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
