculture will pose this question in a daylong, highly interactive workshop.
Stirring and applying biodynamic barrel compost to the community garden on the grounds of the Divinity School
www.biodynamics.com/conference
How can one describe the remarkable diversity represented at this gathering? Consider, for example, just a handful of the over 70 presentations that took place there: Converting Our Minds to Earth: Thinking Permaculturally about Religion Blessing of the Fields: Creating Rituals of Blessing and Celebration for Meaningful Spaces Hindu Religion and Peasant Agriculture in the Himalaya: Searching for Elements to make Farming Sustainable Using Jewish Text, Tradition, and Ritual to Reshape the Food System Reweaving the Web: Amazonian Dark Earth in the Peruvian High Amazon Nature Mystic Activists: Cosmic EcoSustainability in the Cascade/Siskiyou Borderlands The Universe Unfolds in God: Sacred Seeds, Ecological Contemplation and Laudato Si Vedic Organic Agriculture: Ancient Solution for Modern Problems Soil, Struggle, and Justice: Agroecology and the Brazilian Landless Movement And this is not to mention the plethora of presentations by biodynamic practitioners (which represented some 30% of the overall presentations!), such as these: Biodynamic Agriculture and the Message of Pope Francis, with Gena Nonini Working with Spirit and Matter on the Farm: An Experiential Introduction to the Biodynamic Preparations, with Steffen Schneider and Robert Karp The Spirituality of the Soil, with Henning Sehmsdorf Native Cosmovision Associated with the Development of Biodynamic Farming in Mexico, with Jose Ma. Anguiano and Jose Manuel Palma Honeybees for Life: A Basic Call for Consciousness, with Michael Thiele And I’m pleased to report that at least one of them involved stirring and spraying the biodynamic preparations in the community garden of Harvard Divinity School! The organizer of this remarkable event was Dan McKanan, who is the Ralph Waldo Emerson Senior Lecturer at Harvard Divinity School. Dan is a Unitarian Universalist who has become interested in Rudolf Steiner’s work through his research into spiritual and religious movements that work for social change. In 2007 Dan wrote a book called Touching the World: Christian Communities Transforming Society, which explores and compares the work of the Catholic Worker movement and the Camphill movement.
Through his work on this book, Dan became deeply interested in anthroposophy and its influence on the wider environmental movement and eventually decided to write a book on the topic, which will be published 2017 by the University of California Press. While interviewing individuals in the BDA and the Institute for Mindful Agriculture (IMA) for this book, Dan was encouraged by several of us to consider the idea of holding an event that would bring together diverse spiritual communities working for the renewal of agriculture. The BDA and biodynamic movement thus played an important role in seeding, sponsoring, and informing this event, which clearly has opened the floodgates to a conversation that has long been waiting to happen in the sustainable agriculture movement—and we plan to continue to play a strong role in shaping the future of this conversation. At the 2016 Biodynamic Conference, for example, we are collaborating with the IMA on a daylong workshop, which will bring together agricultural leaders from diverse spiritual communities around the theme of “Connecting the Sacred in Agriculture to a Moral Economy.” And we are pleased to announce that Dan McKanan plans to be part of this event. Special thanks to the many biodynamic practitioners who brought extraordinary contributions to the Harvard event and whose devoted work every day to spiritualize the earth is beginning to be seen, heard, and appreciated even in the halls of academia! To see the full schedule and reactions to the Harvard conference, visit projects.iq.harvard.edu/ spirit_of_sustainable_agriculture/home.
Look forward to the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Biodynamics, “Tierra Viva: The Earth as a Living Organism” With articles by: Frank Chester Beth Corymb Bruno Follador Walter Goldstein Lorna Kohler Andrew Lorand Hugh Lovel Dan McKanan Lloyd Nelson Esteban Acosta Pereira Sally Voris ...and introducing the new Bridging the Americas initiative
Available online for members in mid-December
2016 Biodynamic Conference
TIERRA VIVA Farming the Living Earth
November 16th through 20th Santa Fe Convention Center, NM As a member, you can save an additional
$50 off full-conference registration.
Learn from more than 100 inspiring speakers, including Helmy Abouleish, Bruno Follador, Sally Fox, Harald Hoven, Dennis Klocek, Larry Littlebird, Jeff Poppen, Mark Shepard, Chris Tebbutt, Sherry Wildfeuer, and Hugh Williams, all in beautiful Santa Fe.
biodynamics.com/conference (262) 649-9212 x2
Distance Learning Courses Starting This Fall The Individuality of the Farm
Six-month course with Cory Eichman beginning September 26: Are you a farmer or gardener interested in exploring the deeper aspects of the work you are doing? Biodynamics offers a unique way to live positively on the earth with our fellow soil, plant, and animal companions. In this six-month interactive course, participants will develop a deeper understanding of biodynamics through intensive study of Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture. Led by renowned biodynamic farmer and educator Cory Eichman of Saugeen River CSA, this is a unique opportunity to deeply explore biodynamics in a distance learning format. This is the second year the course is being offered through the Biodynamic Association after many years as an on-farm course in Ontario.
Digging Deeper: Cosmic and Earthly Evolution for Farmers
Advanced biodynamic course with Cory Eichman beginning October 25: This is an advanced biodynamic course designed for those who have completed “The Individuality of the Farm” and wish to delve deeper into the spiritual scientific foundations of biodynamics. The curriculum of this course is centered on Chapter 4 of An Outline of Esoteric Science, which looks at the evolution of our solar system, the earth, the kingdoms of nature, and humanity. We will specifically explore those aspects that relate to our work on the land.
Interested in watching past webinars or finding other online learning opportunities? Visit biodynamics.com/webinar for links to additional resources.
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BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION 1661 N. WATER STREET, SUITE 307 MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 info@biodynamics.com | www.biodynamics.com
A L S O I N TH IS ISSUE Opening the Floodgates: Spirituality & Ag r i cu l t u r e T he Ear th as a Liv i n g Or g an i s m Distanc e Lear ning Oppor t u n i t i e s
Courtney Ryan and Kelli Brennan, Pfeiffer Center, NY
H E L P B E GI N N I N G FA R M E RS Who will steward our far ms and grow food for our communities thir ty years from now? The future of agriculture depends on the next generation of far mers. Help them attend the 2016 Biodynamic Conference, where they can benefit from more than 50 educational workshops, hear from inspiring keynote speakers, meet in peer-to-peer lear ning communities, and visit and lear n from thriving local far ms. Thank YOU for suppor ting the Biodynamic Scholarship Fund!
Deanna Perlman, River Cottage Farm, KY
fundly.com/biodynamic-scholarship-fund