2019 North American Biodynamic Conference | photo by Broken Banjo Photography
Annual Report
April 2019 - March 2020 The Biodynamic Association awakens and enlivens co-creative relationships between humans and the earth, transforming the practice and culture of agriculture to renew the vitality of the earth, the integrity of our food, and the health and wholeness of our communities.
Letter from our Executive Director
2019 Conference Scholarship Recipients | photo by Broken Banjo Photography
Dear members, supporters, and friends,
One of the experiences that we find most enlivening, as Biodynamic Association members and staff, is to meet new people who are just starting to get excited about biodynamics and are seeking ways to bring its transformative principles and practices into their lives. Biodynamics offers a deep knowledge and path of development that works on so many levels to heal the earth, regenerate land and foodways, cultivate diversity, generate truly nourishing food, and bring the sacred into conversations large and small.
Throughout the recent months of global upheaval, I have been feeling incredible gratitude for your support, which has enabled so many new people to begin learning and practicing biodynamics as a tangible way to respond to the pandemic. Your gifts have made it possible for hundreds of people to find the first steps on their biodynamic paths and become connected to the biodynamic community, despite our physical distance from one another. It has been a labor of love for all of us to build on and adapt the forms we have developed for learning and connecting across distance in this time of rapid change. Cultivating Relationships: Earth, Cosmos, Community was the theme of our 2019 Biodynamic Conference, and that theme continues to be so important in this time. Relationships are what will carry us through the current challenges, and will enable us to build a healthier and more resilient future together. I am so grateful for the relationship you have chosen to cultivate with the Biodynamic Association, and I look forward to what we can make possible together as we move forward.
Through this annual report, we are honored to share with you the impact of your generous donations and membership contributions over the 2019-20 Biodynamic Association fiscal year. I hope that as you read this report, you will find inspiration for continuing this work together. I would be delighted to hear your ideas, reflections, questions, and visions for our co-created future. Together as members of the biodynamic community, we make a powerful and transformative force in the world! Thea Maria Carlson, Executive Director Biodynamic Association
Thank you for believing in the power of biodynamic agriculture! Together, this year, we. . . Convened 689 farmers, gardeners, land stewards, researchers, writers, and others from 40 states and 20 countries to learn, share, and connect at the 2019 Biodynamic Conference in Lake George, New York. Trained and mentored 17 beginning farmers in the Biodynamic Farmer Foundation Year, building their understanding and implementation of biodynamics in all its dimensions and developing strong relationships of peer and mentor support. Deepened our work to cultivate social justice through conference keynotes and workshops; using new Conference Community Guidelines, revising our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement; and increasing staff and member conversations about biodynamics and social justice.
Camphill Village Minnesota | photo by Lindsey Flicker @bestsidecaptures
Educated 1,000+ people through interactive online courses and webinars, including “Foundations of Biodynamic Beekeeping” with Alex Tuchman, “The Wisdom of Sophia: Agriculture and the Sacred Feminine” with Claudia J. Ford, and “Digging Deeper: Cosmic and Earthly Evolution for Farmers” with Cory Eichman. Enabled 152 people to access biodynamic education by awarding over $60,000 in scholarships to participate in the 2019 Biodynamic Conference, the Biodynamic Farmer Foundation Year, BDA online courses, and educational events with partners, including the Pfeiffer Center, Earth Legacy Agriculture, Sustainable Settings, and the Fellowship of Preparation Makers.
Stirring Preparations at the Conference | photo by Broken Banjo Photography
Strengthened Spanish-language education and collaboration through a Spanish-language resources page, translating key educational materials, offering interpretation of conference keynotes and workshops, co-hosting the International Biodynamic Banana Conference, and co-sponsoring Biodynamic Agriculture Festival of the Americas in Mexico. Cultivated a community of research practice through facilitated conversations, workshops, and a poster session at the 2019 Biodynamic Conference. Stewarded the emergence of the Council of Biodynamic Organizations to “reimagine a healthy, collaborative, transparent, integrated system of biodynamic organizations in the U.S.”
Exploring the Dynamics of Water | photo by Broken Banjo Photography
See the impact of your com Your generous gifts to the Biodynamic Association bring agriculture to the next level and provide unique and evolutionary solutions to the challenges facing the world by investing in strategies that will make meaningful transformation. Incubating strong leadership in the biodynamic community Growing the community of biodynamic farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and land stewards Communicating the vision of biodynamics and the potential it holds for the Earth Nurturing the deep spiritual roots and insights of biodynamics
Incubating
“This course provided me with foundational knowledge in Steiner’s agriculture lectures that is really at the basis of biodynamic practice. Now I am exploring ways that I can incorporate biodynamic practices on the farm where I work. The farm owner is interested in incorporating biodynamics back on the farm and is looking to me to lead the effort — how exciting!”
— Monica Mejia attended the “Orientation to the Agriculture Course” with Cory Eichman this year.
Growing
“My entire life feels transformed. I have been introduced to a path that I fully intend to follow for the rest of my life. The passion I feel for this herd, my newfound community, and my spiritual journey to God is largely due in part to the beginning education I obtained through the Farmer Foundation year.” — Jessica Brobst was one of the 17 farmers in this year’s cohort of the Biodynamic Farmer Foundation Year program.
Communicating
“The 2019 Practicum at Earth Legacy Agriculture was a deep dive into advanced preparation making; it gave me a wealth of knowledge that is truly a turning point in my vocation to practicing biodynamics. All the articles in the world couldn’t touch the engaging conversations we had. 100% of the vegetables and meat we consumed were biodynamically raised by the teachers and participants. Words can’t begin to describe the bodily and spiritual healing I experienced during the practicum merely through eating this cosmically nourishing food.” —Jay Michonski participated in the 2019 Fall Practicum on Biodynamic Preparations with Hugh Courtney and others.
mmitment to biodynamics! Nurturing
“I gained a deeper understanding of the process of removing the sacred, divine feminine from agriculture and how that has left us in our current state of dysfunction. I can apply this to my farming by being more spiritually connected — being more aware of my relationship with the soil and my intentions with it. Continuing to help my peers reconnect to the earth is key to REBALANCING their spirits and rekindling relationships with our ancestors through the land.” Sabrina Pilet-Jones attended “The Wisdom of Sophia: Agriculture and the Sacred Feminine” with Claudia J. Ford.
Thank you for your generous gifts in 2019 - 2020! $2,500 - $5,000 $50,000 - $150,000 Agriculture Section of the Connoils, LLC School for Spiritual Science Kalliopeia Foundation Badger Balm Stiftung La Bruyere Blanche Barrette Family Fund of the New $10,000 - $25,000 Hampshire Charitable Foundation Demeter Association, Inc. Eco Terreno Wines Mark A. Finser Leigh & Charlie Merinoff / HB Specialty Foods Meadows Bee Farm Holistic Roasters Peter Milliken Independent Natural Food RSF Social Finance Retailers Association Anonymous (1) Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics $5,000 - $10,000 Mary & Craig Rapin Churchtown Dairy ROI Urban Farms Paul Dolan Singer Farm Naturals Foxhollow Farm CMC Toporow Foundation for Sustainability Union Whole Earth Snacks & Innovation Weckerly’s Ice Cream Frey Vineyards LTD Yggdrasil Land Foundation Geary Rimmer Vincent Anonymous (1) Wolf Foundation Green Pastures Hawthorne Valley Farm Kimberton Whole Foods Montinore Estates Raymond Family Foundation Serenity Grace Farm Supracor Anonymous (1)
$1,000 - $2,500 Anthroposophical Society in America Anthroposophic Health Association Ted Becker Brooks Wines Anne Bryan & Joseph Murray Camphill Association of North America
Crofter’s Food Ltd. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Daphne Amory Consulting Weleda, Inc. Dr. Mercola Anonymous (8) Gordon Edwards Lynne & Jay Espy $500 - $1,000 Iapetus Wine Association of Waldorf Susan Fichter & Rudy Marchesi Schools of North America George L. Shields Foundation, Carolyn Barth Inc. Judith & William Brinton Esther Hallam Camphill Village Copake Hawthorne Valley Association Heike-Marie Eubanks High Mowing Organic Seed Grain Place Foods Inc. High Wind Association J M Haines Honest Tea Joe & Diane Haley Robert Izzo & Andrew House of Light, Nature Koenigsberg & Renewal Center Cordelia Lane Meadowlark Hearth Ted Lemon Joanna Miller Liberation Food Co. Glenn Murer Michael Fields Agricultural Nature’s Path Institute Once Again Morel Family Fund Oregon Tilth Arizona Muse Drummond Pike Old Westminster Portland Pendragon Ashwaghanda Farm The Pfeiffer Center Republic of Tea Remembrance Farm Real Pickles Alex Schutz Sankanac CSA / Barbara Shinn Camphill Kimberton Hills Turtle Tree Biodynamic Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary Seed Initiative Triskeles Foundation Vermont Compost Anonymous (9) Kim & John Wass
AND a tremendous thank you to the 300+ individuals and organizations who offered gifts up to $499 this year!
Financials
April 2019 - March 2020
Revenues - $872,244 Book Sales + Other Revenue $23,333 3%
Conference Registration + Meals $172,917 20%
Grants $244,833 28% Membership Dues $81,608 9% Sponsorships + In Kind Donations $114,081 13%
Donations $192,811 22% photo by Natalie McGill
Program Registration $42,661 5%
Expenditures - $839,536 Administration $71,921 9% Conference $321,025 38%
Fiscal Sponsorship $30,917 4% Events + Programs $183,538 22%
Fundraising $78,389 9% Membership $46,467 5% Journal $38,507 5% Communication $57,304 7% Retail + Publishing $11,468 1%
2019 - 2020 Biodynamic Association Board of Directors Osiris Abrego Plata Daphne Amory David Byrnes Don Bustos Megan Durney Claudia Ford Greg Georgaklis Joseluis Ortiz Kaitlyn Voellinger
BDA Team Rebecca Briggs Thea Maria Carlson Georgie Donovan Kaitlin Downs Raphael Guzman Zachary Krebs Anna McAvoy-Emrick Anthony Mecca Penny Molina Grace Stepanova Tonya Taylor Sarah Weber
Members are the heart of the Biodynamic Association! EARTH CHAMPIONS
COMPOST MAKERS
6
328
31
Anne Bryan & Joseph Murray Sharon Carson Gordon Edwards Heike-Marie Eubanks Mark A. Finser Malcolm & Susan Gardner Esther Hallam Ryan Keisling Philip & Laura Riccardi Lyvers Matthew Messner Stacy Peterson Mary & Craig Rapin Wolfgang & Josephine Reigl Paul Sansone Ingun Schneider Barbara M.V. Scott Heather Skilling CMC Toporow Jabrila & Wali Via Kim & John Wass Anonymous (11)
Ted Becker Susan Fichter & Rudy Marchesi Andrew James Serenity Grace Farm Arizona Muse Alex Schutz
LAND STEWARDS 7
Carolyn Barth Peter Milliken & Linzee Weld J M Haines Drummond Pike Linzee Weld Marti Jones Sankanac CSA / Camphill Kimberton Hills
Our emerging future:
SEED SOWERS 481
SOIL BUILDERS 864
TOTAL MEMBERS 1,717
The Biodynamic Demeter Association
As announced in June, the boards of directors of the Biodynamic Association and Demeter USA have voted to initiate a process to bring our two organizations together into one new organization: the Biodynamic Demeter Association. The photo above shows members of the Council of Biodynamic Associations (CBO) reporting at the conference about the work which led to this unification. As the Biodynamic Demeter Association, we will become one cohesive, aligned organism working to build the biodynamic movement through coordinated and aligned work in education, certification, community-building, and marketplace development. We will strengthen our capacity to support greater
numbers of farmers, gardeners, land stewards, businesses, and consumers to participate in the flourishing biodynamic food system. The unified organization will offer a single roof under which stakeholders may gather for biodynamic principles and their practical application, certification, training, research, business development, and more. It will also act to catalyze collaboration between organizations and individuals on the local, regional, and national levels to transform the practice and culture of agriculture. For more information, visit our FAQs at biodynamics.com/unification-faq. We look forward to sharing more with you throughout the year!
Members of the CBO | photo by Broken Banjo Photography
LIFETIME MEMBERS
PO Box 557 East Troy, WI 53120
Last year, your generosity enabled over 100 people to participate in the Biodynamic Conference on scholarship. This year, with the conference online, even more people hope to attend and need support. Visit biodynamics.com/fund-a-farmer to help them participate in this transformative event!