Re: Cows
Thanks to all who have posted their wisdom and knowledge after my request. I haven't decided anything yet, as I still have to get the fencing situation figured out. I have been told that electric fencing works just fine, but the owner here is concerned about power outages and the possibility of cows running loose. The long side of the pasture already has an electrified fence for the horses next door. My plan is to fence off the front smaller part of the pasture, which runs along the south side of the house and grounds, and put the animals in there until after the hay is cut in the bigger part. I can't see myself digging post holes for traditional fencing, especially now with what appears to be a cracked rib I suffered from a fall on Saturday. Can I rely on electric fencing? Pam -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Email.com http://www.email.com/?sr=signup
Testing preps fundraiser
Just curious, how is the fundraiser going? Has enough been collected to do any testing yet? Pam -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Email.com http://www.email.com/?sr=signup
Re: Testing preps fundraiser
This is Bonnie's baby, Pam. -Allan Just curious, how is the fundraiser going? Has enough been collected to do any testing yet? Pam
Re: Cows
Pam - Economical electric fencing is a psychological barrier rather than a physical barrier. Of course, you can build a pretty nice physical barrier out of 12 guage hi-tensil electric fencing, but you're going to need 5-6 strands and, even then, it won't hold up to the impact of a CHARGING cow. But what's the chance of having a charging cow? If the cattle are properly trained to the fence, the fence does not have to actually be turned on at all times. It's not Jurassic park, down there in cow town. Goats and pigs seem to have an innate ability to sense when the fence is off. They can be like cons waiting to make a break and they can be gone at a moments notice. (But, in my case, they all come back to the gate by sundown.) If you're paying attention, you should always be able to restore shock to your fence before the cattle shock you or an out of town motorist as they sashay down the highway. (This said, I have 3 angus heifers right now. One of them gets through my 4 strand aluminum fencing with disturbing frequency. Yes, sometimes she comes through it while it's ON. This didnt' used to bother me because I'd find her standing at the gate in the morning, waiting to get let in, but the last time I found she had wandered the 1/8 down the lane to the hwy and was moments from reaching it when I pulled in the gate. Scarey!! One Houdini cow will, by example, can create a herd of Houdini cows.) I would never start a livestock enterprise while relying on the permanence and condition of a neighbors fence. (Just as an aside for more optimistic readers, I would certainly never again assume I could keep goats inside of a hi-shock (Premier) electric fence. ) Rereading your article, I note that you equate electric fencing with easy-to-install posts of some kind. My electric fence is on 8inch corners and 4 inch line posts every 30 ft and I feel like I was skimping! (You can, however, plan on as much as 100ft between line posts if you are using high quality hi-tensile wire. You do need to put stringer posts every 10-20 ft, however. (They hold the wires in position but do not provide a physical barrier.) Above all else, make certain that you are purchasing halter-trained animals. Better to lead your heifer than to herd her! -Allan I have been told that electric fencing works just fine, but the owner here is concerned about power outages and the possibility of cows running loose. The long side of the pasture already has an electrified fence for the horses next door. My plan is to fence off the front smaller part of the pasture, which runs along the south side of the house and grounds, and put the animals in there until after the hay is cut in the bigger part. I can't see myself digging post holes for traditional fencing, especially now with what appears to be a cracked rib I suffered from a fall on Saturday. Can I rely on electric fencing?
clay soil
Dear BD farmers,This is my first query to all of you. We have just moved to some land insouthern Maine and have just rototilled our first patch of soil with thehopes of working this land biodynamically.It appears to be solid clay. Hard, golfball-sized rocks. What are yourbest, first recommendations for beginning to build this soil, given that wejust got here and have not yet had the time to start a serious compostingeffort?A local landscaper (not BD) says he has had his best luck with loads of peatmixed with compost and some sand then that is rototilled into the clay.It seems I remember Steiner nixing peat in the Agriculture book. So what doyou experienced farmers know about peat? Also what about gypsum?Any and all advice is welcomed. My husband is wondering whether we oughtnot go into the clay pot or brick business instead!Thanks.Cordelia
Re: But What Did the Cow Have for Lunch?
Yes, Bonnie, a good productive garden and you do not need to go in the house for lunch. Gil Bonnie York wrote: On Monday, June 3, 2002, at 09:55 AM, Gil Robertson wrote: Of the bush tucker taken on the walks, it is mainly vegetable - leaves, roots, tubers, berries and fruits. As a gardener/farmer I am perfectly satisfied grazing from the garden as I go about my day. I feel this is a natural and healthy way of eating: a couple of leaves here, a few berries there, etc. Bonnie
skunk advice
Hello all, anyone know anything ab out skunk behavior? There seems to be a skunk(s) that lurks right next to the house at both twilight hours, spraying right outside the windows. It takes so long to get rid of the smell with an air filter windows shut, seems a shame not to have the evening air inside the house. I am wondering what exactly is going on, what they're attracted to? Last year, we observed a particular skunk that was fond of a new circular flower bed we'd put right close to the house. He would wander through quite leisurely. Perhaps there were yummy grubs he'd (she?) dig up? It was a piece reclaimed from lawn, so I know there are nice juicy fat things to eat under lawn... any suggestions of what smells they don't like? I would just like to keep them away from the windows. That smell doesn't do anything for me. Thanks, Jane
Re: Testing preps fundraiser
I just tried to get to JPI website to find out what the one prep will cost and how much to overnight it to Soil Foodweb. The JPI website doesn't come up. Does anyone know what's going on there? Does anyone know what JPI will charge for BC? That is the prep we will test at this time. Bonnie, go to http://www.appliedbiodynamics.org/ and click on the Products link. The BC is $5.00. Thanks for your good work on this. Pam -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Email.com http://www.email.com/?sr=signup
Re: skunk advice
gee wiz. that all sounds worse than I thought. Not going to use mothballs, lutefisk, or other worse smelling stuff. I was hoping there was some essential oil they didn't like like rosemary or eucalyptus or something we like the smell of... thanks for weighing in. Under the house sounds really awful. I guess this would be one time I'm happy to have a basement. Jane - Original Message - From: Deborah Byron [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 10:36 AM Subject: Re: skunk advice Hi Jane, Here we go with everything we've ever heard about repelling skunks. I've been told that scattering mothballs around their favorite spots will work but, of course, you have to keep reapplying the stuff. Also make sure they can't get into your garbage as that'll keep them coming back for more. Good luck--I've had the buggers take up residence under my house during mating season and let me tell you they do know how to party. Deborah
Fw: [globalnews] 21 Year Swiss Study Shows Organic Farming Yields Ecological Benefits
this actually mentions biodynamics mycorrizhaie --- Environmental News Service: Organic Farming Yields Fringe Benefits WASHINGTON, DC, June 3, 2002 (ENS) - A 21 year comparison of farming methods has shown that organic farming produces crops that average about 20 percent smaller than crops produced using conventional methods. The study by Swiss scientists also found that organic farmers use land far more efficiently and with less environmental impact than other modern farmers. Unlike conventional farming, organic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The organic approach more than made up the difference in crop yields through its ecological benefits, argue the scientists who conducted the study. In one of the longest running studies of its kind, Paul Mäder of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, in Frick, Switzerland, and his colleagues compared the performance of agricultural plots grown either with organic or with conventional methods. There is a need to evaluate alternative farming systems as a whole system in a scientific way. The most appropriate method to do this is still to conduct long term experiments, which can be analyzed statistically and performed under identical soil and climate conditions, Mäder explained. Soil fertility and biodiversity develop slowly, and this is why a long term study is essential. Mäder's team compared plots of cropland grown side by side using different farming methods. The crops used included barley, beets, grass clover, potatoes and winter wheat. Besides examining conventional farming and organic farming, the authors also studied an organic approach called biodynamic farming, based the environmental and spiritual philosophies of its inventor, Rudolph Steiner. Crop rotation, varieties, and tillage were identical in all the systems studied. Overall, the organic systems were able to produce more with less energy and fewer resources, the researchers report. Their results appear in the journal Science, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These results should be encouraging for farmers, because they can see that yields are stable over time, and that soil fertility has increased, Mäder said. Over the course of the study, organic farmers added 34 percent to 51 percent less nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients to the soil than conventional farmers. Even so, crop yields from organic systems were just 20 percent lower than those from the conventional systems, which Mäder said shows that the organic systems use their resources more efficiently. The organic soils were also more fertile in other key ways, such as hosting a larger and more diverse community of organisms, Mäder and his colleagues report. This was true for soil microbes, which govern the nutrient cycling reactions in soils, and for mycorrhizae, root colonizing fungi that help plants absorb the nutrients. Mycorrhizae are fungi that colonize plant roots, helping the plants absorb nutrients. These fungi were also at least partly responsible for the more stable physical structure of the organic soils, the researchers said. Earthworms, which help to aerate and turn over the soil, were more abundant as well. Insects were almost twice as abundant and more diverse, including pest eating spiders and beetles. Weed plants were more diverse in the organic systems, and included some specialized and endangered species, the researchers found. Our results suggest that, by enhancing soil fertility, organic farmers can help increase biodiversity, Mäder said. The organic soils also decomposed more efficiently, the researchers found. This is an important feature of fertile soil, Mäder explained, because the process releases nutrients and carbon to be used by the plants and microbes. The organic systems show efficient resource utilization and enhanced floral and faunal diversity, features typical of mature systems, wrote the researchers. We conclude that organically manured, legume based crop rotations utilizing organic fertilizers from the farm itself are a realistic alternative to conventional farming systems. Organic produce, a mainstay at farmers' markets, must now meet stricter standards in the United States. (Photo courtesy USDA) In Europe, both organic and biodynamic farming are regulated by national governments, in accordance with standards set by the European Union. In December 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized the United States' first national standards for organic foods, barring not only the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, but
Fw: [globalnews] sacred circle dance concert in nyc june 8th 9th, 2002 (free events)
does anyone know if there's a relationship btwn this paneurethymy and the eurythmy of Steiner folks? Jane -- The culture of the fellowship of all nations is coming. They will all consider themselves as members of one great family. The stronger nations will help the weaker ones. All nations are organs of one cosmic Organism. And as every organ has its assigned place, function and special mission, so does each nation. This idea is currently arising in the consciousness of humankind, Beinso Douno (Peter Deunov) The PanEuRhythmy Circle of Sacred Dance The Earth Concert Project Invitational Concert of Sacred Music and PanEuRhythmy Workshop The NYC Paneurhythmy Circle meets Sunday mornings in Central Park, Spring through Fall Equinoxes. There is no charge for participation. Free events: Concert: Saturday June 8th and Workshop: Sunday, June 9th, 2002 Dear Friends, You are invited to share in the blessing of this uplifting, simple circle dance, and to send blessings to the world by your participation. PanEuRhythmy is a sacred dance. Its music and movements were given by Peter Konstantinov Deunov (Beinsa Douno, 1864-1944, Bulgaria). The fundamental principles of Deunov's teaching are Love, Wisdom and Truth. He was a spiritual giant who touched many lives with his wisdom, purity and gentle strength. Love brings life. Wisdom brings knowledge and light which help in the study of the laws of Nature. Truth shining within the soul brings freedom from all weakness and vice. There is nothing greater than these principles; there is no straighter or surer path. In these three principles lies the salvation of the world. Beinsa Douno Paneurhythmy is a a series of circular/wave/spiral movements built around spiritual concepts such as love, beauty, joy, celebration of life, etc. and is performed by couples in a circle with musicians in the center. It elevates participants to new levels of awareness of the body, mind, spirit connection. The PanEuRhythmy Circle of Sacred Dance gathers between Spring and Fall Equinoxes in New York City on Sunday mornings in Central Park, on Cherry Hill, to the northwest of Bethesda Terrace's Angel of the Healing Waters Fountain; 72nd St. entrances, in the heart of the park. Participants arrive beginning about 9 a.m. and may remain until noon. Please join us in a Summer PanEuRhythmy Celebration in New York City with two events on June 8th and 9th. If you are in the area, join us for these events, and if you are somehwere else on the planet, then please join us in spirit. Please send this invitation to your friends that may be interested in this celebration and may enjoy the harmonic synthesis of music, motion and poetry. Both events are free and open to the public. SATURDAY, JUNE 8th 2002 at 8:00 p.m. CONCERT OF SACRED MUSIC Artists: Bozhidar Simov - Classical Guitar, and Ina Doynova - Voice Program includes: J.S. Bach, A. Barios-Mangore, L. Brouwer, B. Douno Venue: Good Shepherd Faith Presbyterian Church 152 West 66th St., Manhattan SUNDAY, JUNE 9th 2002 at 9:30 a.m. PANEURHYTHMY WORKSHOP Workshop - Manhattan: Sunday: June 9th 2002, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 9:30am-10:30 PanEuRhythmy Sacred Circle Dance 10:30-noon and 1-3pm Instruction in the Practise Venue: Cherry Hill, Central Park to the northwest of Bethesda Fountain Angel of the Healing Waters fountain. (72nd Street entrances, in the heart of the park.) This is the first part of the current US tour for these Bulgarian performance artists. The distinguished violinist Yoana Strateva will join the above musicians in San Francisco for all other engagements. The tour includes San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Virginia Beach and other venues. Numerous wonderful souls helped organize the tour so that many may benefit and so contribute further to the sharing and spreading of this majestic offering. The complete schedule of the tour is located at: http://www.everabooks.com/events God is Love, Love brings life. Wisdom brings knowledge and light which help in the study of the laws of Nature. Truth shining within the soul brings freedom from all weakness and vice. There is nothing greater than these principles; there is no straighter or surer path. In these three principles lies the salvation of the world. Beinsa Douno For more information and photos on PanEuRhythmy, see http://1spirit.com/sananda/paneury.html from http://www.geocities.com/paneuritmia/eindex.html: The word PanEuRhythmy means supreme cosmic rhythm: PAN means whole, all-over, cosmic. EU means true, supreme, the essence from which everything arises. RHYTHM means periodicity or correct regularity of movement. Each PanEuRhythmy exercise has symbolic significance and expresses a particular thought, feeling and action. It also reflects the Divine Spirit. The PanEuRhythmy is a harmonious creative manifestation of the Divine in the Universe. The circle of sacred dance is a symbol of the great Wheel of Life,
Re: making BD508
I've found a good source of horsetail which I plan to harvest next week. Usually I used dried horsetail to make 508 as needed. I'm wondering if anyone has every made the tea at harvest, stored and used the tea as need ? any concerns with storage/fermentation ? Laura Sabourin Feast of Fields Inc Demeter Certified Vineyard Farm http://www.ragdolls.net/vineyard.htm Ragenesque Ragdoll Cattery http://www.ragdolls.net/ragenesq.htm R R # 1 St Catharines, Ontario L2R 6P7
Re: Fw: [globalnews] 21 Year Swiss Study Shows Organic Farming Yields Ecological Benefits
I was just about to post a message about this one myself, having just downloaded the published paper itself yesterday. On Tue, 4 Jun 2002 11:07:53 -0400 "jsherry" [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Environmental News Service: Organic Farming Yields Fringe Benefits [snip] Besides examining conventional farming and organic farming, the authors also studied an organic approach called biodynamic farming, based the environmental and spiritual philosophies of its inventor, Rudolph Steiner. "also studied"! The abstract and text of the paper present biodynamic as the first of the two organic methods used and BIODYN appears first or top in all tables and figure legends. Throughout the paper the organic systems together are generally contrasted with the conventional systems, but the BIODYN system is often singled out: --"...the flux of phosphorus between the matrix and the soil solution was highest in the BIODYN system --"Soil microbial biomass increased in the order CONMINCONFYMBIOORGBIODYN" --"Between 28 and 34 carabid species were found in the BIODYN system, 26 to 29 species in the BIOORG system, and 22 to 26 species in the CONFYM system" --"One of the particularly remarkable findings...was a strong and significant increase in microbial diversity...in the order of CONMIN,CONFYMBIOORGBIODYN" --"The lower qCO2 [metabolic quotient; decreasing ratio of total respiration to total biomass indicating more mature community succession] in the organic systems, especially in the BIODYN system, indicates that these communities are able to use organic substances more for growth than for maintenance." --"Under controlled conditions, the diverse microbial community of the BIODYN soil decomposed more 14C-labeled plant material than the ones of the conventional soils" Finally, though not saying "biodynamic," the paper concludes with what is essentially the biodynamic picture: --"We conclude that organically manured, legume-based crop rotations utilizing organic fertilizers [sic] from the farm itself are a realistic alternative to conventional farming systems." appear in the journal Science, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 31 May 2002 Vol. 296, pp. 1694-1697 (news commentary p.1589 and online supplement with detailed description of the design of the trial) From the trial description supplement: The field experiment was set up "in the vicinity of Basle (at Therwil, Switzerland)". No indication whether the Goetheanum was involved. Against those who will dismiss the study as biased by special interest of organic and agroecology the research units (as I've already seen on Biotech Activist list), it should be pointed out that: "Farmer groups from the respective farming systems helped in designing the experiment and still are guiding the staff running the experiment. Plots are managed by both farmers and technicians." Importantly, it should be emphatically pointed out that the CONFYM system, using FarmYard Manure (FYM) with the addition of "mineral fertilizers up to the recommended level of the plant-specific Swiss standard recommendation," DID SO POORLY despite the presence of "the same amount of FYM as in the organic systems"! That should probably be presented as a strong indictment against mineral (i.e., NPK) fertilizers. Their addition, even in this limited amount, countered the potential benefits of the same amount of FYM! I dont think this is pointed out in the paper nor in the news commentary. It must also be pointed out that although the FYM used on each plot was equal in terms of "livestock units per hectare," it was not equal in terms of its treatment. Table S1 (of the supplement) does list the biodynamic preps and sprays used, but only describes the FYM treatments thus: BIODYN "composted FYM and slurry"; BIOORG "rotted FYM and aerated slurry"; CONFYM "stacked FYM and slurry." These treatments are not detailed. A more direct comparison of BIODYN and the other systems should probably have called for composted FYM (without preps, of course) in the other systems as well. It is not clear whether we can consider "rotted" and "stacked" equivalent to "composted." To some extent, the BIODYN advantage over BIOORG here might be due to composting per se.___Barry Lia \ [EMAIL PROTECTED] \ Seattle WA
Free Range Chickens' Ailments
Can anyone direct me toward info on herbal or homeopathic treatment of chicken ailments? Does anyone have experience in this area? Normally our free range layers are in good health, however, occasionally one will contract something. An older tailess Araucana hen seems to have chronic diahrrea and associated crappy rear. In all other ways she appears normal, ie, laying, scratching, running about, eating, maintaining normal weight. Usually this sort of thing in a bird clears up by itself, but this has not. The remainder of the flock of 60 appear fine. Thanks, Doug _ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
