In the first episode, we talk with Jean-Michel Florin about the importance of the own perception. We will explore in this episode why climate change increases the need to become more aware of the perception of your farm, your surrounding, and your landscape. In particular when it is a biodynamic farm. We are talking about the theories of Rudolf Steiner behind your own perception and why it may even help you to increase your economic efficiency at your farm. And why it may feel difficult to share your own perception and to talk about it openly in the public. However, your perceptions can be validated by exchanging with others more easily.

Get to know more about the Living Farms perception project --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/perception Check out our upcoming online course about "The farm organism for planetary health" --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/deepen-biodynamics/3-farm-organism 

We talk with Ueli Hurter about the historical development of biodynamic agriculture. We will explore in this episode how biodynamic agriculture developed and why it is still relevant today. We discuss how it spread to all the climate and cultural zones of the world. We exchange about the progression of themes in the biodynamic movement and many more.

Agriculture Conference 2023 "Evolving agriculture - 100 years of biodynamics: looking back to look forwards --> https://www.agriculture-conference.org/2023
New publication of the agriculture course --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/publications/books/sv/neuerscheinung-landwirtschaftlicher-kurs-rudolf-steiner 

Julia Wright has a background in international research and development, seeking to integrate ecological (organic and permaculture) thinking into conventional agricultural systems and organisations, including in humanitarian settings. She is engaged in the work of the Biodynamic Association UK and was part of the conference committee of the 2nd International Biodynamic Research Conference 2021 on the theme ”Growing beyond Resilience”.

In this episode, we will talk about her connection to biodynamics and her published book "Subtle agroecology: farming with the hidden half of nature". We exchange about the potential and difficulties of biodynamic research and what she is looking forward to researching in the future.

International Conference on Biodynamic Research 2021 --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/thematic-areas/research

We talk with Jean-Michel Florin about the importance of food quality.
We talk about how consumers experience the quality of biodynamic food and why food quality is more than just the nutrients. How perceiving food quality can be trained and how to understand the relationship between food intake and personal energy levels.

Agriculture Conference 2022 "Quality through biodynamics - perceive, experience, develop" --> https://www.agriculture-conference.org/2022

Video Lecture "Biodynamic quality - does it really exist?" with Jean-Michel Florin --> https://goetheanum.tv/programs/anthroposophie-erweiterung-wissenschaft?cid=2613923&permalink=die-biodynamische-qualitaet-florin-peschke

We talk with Ueli Hurter about the importance of biodynamic research.

In this episode, we talk about the role of science in our society. We elaborate on how biodynamic research developed and why research remains an important factor for biodynamic farmers since the evolution of biodynamics.

International Conference on Biodynamic Research 2021 --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/thematic-areas/research
Video lecture "All mumbo-jumbo or solution to current problems? Biodynamic agriculture put to test" by Ueli Hurter and Lin Bautze --> https://goetheanum.tv/programs/anthroposophie-erweiterung-wissenschaft?cid=2585467&permalink=alles-hokuspokus-oder-losung-fur-aktuelle-probleme

We talk with Florian Roger about his experiences with the biodynamic movement in New Zealand.

Florian has a deep interest in Biodynamics and a profound devotion towards Anthroposophy. He has traveled around the world seeking for a meaningful/purposeful movement and since resides in Hawkes Bay - New Zealand whereby he is involved in versatile anthroposophical communities, and currently facilitates the local Flourishing Biodynamics Group meeting monthly on people's lands/farms.

Florian's aim is, through personal and collective deeds, to unite and guide communities towards a common and higher purpose of awareness, realisation, and inner freedom, consequently/forwardly manifesting in beautifying humanity, in divinely magnifying our world, and enabling the human & all other beings consciousness to positively leap further.

In this episode, we talk about his path toward biodynamics and how he organizes his monthly group meetings for exchanging on biodynamics.

https://biodynamic.org.nz/
Harvests Magazin: Biodynamics New Zealand
Local and National Groups for exchange:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/320904093520669

https://www.facebook.com/groups/768457823177333

https://www.instagram.com/biodynamicsnewzealand/

In the episode, we continue to talk with Jean-Michel Florin about the importance of the own perception. Jean-Michel Florin is the co-head of the Section for Agriculture. He is a trainer and educator for biodynamic farmers and those to come. 
We deal with questions how perception of the farm can be trained and deepen the discussion of why it is important to invest in learning and mastering the skill of perceiving the farm organism in our times.

In this episode we talk with Peter Kunz about the values of grains, how their are cultivated in biodynamic and what kind of experiences he made in breeding biodynamic grains for centuries.
We talk about how biodynamic grains differ from other varieties and cultivation practices. The different yields of a cultivating grains, besides the sole grain yield. And why biodynamic breedings takes longer to produce these high quality grains that are more resilient in the long run.

And what benefits the long-time breeding offers for the farmers personally and on their farm. 

Peter Kunz is the founder of GZPK (Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz) in Switzerland. 35 years ago, he realized that for a sustainable organic and biodynamic future organic breeding is required. Since 35 years they practice biodynamic breeding, mainly grains and legumes.

He is also the founder of the Fund for Crop Plant Development, which has the main objective to promote non-profit organic and biodynamic plant breeding with a wide range of measures. It aims to demonstrate the manifold benefits of biodynamic breeding for sustainable agriculture, for the preservation and the extension of biodiversity, for a healthy nutrition and many other common goods.

Besides being an advisor and being involved in educational programs, such as the Agriculture Course of the Heliopolis University in Egypt, he is the co-initiator of “Sowing the Future”. There, biodynamic farms sow together at the same date with their employees, customers, and other interested persons a field together.

Further information:

GZPK: https://www.gzpk.ch/ueber_uns/

Fund for Crop Plant Development: https://www.kulturpflanze.ch/en/ 

Sowing the Future: http://www.avenirsem.ch/ 

In this episode we talk with Rosalyn Scottland about how she came across biodynamic farming and what her insights are from farming in this way.

Rosalyn grew up in Devon on a 2 acre small holding with her parents, grandparents and brothers cultivating her love for, and innate sense of reciprocity between, all animate life. 

With her husband she is now the custodian of a small mixed, 1000 year old, 60 acre farm, by the river Dart in Devon, England, tending a small flock of sheep, 2 ½ acres of apple orchards and a small cottage garden. 

She came to experience Biodynamics (BD) about 12 years ago through her local BD group and BD community garden. Since then, she has delved deeper and deeper into the practice and theory, and become an active member of the SWBD group hosting Compost Preparation days, study groups on The Agricultural Lectures and workshops charting the stars and planets.  

She has also studied Einreibung massage, anthroposophical homecare nursing and Anthroposophical Medicine with a particular interest in embryology. Her current research focus is in deepening her understanding and practice as a shepherd and grower in the relationship between things; sheep and shepherd, nettle and butterfly, stream and newt, apple blossom and bee informed by particular Lectures from Rudolf Steiner’s The Festivals and Their Meaning and her recent foray into Harmony of The Creative Word. 

In 2006 she studied Goethean Science at Schumacher College UK, she is a Practitioner and Teacher in the somatics practice The Experiential Anatomy of Body-Mind Centering® and the founding director of SOEL (School Of Experiential Learning). www.tsoel.org.uk

Do you want to know more about our work? 

Check out our websites: 

www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org 

Instagram @section_for_agriculture 

Facebook @sektion.fuer.landwirtschaft 

In this last part of the three episode series, we will talk with Jean-Michel Florin about how perception can be trained in particular.
Do you want to know more about our work?

Get to know more about the Living Farms perception project --> https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/perception 

In this podcast episode, Charles Cross from the Goetheanum Wochenschrift and Lin Bautze from the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum exchange about climate change denial in anthroposophy and biodynamics. Is there really a climate change denial? Why are some people denying climate change? And how can biodynamics and anthroposophy support a healthy and resilient climate now and in the future.

You are interested in further podcasts from the Goetheanum?

Check out the link here: https://dasgoetheanum.com/tag/podcast/ 

In this podcast we talk with Jean-Michel Florin about the similarities and differences of indigenous knowledge, traditional agriculture and biodynamics. Throughout the last years, indigenous ways of farming become more and more acknowledged. But is biodynamics an indigenous way of farming? Or can biodynamics benefit from traditional farming systems?

What would be potentials for future collaboration and what are the combining factors between the movements.

Study of Julia Wright on “A revitalisation of European farming and the promise of the biodynamic worldview”: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40538-022-00317-z

Or the summary of the study on our website:  https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/sv/the-interface-between-indigenous-worldviews-and-biodynamics

Limbua Group and how indigenous knowledge is integrated into biodynamic farming in macadamia production in Kenya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR5jD6w4RNQ&t=435s

In this episode we talk about the potential of policy work for the biodynamic movement with Clara Behr. What are the challenges to reach policy makers? Why is it worth collaborating with political partners and where are limits for collaboration?

What can you, as an individual, a farmer or in any other role of your life do to integrate policy work on a day-to-day basis.

Clara Behr  is working as Head of Policy and Public Relations for the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International for three years now. Based in the Brussels office of the Federation, she is French and German and has a background in philosophy and politics. Before joining the Federation, Clara was involved in EU politics and worked for the organic and wine sector. The focus of her political work lies now on GMOs, seeds, and animal welfare, while advocating for biodynamic farming worldwide. With a coalition of other NGOs, she organised an EU-wide petition to maintain mandatory traceability and labelling for all GMOs on the market that collected more than 400 000 signatures in less than six months.

Get to know more about Clara’s work here: https://demeter.net/about/policy/

In this podcast we are talking about why bees are great and what differentiates biodynamic bee-keeping from other forms of apiculture. We talk about the fascination of the little insects and what they help us to develop in ourselves, our surrounding  landscapes and in the world.

Dr. Johannes Wirz was the co-leader of the Research Institute at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. He has a dissertation in molecular genetics at the University of Basel and does several projects on honeybee research. He is a member of the board at Mellifera e.V. in Germany and has profound experience in bee education, Goetheanum science, Anthroposophy and meditation.

You want to know more about biodynamic bee-keeping and the work of the Natural Science Section at the Goetheanum?

Book by Johannes Wirz and Norbert Poplau - Keeping Bees Simply and Respectfully: Apiculture with the Golden Hive : https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-bees-simply-and-respectfully-johannes-wirz/1139537278

Rudolf Steiner – the nine lectures on bees : https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA351/English/SGP1975/NinBee_index.html

Book from David Heaf - The Bee-friendly Beekeeper: A Sustainable Approach

The work of the Natural Science Section and their seminars and workshops can be found here: https://science.goetheanum.org/en/

In this episode we talk with Manfred Osterroth and Allen Clements about the chances and challenges of biodynamics in tropical regions. We talk about the chances of trees and why agroforestry might be an integrative way to apply biodynamic principles.

Manfred is a small-scale farmer and agronomist, developing a new, anthroposophical inspired agriculture for the tropics: ART, agriculture-regenerative-tropical, which is a complete metamorphosis of “temperate climate Biodinamics”. He lives on a farm-school, an experimental project that combines agroforestry with policultures of fruits and vegetables. Tropical Forests as integrated life communities, inspired the courage to try a completely new approach. The methodology are being developed out of a Goethean scientific View and out of the research work of Ernst Goetsch, Lyn Margulis, Wolfgang Schad and some important Brazilian farmers and also researchers. Manfred loves conversation and the sharing of practical experience, to improve his daily work in the agroforestry organism. Check out his website here: https://en.regenerativa.art.br

Allen is a filmmaker that has been training and dreaming for years with the hopes of having his own farm.  In the Summer of 2022, that dream came true and his family now lives in harmony with nature on a 13-acre (5 ha) agroforestry farmstead where he is working to apply Biodynamics to agroforestry, namely NTFPs (non timber forest products) and the growing of mushrooms.

Allen has loved nature all his life but found a very prominent permaculture and regenerative agriculture community while living in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  Not long after he started studying permaculture, his family purchased a home across from a Waldorf School. It was at this time that Waldorf Education, then Anthroposophy and finally Biodynamic Agriculture was brought to light within the Clements family.  Allen attended the 2019-2020 session of Biodynamics training at the Pfeiffer Center in New York where he did an in depth study of the Agriculture lectures, made preps and peppers while learning from Biodynamic experts and bonding with burgeoning farmers from the region. Allen’s approach to Biodynamics revolves primarily around building intuition for harmonious communion with nature and the elemental beings. Check out his website here: http://www.gnomewoodfarm.com

In this podcast we talk about the insights of biodynamic agriculture in India with Sundeep Kamath. Sundeep Kamath, has been actively involved in the International Biodynamic movement since the last decade. He collaborates with federal and local governments on policies and practices to promote biodynamic agriculture. As a Demeter Advisor, he advises multiple entities in Asia on Demeter certification and in mindful marketing in local and international markets. He is the former Secretary of the Biodynamic Association of India (BDAI).

We talk about why he became an advisor and why translating biodynamic insights into local language is key to make the biodynamic movement grow even faster.

You want to know more about Sundeep?

Check out his website: Directory Advisors - Sundeep Kamath and what he is doing at IFOAM Asia IFOAM Asia Previous Board member

In this podcast, we talk with Simone Helmle about why the heart, warmth and movement can become essential parts of adult education in biodynamics and anthroposophy. We talk about why Covid changed the learning experience and what can be done to provide an experience-based and long-lasting teaching experience for new students of the subjects.

Simone teaches the subject "Socioculture and Anthroposophy" in the master course for resilient entrepreneurship in biodynamics at the Freie Landbauschule Bodensee e.V. in Überlingen/Germany. She holds a doctorate and habilitation in agricultural sociology. Accompanying people in the development of their individual potential is a matter very dear to her heart.

You want to know more about the work of Simone? Check out this website: www.landbauschule-bodensee.de

Do you want to know more about our work in adult education? Check out our website of our Deepen Biodynamics courses here: https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/deepen-biodynamics

In this podcast, we talk with Annette Mueller from Fattoria La Vialla in Italy on the importance of customers for biodynamic products. We exchange on their experience how to come into contact and keep customers for a long time that value biodynamic products. Last, we explore why designing products with a circular economy approach is valuable for the farm, but also for marketing.

Located in the middle of Tuscany, Fattoria La Vialla is a family run wine and farming estate that uses biodynamic farming and produces high-quality wine, olive oil, pecorino (sheep’s cheese), vegetables, and a lot more. Fattoria La Vialla is a “whole circular economy”: they get everything they need in the farm, and even better, they avoid producing waste they have no use for. Because of biodynamic agriculture, their products (e.g. wine and tomatoes) are proven by consumers and experts to be better in taste and quality. 

At the moment, Fattoria La Vialla, with approximately 150 people for manpower, manages over multiple estates with a total of around 2000 hectares of lands for olive trees, wine, grains, vegetables, etc. Aside from the wonders Fattoria La Vialla is already doing with their regenerative practices, they also help boost agritourism in Tuscany as people can come to the farm for visits and vacation. There, people see how the products are made, which helps them understand how much effort, sweat, and work are put into each bottle of wine or olive oil they bring to their tables. In the same manner, consumers can also see the value they pay for when the goods are purely organic.  

Guests who come to spend their holidays in Fattoria La Vialla started to enjoy the products the estate offers, and that’s how they got involved with direct-to-consumer distribution. They ship the products people order directly (no  other distributor), so people can still consume the products even though they can’t visit the farm. Although they definitely want their goods to reach a broader audience in the future, a direct-to-consumer distribution, for Annette, is amazing—they have the freedom to receive feedback from their clients, whom they consider as friends, without anyone or anything coming between them. 

Do you want to get to know more about Fattoria La Vialla? Check out their website here: https://www.lavialla.com/en-GB/

In this episode we talk with Konstanze Abouleish and Angela Hofmann about the Sekem initiative and the biodynamic movement in Egypt. We talk about the origins and first steps of Sekem and why the social organism is as important as the farm organism when cultivating a community.

The SEKEM Initiative was founded to realize the vision of sustainable human development. Its mission is the development of the individual, society and environment through a holistic concept which integrates economic, societal and cultural life. Above all, SEKEM aspires to be an impulse for continuous development in all parts of life, to be not only a model for, but also a contribution to the development of the entire world. You would like to learn more about SEKEM? Check out their website here: https://sekem.com/en/index/

Konstanze E. Abouleish was born in 1963 and moved from Greece (1966-1971) to Egypt in 1976. Since 1982 she constantly lives at Sekem and is active in the kindergarden since 1988 and in primary shool. In 1993 she shifted to the textile business of SEKEM, co-managing NatureTex (2000-2022) and co-founder of the SEKEM future council. Further she is engaged as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Heliopolis University in Egypt.

Angela Hofmann was born in Germany and went through Waldorf education. She learnt biodynamic agriculture in Germany and Switzerland and joined SEKEM in 1981. Since than she is involved in the land reclamation, aninmal husbandry and dairy production, agriculture research, projects and training. Additionally, she is leading music activities in the SEKEM school.

In this podcast we talk with Martin Quantin about biodynamic research communication. We exchange on the diversity of biodynamic research existing globally and how the practices on the farms influence the research of biodynamic agriculture. We elaborate on the role of media and communication for understanding the various benefits of biodynamic farming. And how biodynamic research can be strengthened in the near future.

Martin Quantin works currently for the Biodynamic Research Association in France. He has a Master Degree in Agriculture and also trained in biodynamic farming and Goethean science. Since 2010 he works for training and research in biodynamic agriculture, with an increased interest in bridging mainstream science with the emerging approaches, searching for more intimate understanding of the living.

You are interested in getting to know more about the work of the Biodynamic Research Association? Check out their website and subscribe to their here: https://biodynamie-recherche.org/

You are interested in getting to know more about the research communication of the Section for Agriculture. Check out our website here: https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/research

In this episode, we talk with Katrina Wolff about biodynamics and social media. We exchange on the reasons to start a social media channel, what benefits it offers and what risks it might bear.

Katrina is a compost consultant and garden coach living in New Zealand. She began her business ‘Blue Borage’ in 2018, choosing to help make biodynamic composting better understood within the home gardening sector. 

She now creates online courses and offers remote coaching, and is involved with a wide range of projects with businesses, schools and community groups to implement effective composting systems using biodynamic methods, and has clients all over the world. 

Before becoming a Soilpreneur, she spent six years working as operations coordinator for an anthroposophical non-profit in the disability sector, did lots of Eurythmy as a hobby, dabbled in Extra Lesson training for a year, and also worked as a private music teacher. She then studied Human Design, and in 2021 began studying Nature Communication with Saskia von Diest of Ecofluency. 

She sees the biodynamic preparations as allies to improve the energetic connections between landscapes and people, and works with anyone who is looking for ways to work in harmony with nature with more ease.

In Aotearoa New Zealand the Hua Parakore framework is her preferred approach for helping to make Kai Atua (roughly translated as pure food) available to everyone, and seeks to learn more about indigenous  Māori methods of growing and how biodynamics relates to these. 

Her social media platforms are where you can see what she’s up to at the moment, keep up to date with progress on all her projects, and see the most recent courses and coaching packages on offer. 

Check out her amazing websites and social media channels!

Website: www.blueborage.co.nz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blue_borage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-wolff-47976422/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueBorage

You would like to know more about the results of the questionnaire Katrina did, check out her blog here: https://blueborage.medium.com/biodynamics-social-media-3066f2498887

In this episode, we read parts of the newly published book “Breathing with the Climate Crisis” from Lin Bautze, Ueli Hurter and Johannes Kronenberg. The book derived from the collaborations and discussions before and during the agriculture conference 2021 in Dornach, Switzerland.

We read Chapter 1 and Chapter 4. Further information about the book can be found here:

English version: https://www.hawthornpress.com/books/changemaking/social-ecology-change/breathing-with-the-climate-crisis/

German version: https://goetheanum-verlag.ch/produkt/atmen-mit-der-klimakrise/

French, Spanish and Russian version:

https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/living-farms/breathing-with-the-climate-crisis

The climate conference "Human change – How do we create an atmosphere for the earth?" took place at the Dottenfelderhof biodynamic farm and training center on 14 and 15 June 2024. Contributions came from various perspectives and showed what anthroposophy can do to overcome the challenges.

The podcast (in German) features Monika Elbert, a board member of the Anthroposophical Society in Germany and initiator of the event; Jörg Propst, a representative of the World Goetheanum Association and engineer for the energy transition; Nina Elbel, a farmer and manager of the Grasholz farm; Stefan Siemer, head of sustainable development at Weleda AG; and Marten von Mackensen, head of the Dottenfelderhof agricultural school.

Music: "Old Ways – New Worlds". New Basel Orchestra, 29 September 2023, at the Goetheanum, Switzerland. Podcast production: Johannes Kronenberg, research associate at the Section for Agriculture.