While talking to the ACRES people, pick up
Nicolas Jolies
biodynamic viticulture book. I strongly recommend that
you read other
biological classics so that you gain perspective. Read
the Malibar Farm
books, read Fukuoka, Jeavons, "Farmers for Forty
Centuries," Sir Albert
Howard's titles, and the more recent stuff by
Alan Savory and Alan Nation.
All of these ideas are being pulled
together at
http://www.gardeningforthefuture.com
.
Look at the introductory class on
www.oregonbd.orgThere are links to
other resources on the web in the acknowledgements
section and in the
appendix.
The best intro is Wolf Storl's "Culture and Horticulture".
Maria Thun's
"Gardening for Life" is a good intro for gardening. Proctor's
"Grasp the
Nettle" is an intro for farmers. Steiner's lectures are the
basis but are
very difficult for a beginner, I wouldn't recommend starting
there. When you
are ready for the source, Malcolm Gardner's more recent
translation of the
"Agricultural Lectures" is definitely preferred. Glen
has posted some
chapters at
http://rimu.orcon.net.nz/garuda/Agriccourse/Agricourse.htmlKoepf's
textbook is comprehensive tho a bit dull reading. It is, however,
one of
the few resources completely available on line at
http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010114koepf/bda.html==========================
Suggested
Reading on Biodynamic Farming:
BDFGA (New Zealand). 1989.
Biodynamics: New Directions for Farming
and Gardening in New
Zealand. Random Century New Zealand, Auckland.
230
p.
Castelliz, Katherine. 1980. Life to the Land:
Guidelines to
Bio-Dynamic Husbandry. Lanthorn
Press, Peredur,
East Grinstead, Sussex, England.
72 p.
Groh, Trauger, and Steven
McFadden. 1997. Farms of Tomorrow
Revisited: Community
Supported Farms, Farm Supported Communities.
Biodynamic Farming and
Gardening Association, Kimberton, PA. 294 p.
Lovel, Hugh.
1994. A Biodynamic Farm for Growing Wholesome Food.
Acres, USA,
Kansas City, MO. 215 p.
Koepf, Herbert H. 1989. The
Biodynamic Farm: Agriculture in the
Service of the Earth and
Humanity. Anthroposophic Press, Hudson, New
York. 248
p.
Koepf, Herbert H., Bo D. Pettersson and Wolfgang Schaumann.
1976.
Biodynamic Agriculture: An Introduction. Anthroposophic
Press,
Hudson, New York. 430 p.
Koepf, Herbert H.
1993. Research in Biodynamic Agriculture:
Methods and Results.
Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association,
Kimberton, PA. 78
p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1975. Sensitive Crystallization
Processes ( A
Demonstration of Formative Forces in the Blood.
Anthroposophic
Press, Spring Valley, NY. 59 p.
Pfeiffer,
Ehrenfried. 1981. Weeds and What They Tell.
Bio-Dynamic
Literature, Wyoming, RI. 96 p.
Pfeiffer,
Ehrenfried. 1983. Bio-Dynamic Gardening and Farming.
[collected
articles, ca. 1940 - 1961] Volume 1. Mercury Press,
Spring Valley,
New York. 126 p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1983.
Bio-Dynamic Gardening and Farming.
[collected articles, ca. 1940 - 1961]
Volume 2. Mercury Press,
Spring Valley, New York. 142
p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1983. Soil Fertility: Renewal
and
Preservation. Lanthorn, East Grinstead, Sussex, England.
200 p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1984. Chromatography Applied
to Quality
Testing. Bio-Dynamic Literature, Wyoming, RI. 44
p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1984. Bio-Dynamic Gardening and
Farming.
[collected articles, ca. 1940 - 1961] Volume 3. Mercury
Press,
Spring Valley, New York. 132 p.
Suggested Reading on
Biodynamic Farming: (continued)
Podolinsky, Alex.
1985. Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Introductory
Lectures, Volume I.
Gavemer Publishing, Sydney, Australia. 190 p.
Podolinsky,
Alex. 1989. Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Introductory
Lectures,
Volume II. Gavemer Publishing, Sydney, Australia. 173
p.
Proctor, Peter. 1997. Grasp the Nettle: Making
Biodynamic Farming
and Gardening Work. Random House, Auckland,
N.Z. 176 p.
Remer, Nicolaus. 1995. Laws of Life in
Agriculture. Bio-Dynamic
Farming and Gardening Association,
Kimberton, PA. 158 p.
Remer, Nikolaus. 1996. Organic
Manure: Its Treatment According to
Indications by Rudolf
Steiner. Mercury Press, Chestnut Ridge, NY.
122 p.
Sattler,
Fritz and Eckard von Wistinghausen. 1989. Biodynamic
Farming
Practice [English translation, 1992]. Bio-Dynamic
Agricultural
Association, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England. 336
p.
Schilthuis. Willy. 1994. Biodynamic
Agriculture: Rudulf Steiners
Ideas in Practice. Anthroposophic
Press, Hudson, NY. 11 p.
Schwenk, Theodore. 1988. The
Basis of Potentization Research.
Mercury Press, Spring Valley, NY. 93
p.
Steiner, Rudolf. 1993. Spiritual Foundations for the
Renewal of
Agriculture: A Course of Lectures. Bio-Dynamic
Farming and
Gardening Association, Kimberton, PA. 310
p.
Storl, Wolf D. 1979. Culture and Horticulture: A
Philosophy of
Gardening. Bio-Dynamic Literature, Wyoming, RI. 435
p.
Thompkins, Peter, and Christopher Bird. 1989. The
Secrets of the
Soil. Harper & Row, New York, NY. 444
p.
Suggested Reading on Biodynamic Compost:
Blaser, Peter,
and Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. 1984. Bio-Dynamic
Composting on the
Farm and How Much Compost Should We Use?
Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening
Association, Inc., Kimberton, PA.
23 p.
Corrin, George.
1960. Handbook on Composting and the Bio-Dynamic
Preparations.
Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association, London. 32 p.
Courtney,
Hugh. 1994. Compost or biodynamic compost.
Applied
Biodynamics. Fall. p. 11(13.
Courtney,
Hugh. 1994. More on biodynamic composting.
Applied
Biodynamics. Winter. p. 8(9.
Courtney,
Hugh. 1995. More on biodynamic composting - II.
Applied
Biodynamics. Spring.
p. 4(5.
Koepf, Herbert H.,
B.D. Pettersson, and Wolfgang Schaumann. 1976.
Bio-Dynamic
Agriculture: An Introduction. The Anthroposophic Press,
Spring
Valley, NY. 430 p.
Koepf, H.H. 1980. Compost ( What
It Is, How It Is Made, What It
Does. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening
Association, Inc., Kimberton,
PA. 18 p.
Pfeiffer,
Ehrenfried. 1983. Soil Fertility, Renewal &
Preservation
(3rd Edition). The Lanthorn Press, East Grinstead,
England. 199 p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1984.
Bio-dynamic Gardening and Farming.
[collected articles, ca. 1940 - 1961]
Volume 3. Mercury Press,
Spring Valley, New York. 132
p.
Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. 1984. Using the Bio-Dynamic
Compost
Preparations & Sprays in Garden, Orchard, & Farm.
Bio-Dynamic
Farming and Gardening Association, Inc., Kimberton, PA.
64
p.
Remer, Nikolaus. 1996. Organic Manure: Its
Treatment According to
Indications by Rudolf Steiner. Mercury Press,
Chestnut Ridge, NY.
122 p.
Sattler, Friedrich, and Eckard v.
Wistinghausen. 1992. Bio-Dynamic
Farming Practice.
Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association, Stourbridge,
England.
333
p.
Publications on Biodynamics
BD Experimental Circle
(UK). Handbook on Making the Biodynamic
Preparations. British Biodynamic
Agricultural Association, London. 17pp
Blaser, P. and Pfeiffer, E. E.
(Reprinted as booklet 1984). Biodynamic
Composting of the Farm: How Much
Compost Should We Use? US Biodynamic
Farming and Gardening
Association.
Bockermuhl, J. 1981. In Partnership with Nature.
Biodynamic Literature,
Rhode Island.
Castelliz, K. 1980. Life to the
Land. Guidelines to Biodynamic Husbandry.
Landthorn Press, East Grinstead.
UK. �3.40
Childs, G. 1995. Rudolf Steiner: His Life and Work. Floris
Books. �4.99.
Colquhoun, M and Ewald, A. 1996. New Eyes for Plants.
Hawthorn Press.
Corrin, G. 1960. Handbook on Composting and the
Biodynamic preparations.
British Biodynamic Agricultural Association.
Reprinted 1995. �2.95.
Fyfe, A. Anthroposophical Science with Special
Reference to Capillary
Dynamolysis. Science Forum No. 6,
London.
Goethe, J. W. von (Trans. 1974). The Metamorphosis of Plants. .
US
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Rhode
Island.
Grotzke, H. 1990. Biodynamic greenhouse Management. Biodynamic
Literature,
Kimberton, USA.
Hemleben, J. 1988. Rudolf Steiner. Henry
Goulden. [A biographical work
which gives a clear idea of the many fields
to which Steiner devoted his
life.] �7.95
Koepf, H. H. 1981.
Biodynamic Sprays. Biodynamic Literature, Kimberton,
USA.
[Booklet]
Koepf, H. H. 1990. Compost, What Is It, How Is It Made, What
It Does? US
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
Koepf, H.
H. 1993. Research in Biodynamic Agriculture. US Biodynamic
Farming and
Gardening Association
Koepf, H. H. and Thompson, P. 1990. The
Principles of Biodynamic Farming.
New Farmer and Grower. Spring 1990.
2pp.
Koepf, H. H. and Thompson, P. 1990. The Principles of Biodynamic
Farming.
New Farmer and Grower. Spring 1990. 2pp
Koepf, H.H. 1989.
The Biodynamic Farm. Anthroposophic Press, New York. �16.
Kolisko, L.
Moon and Plant Growth.
Kolisko, E and L. 1978. Agriculture of Tomorrow
(2nd edition). Kolisko
Archive Publications, Bournemouth.
Konig, K.
1982. Earth and Man. Biodynamic Literature, Wyoming, R.I., USA
Kranich,
E. M. 1984. Planetary Influences Upon Plants: A Cosmological
Botany.
Biodynamic Literature. Wyoming R.I.
New Zealand Biodynamic Association.
1989. Biodynamics: New Directions for
Farming and Gardening in New Zealand.
Random House, Auckland
Pfeiffer, E. 1983/4. Biodynamic Gardening and
Farming (3 volumes). Mercury
Press, Spring Valley, New
York.
Pfeiffer, E. and Riese, E. 1985. Grow a Garden and be
Self-sufficient.
Mercury Press, Spring Valley, New York.
Pfeiffer,
E. E. (1948, 1956). Biodynamics: Three Introductory Articles. BD
Farming
and Gardening Association, Inc. Springfield, Ill.
Pfeiffer, E. E.
(reprinted 1983). Soil Fertility, Renewal and Preservation:
Biodynamic
Farming and Gardening. Lanthorn Press, East Grinstead, UK.
[Particularly
valuable for its research data and links with health].
Pfeiffer, E. E.
1976. Biodynamic Treatment of Fruit Trees, Berries and
Shrubs.
Stroudsberg.
Pfeiffer, E. E. Sensitive Crystallization Process. Verlag
Emil Weises
Buchhandlung, Dresden.
Pfeiffer, E. E. 1962.
Chromatograms of Soils, Biodynamic Preparations and
Their Source Materials.
Biodynamics No. 62.
Pfeiffer, E. E. 1988. The Earth's Face: Landscape
and its Relation to the
Health of the Soil. Lanthorn Press, East Grinstead,
UK.
Pfeiffer, E. E. Weeds and What They Tell. . US Biodynamic Farming
and
Gardening Association [Booklet]
Pfeiffer, M. W. 1990. The
Agricultural Individuality: A Picture of the
Human Being. US Biodynamic
Farming and Gardening Association
Pfeiffer, E. E. 1984. Chromatography
Applied to Quality Testing. BD
Literature, Wyoming, Rhode Island,
USA.
Podolinsky, A. 1985/89. Biodynamic Agriculture: Introductory
Lectures.
Gavemer Foundation, Sydney. (2 volumes).
Pretty, J. n.
1995. Regenerating Agriculture. Earthscan. [Discusses the
need for
sensitive farming methods in both developed and developing
countries and
the social and institutional changes necessary.] �12.95.
Remer, N. The
Laws of Life in Agriculture. US Biodynamic Farming and
Gardening
Association
Riese, E. 1949. Advice on the Practical Application of the
Preparations. 4pp
Sabarth, E. 1968. Plant Relationships as Made Visible
by Chromatography.
Sattler, F and von Wistinghausen, E. 1992.
Biodynamic Farming Practice. .
British Biodynamic Agricultural Association.
[The most comprehensive
practical guide to biodynamics]
�32.
Schilthuis, W. 1993. Biodynamic Agriculture. Floris Books. [This
small
paperback is the most straightforward introduction to biodynamics].
�4.95
Soper, J. 1976. Studying the Agriculture Course, British
Biodynamic
Agricultural Association, London.
Soper, J. 1983.
Biodynamic Gardening. . British Biodynamic Agricultural
Association,
Stourbridge.
Soper, J. 1996. Biodynamic Gardening. (Revised and
enlarged by B.
Saunders-Davies and K. Castelliz). Souvenir Press.
�10.99
Star and Furrow. Journal of the . British Biodynamic
Agricultural
Association, published twice a year and contains short
articles on many
aspects of biodynamics.
Steffen, W. 1981.
Methodical Investigations of Capillary Dynamolysis.
Botton Science
Laboratory, England. Report 1.
Steiner, R. Agriculture. [A series of
lectures give in 1924. First
translation into English (British Biodynamic
Agricultural Association,
1974) is out of print; second is available from
the US Biodynamic Farming
and Gardening Association (1993)].
�12.95.
Steiner, R. Occult Science - An Outline. Rudolf Steiner Press.
[Steiner
himself recommended this work as a background to the agriculture
lectures.
It provides a spiritual-scientific history of the Earth].
�8.95
Steiner, R. The Spiritual Beings in the Heavenly Bodies and in
the Kingdoms
of Nature. Steiner Book Centre, Vancouver.
Steiner, R.
The Elemental World and the Future of Mankind, Dornach, May 28,
1922 [RS
lecture]
Storl, W. D. (1979) Culture and Horticulture: A Philosophy of
Gardening.
Biodynamic Literature, Kimberton, USA.
Thornton Smith, R.
1996. Biodynamics and the Control of Weeds. MS. 7pp.
Thornton Smith, R.
1996. Modern Agriculture, Sustainability and
Biodynamics. In: Sri Lanka
Association of Geographers Proceedings.
Thun, M and M. K. Working whit
the Stars: A Biodynamic Sowing and Planting
Calendar. Lanthorn Press., East
Grinstead, UK. Published annually. �4.35.
Thun, M. 1990. Work on the
Land and the Constellations. 2nd Edition.
Lanthorn Press. East Grinstead,
UK. [Sourcebook for those using the annual
planting calendar.]
�4.50
Tompkins, P and Bird, C. 1989. Secrets of the Soil. Viking
Arcana. [A
fascinating compendium of evidence for the working of
non-conventional
influences in plant growth.] �16.
Wildfeuer, S.
(Ed) Stella Natura: Planting Calendar. . US Biodynamic
Farming and
Gardening Association.
Zoeteman, K. 1989. Gaia-Sophia: A Framework for
Ecology. Floris Books.
[Covers a wide field of earth history and ecology
and attempts to build
bridges between natural and spiritual-scientific
points of view.] �11.99
As far as the 'pure virgin soil' impression, I
would strongly
recommend that you do a 'farm history' as soon as you can.
You, as I,
will probably be very surprised by how industrious our
forefathers
have been in the past 200 years (when was your area first
touched by
the white man) Get soil tests, not just extension tests but REAL
soil
tests through someone like Agri-dynamics
(
http://www.agri-dynamics.com); soil
tests will give you a much
better understanding of what your soil
needs now and in the future.
Buy as many BD books that you can afford.
I'd start with Maria Thun's
"Gardening for Life" and I'd get a copy of
"Culture and Horticulture"
by Storl. Hugh Lovel turned a mountain 'ravine'
into a bountiful
farm, so you'll find lots of good information in his
classic "A
Biodynamic Farm" (available through ACRES USA
http://www.acresusa.com) While talking to
the ACRES people, pick up
Nicolas Jolies biodynamic viticulture book. I
strongly recommend that
you read other biological classics so that you gain
perspective. Read
the Malibar Farm books, read Fukuoka, Jeavons, "Farmers
for Forty
Centuries," Sir Albert Howard's titles, and the more recent stuff
by
Alan Savory and Alan Nation. All of these ideas are being
pulled
together at
http://www.gardeningforthefuture.com
.
>In the short term, plow through the bd now archives for answers
to
>your broader questions. (I just recently posted
Pfeiffer's
>directions for making a 'common' compost pile.) BD NOW!
archives:
>http://csf.colorado.edu/archive/2000/bdnow/ (paddle around
for the
>year(s) you want to search.)
