Press Release

Wednesday 28th May - Elms Farm, North Piddle, Grafton Flyford, Worcestershire

One Day Introductory Workshops on Biodynamic Farming and Gardening
April, May, June 2008

Learn about key biodynamic practices in a hands on practical way on a farm near you. Thirteen workshops are being held between April and June in all corners of the UK. They all follow a similar format and are led by experienced biodynamic practitioners. The basic principles underlying the biodynamic approach will be explained and participants will be able to learn in a practical hands on way how they can be applied. They will learn how to improve compost by applying special herb-based preparations, how to make their own humus enhancing concentrate, how the biodynamic spray preparations are used and how the biodynamic planting calendar works. "Creating a living soil is the key to producing healthy crops" said Bernard Jarman of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association "and the biodynamic preparations serve to enhance soil vitality, plant vigour, animal health and food quality. " Throughout the practical demonstrations there will be lots of opportunity for asking questions.

These introductory workshops are intended for farmers and growers who are interested in developing their organic humus and the biodynamic preparations.system and enhancing the health and vitality of their crops and livestock.

Subjects covered will include
1. Introduction to biodynamic practice including the fundamental concept of the farm individuality, the importance of home sourcing manures and feed, the care of humus and the biodynamic preparations.
2. The biodynamic compost preparations - practical session making a special, humus enhancing manure concentrate known as ‘barrel preparation’. Their application to a compost or farm manure heap will also be demonstrated.
3. Horn manure stirring and spraying will be demonstrated and its value and use explained followed by a hand stirring demonstration in which everyone will be able to experience spraying half an acre by hand. There will also be a discussion on how it can be mechanised.
4. A talk addressing Silica, Quality and Biodynamic Planting Calendar. Some examples of biodynamic research will be given and a summary of what is involved in being Demeter certified.
Handouts will also be provided on some of these subjects.

Venues and dates:

Saturday 12th April
Saturday 3rd May
Thursday 8th May
Thursday 8th May
Saturday 10th May
Saturday 10th May
Saturday 10th May
Saturday 17th May
Saturday 17th May
Saturday 24th May
Wednesday 28th May
Saturday 31st May
Saturday 7th June

- Tintagel House, Neter Edge, Sheffield
- Botton Farm, Danby, Whitby N. Yorkshire
- Responsive Earth Trust, Plas Dwbl Mynachlog Ddu, Pembrokeshire
- Lauriston Farm, Joyce's Chase, Goldhangar, Essex
- Land Heritage, Summerhill Farm, Exeter, Devon
- Old Plaw Hatch Farm, Sharpthorne, West Sussex
- Camphill Clanabogan, 15 Drudgeon Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
- Menter y Felin Uchaf, Rhoshirwaun, Pwllheli, Carnarfonshire
- Newton Dee Farm, Bieldside, Aberdeen
- Garvald Farm, Dolphinton, West Linton, Scottish Borders
- akiki organics, Elms Farm, North Piddle, Grafton Flyford, Worcestershire
- Loch Arthur Farm, Beeswing, Dumfriesshire
- Poyntzfield Herb Nursery, Black Isle, Ross & Cromarty

Cost for the day is £30 / £25 concessions.

Notes:
Biodynamic farming is a well established organic approach to sustainable agriculture. It produces food of particularly high quality and its environmental credentials are second to none and the value of biodynamic (Demeter certified) products is increasingly recognised throughout the world. It was the first of the consciously organic approaches to farming. It started in 1924 and was inspired by the holistic and spiritually oriented research of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1924). During the following 85 years biodynamics has grown into a worldwide movement and is now practiced in more than forty countries and in all climatic zones.

Visit: www.biodynamic.org for biodynamic FAQ
For further information contact: Bernard Jarman

Biodynamic Agricultural Association,
Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester Street Stroud GL5 1QG
Tel. 01453 759501

Email: office@biodynamic.org.uk
www.biodynamic.org.uk