Hi Allan, As of yesterday we have 950 members! Not bad for an organisation started in 1989! No idea of land under Biodynamics - we are working on developing that data base. Around 50 members certified (a guess, seeing as Biodynamic certification for our farmers is done by NASAA and BFA) We have put over 500 people through workshops in the last financial year, and the previous year.
We encourage our members to use all the preparations at least 4 times per year, and to cover all of their arable land each time. (Other BD groups we hear only get the preps out on the land they are actually cultivating this year (if it is wet)- so that is where I doubt the figures on area given) We also encourage them to use Horn Manure when it is dry, not just after rain, as we find the use of prep 500 actually brings in moisture and rain. It also readies the soil to have instant take off when the rain does come, and then it doesnt have to wait whilst the farmer plants and hopefully gets around to spraying out. We also have some of our farmers flying on their preparations to large areas of land - 4,500 acres etc. - I can send you a story Alan from this next News Leaf coming out if you would like to run it! We have got Hugh Lovel coming out here in February, and will be running 4 x 3 day live in workshops around Australia. The interest is phenomenomal - I am being overwhelmed by the bookings! We have also written courses for the TAFE (Technical Education) Organic Module yearly courses and have a special 40 hour module elective. We have applied for funding this year to also write a BD Trainers course so we can accredit our BD trainers when they have done the course so they can teach as well. We have many local and regional groups around Australia, who do prep making and they also support many local BD practitioners. Our preparation sales have increased 100% in the last year! So we are getting it out there!! Cheryl Kemp Education and Workshop Coordinator Biodynamic AgriCulture Australia Phone /Fax : 02 6657 5322 Home: 02 6657 5306 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.biodynamics.net.au ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lloyd Charles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 10:27 AM Subject: Re: BDAAA Statistics > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Allan Balliett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 5:55 AM > Subject: BDAAA Statistics > > > > Dear Australian BD people, is it accurate to say, as the media often > > says, that there are 2,000,000 acres and 700 farms under the BDAAA? > > > > This is simply a statistical inquirey. > > > > Thanks k-Allan > > Hi Allan > You seem to be jumping around all over the place on this! > We have two BD organisations > 1 Alex Podolinsky's - the Biodynamic Research Institute BDRI - legal owner > of the Demeter trademark in Australia - this organisation has lost a lot of > members in recent years because they were no longer willing to put up with > the rigid and unforgiving attitudes therein. > > 2 BDFGAA now called Biodynamic Agriculture Australia (Cheryl Kemp who > sometimes writes to this list is education officer for this organisation) - > formed by a bunch of rebels, many from the AP organisation - membership > rising dramatically they probably DO have 700 members > > You have to be real careful with acreages quoted - this is a big country and > one or two large size pastoral (grazing) properties under organic or BD > management could distort the figures heaps. > > To which of these two organisations do you hear the 700 farmers + 2million > acres ?? > > I think Hugh Lovel's comments below are pertinent to this > > "I do not agree that what Alex Podolinsky has done in Australia is any model > to copy, as he has run a rigid and even hidebound program where those who > venture outside of his box can be excommunicated. > The BDGFAA (Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of Australia) > arose in response to the need for more openness than Podolinsky allowed, > and it wouldn't do to give Podolinsky full credit for their efforts." > > Cheers > Lloyd Charles >
