Welcome to the online learning platform of the Section of Agriculture. We are pleased that you have decided to discover more about the background of biodynamic agriculture. Together with Alysoun Bolger, Johannes Wirz and Jean-Michel Florin you will explore the diverse role of animals through three selected groups of animals, represented by the cow, the earthworm and the bee. What makes them so relevant for the health and resilience of a (farm) organism?
We have created this platform to give you access to all important information and documents of this course. If you have any concerns, need help, or would like to share your feedback please do not hesitate to contact us.
Section for Agriculture
Sarah Sommer
sarah.sommer @goetheanum.ch
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Alysoun Bolger
I am a biodynamic teacher, certifier and farmer’s wife. Having been involved in the training of biodynamic farmers, inspectors and consumers for the last 20 years, I now work for the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International on the Executive Board. I very much enjoy bringing a Goethean approach to applied practical work in agriculture.
Jean-Michel Florin
Studied agriculture and nature conservation, coordinator of the biodynamic association in France (MABD) and trainer for bd farming, author and editor of books and journals, expert and speaker on the subjects: Goethean approach of nature, medicinal plants, landscape, viticulture, etc. Since 2010 Head of the Section for Agriculture.
Johannes Wirz
Studied molecular biology (Bio II) at the University of Basel. Scientific collaborator at the Research Institute at the Goetheanum. Developmental biology work on amphibians (R. temporaria, T. alpestris, T. helveticus). Various work on insects, including single-animal observations of butterflies (in particular M. galathea) in different biotopes, as well as projects on bee health and beekeeping. Another focus of the work is genetics; in particular the relationship between genotype and phenotype.
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Monday, 4.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:20 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:20 – 13:50 | Input I: Animals in context of the farm organism (Jean-Michel Florin) |
13:50 – 13:55 | Individual Reflection |
13:55 – 14:15 | Interaction (Break-out session) |
14:15 – 14:30 | Input II: Animals in context of the farm organism (Jean-Michel Florin) |
14:30 – 14:45 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:45 – 15:00 | Exercise explanation (Johannes Wirz) |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Thursday, 7.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:20 | Welcome and Boarding Discussion of the exercise (Johannes Wirz) |
13:20 – 13:50 | Input I: Alysoun Bolger |
13:50 – 13:55 | Individual Reflection |
13:55 – 14:15 | Interaction (Break-out session) |
14:15 – 14:30 | Input II/Exercise: Alysoun Bolger |
14:30 – 14:45 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:45 – 15:00 | Exercise explanation (Alysoun Bolger) |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Monday, 11.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:20 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:20 – 13:50 | Input I: Ruminants - diversity of diet, climate change, ecological spread, nutritive value, relationship with humans(Alysoun Bolger) |
13:50 – 13:55 | Individual Reflection |
13:55 – 14:15 | Interaction (Break-out session) |
14:15 – 14:40 | Input II by Alysoun Bolger |
14:40 – 14:55 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:55 – 15:00 | Homework |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Thursday, 14.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:20 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:20 – 13:50 | Input I by Jean-Michel Florin |
13:50 – 13:55 | Individual Reflection |
13:55 – 14:15 | Interaction (Break-out session) |
14:15 – 14:40 | Input II by Jean-Michel Florin |
14:40 – 14:50 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:50 – 15:00 | Homework |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Monday, 18.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:20 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:20 – 13:50 | Input I: Johannes Wirz |
13:50 – 13:55 | Individual Reflection |
13:55 – 14:15 | Interaction (Break-out session) |
14:15 – 14:40 | Input II and Exercise: Johannes Wirz |
14:40 – 14:55 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:55 – 15:00 | Homework and outlook |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Thursday, 21.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:15 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:15 – 13:30 | Input I: Johannes Wirz |
13:30 – 13:45 | Meditation exercise: the golden fleece |
13:45 – 14:55 | Reflections on the exercise |
14:55 – 14:15 | Input II: Jean-Michel Florin on the life of the soil beyond earthworms |
14:15 – 14:20 | Q&A |
14:20 – 14:40 | Input III: Alysoun Bolger on ruminants and methan and the impact on climate change |
14:40 – 14:55 | Plenary exchange, Q&A |
14:55 – 15:00 | Homework and outlook |
15:00 | End of the session |
Meeting-ID: 828 7382 2401
Kenncode: 777210
Monday, 25.09.23, 13:00-15:00 CEST, UTC+2
13:00 – 13:05 | Welcome and Boarding |
13:05 – 13:25 | Input I: Johannes Wirz |
13:25 – 13:30 | Reflection |
13:30 – 13:50 | Input II: Alysoun Bolger |
13:50 – 14:00 | Reflection and short break |
14:00 – 14:15 | Input III: Jean-Michel Florin |
14:15 – 14:35 | Break-out session: Reflection on the whole content of the course |
14:35 – 14:55 | Plenary exchange, bringing together the reflections |
14:55 – 15:00 | Feedback on the course |
15:00 | End of the session |