Living Farms: Biodynamic perspectives worldwide

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 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/ 
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 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.Get to know the perspective and examples of Jean-Michel Florin, co-leader of the Section for Agriculture about this topic. 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-zOr 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 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/  You are interested in the work of the Section for Agriculture?Get to know more about the Living Farms project check out the link here: https://www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org/en/living-farms-videos  

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  Check out our websites: www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org Instagram @section_for_agriculture Facebook @sektion.fuer.landwirtschaft 

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 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 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.
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  Check out our websites: www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org Instagram @section_for_agriculture Facebook @sektion.fuer.landwirtschaft 

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.
Do you want to know more about biodynamics in New Zealand? https://biodynamic.org.nz/

Harvests Magazin: Biodynamics New Zealand
Local and National Groups for exchange:https://www.facebook.com/groups/320904093520669https://www.facebook.com/groups/768457823177333https://www.instagram.com/biodynamicsnewzealand/

Check out our websites: www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org Instagram @section_for_agriculture Facebook @sektion.fuer.landwirtschaft 

We talk with Ueli Hurter about the importance of biodynamic research.Ueli Hurter is the co-head of the Section for Agriculture (since 2010) and a member of the executive council of the General Anthroposophical Society (since 2019), the board of directors at Weleda (since 2019), member of the supervisory board of the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International (BFDI) (since 2021). 
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.
Do you want to know more about our work? 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

Check out our websites: www.sektion-landwirtschaft.org Instagram @section_for_agriculture Facebook @sektion.fuer.landwirtschaft