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General Introduction to

Applied Biodynamics

DemeterBiodynamicTradeAssociations

TasteofPlace

SanFrancisco

22February2010

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Birth of Biodynamics

WhoisRudolfSteiner?

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Who is Rudolf Steiner?

Theosophist-laterAnthroposophist Clairvoyant? Prophet? SpiritualScientist

Authored5books 6000+lecturesduringlifetime

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Lectures

Education-Waldorf Agriculture-Biodynamic Religion-ChristianCommunity Economics-3-FoldSocialOrder Medicine/Pharmacy/Therapies

CurativeEducation-CamphillCommunities Arts-Curative/PerformingEurythmy Andmore...

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Agriculture Course

SpiritualFoundationsfortheRenewalof

Agriculture

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History

Biodynamics AgricultureCoursegiveninJune1924 FirstpublishedEnglishedition-1938(private) FirstpublishedEnglishedition-1962(public) FirstAmericanedition1992

America E.PfeifferandRodaleworkedtogetherinlate30searly40s-

thensplit Rodalewentontopublishorganicgardening PfeifferwentontoestablishBDfarmsinKimberton,PAand

SpringValley,NY

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American Biodynamics

PfeiffercreatedthePfeifferfieldstarterandcompoststarterspraysasasimplifiedremedythatcontainstheBDprepsandiseasierto

apply. Pfeiffersgoalwastheuseofhisstartersin

largesettings;ex.:municipaldumps,largefarming,largecompostingoperations,etc.

RachelCarsonandSilentSpring

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Birth of Biodynamics

Whatcanbedonetocheckthedeclineandtoimprovethequalityofseedandnutrition?

ErnstStegeman,1922/23

QuestionposedtoRudolfSteiner

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Problems of the Day

Reductionincropqualities Reducedcropyields Decreaseinseedgermination Increaseinanimaldisease Decreaseinshelf-life/storagecapabilities

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Answer: Rudolf Steiner

Plantscanneverbediseasedinaprimarysensesincetheyaretheproductsofahealthyethericworld.Theysufferratherfromdiseasedconditionsintheenvironment,especiallyinthesoil.

E.Pfeiffer

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What is Biodynamic Agriculture?

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What is Biodynamic Agriculture?

Farmer-ParadigmShiftinThinking UseofALL9BiodynamicPreparations WorkingwithCosmicRhythms DevelopmentofWholeFarmOrganism/

Individuality

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THE (Cornerstone) QUESTION

Howdoesonebuildabridgetoactiveparticipationincarryingout(spiritualintentions)personalpath/destinyandnotgetsidetrackedbyego,illusions,pettyjealousy,etc.?

E.PfeifferaskedofRudolfSteiner

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Proper Nutrition

Thisisaproblemofnutrition.Nutritionasitistodaydoesnotsupplythestrengthnecessaryformanifestingthespiritinphysicallife.Abridgecannolongerbebuiltfromthinkingtowillandaction.Foodplantsnolongercontaintheforcespeopleneedforthis.

R.Steiner

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Sidebar

E.PfeifferconversationwithR.Steiner: Spiritualscientificknowledgemusthavefoundits

wayintopracticallifebythemiddleofthecenturyif

untolddamagetothehealthofmanandnatureistobeavoided.(1924)

Sidenote:Steinerpredictedthatcancerandmentalillnesswouldbethemajormedicalproblemsattheturnofthecentury;andthatfoodwouldonlybeafiller.

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Sidebar Cont

In1924RudolfSteinerpointedoutthenecessityofconsciouslyrestoringcosmicforcestogrowthprocessesbybothdirectandindirectmeans,thereby

freeingthepresentconceptionofplantnaturefromamaterial,purelyterrestrialisolation;onlythroughsuchrestorationwoulditbepossibletore-energizethosehealthfulandconstructiveforcescapableofhaltingdegeneration.

E.Pfeiffer-1958,Introduction-Agriculture,translatedbyGeorgeAdams

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What About Organic Agriculture?

OrganicAgriculture Eliminationoftoxicsubstances Workstodevelopproper(physical)soilfertility WorksasNaturespartner Producescleanermorenutritiousfoods Protectstheenvironment

Isthisenough?

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Why Biodynamics?

Alltheabovereasonsandmore: Injectingvitallifeforcesintothesoil,plantsand

animalsinordertoenliventhephysicalworldsothat

theethericworldcancompleteitstaskofprovidingpropernutrition,balanceandhealthtomankind. PhysicalBody EthericBody(life) AstralBody(soul) Ego-IBody(spiritual)

How?

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How?

ParadigmShiftFarmersThinking UseofBiodynamicPreparations WorkwithandusetheCosmos CreateaFarmIndividuality

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A New Agriculture and A new Thinking

Newton Physical

Material Measure(ct./wt./etc.)

Mechanical Ponderable Quantity

Goethe Ethericworld(approach

astralandego)

Spiritual Polarityand

Metamorphosis(Rhythms)

Supersensible Imponderable Quality

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Biodynamics

1.Dynamicrelationshipbetween cosmicandterrestrialforces;and

2.Creationandmaintainingoforganic substances

HUMUS

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Overview

Bio-Biological SoilStructure SoilLife HumusBank Bio-pestcontrol

Dynamic(Cosmic) FormativeForces CosmicRhythms Developingterrestrialand

celestialsynergy

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Overview

Bio-Biological SoilStructure SoilLife HumusBank Bio-pestcontrol

Dynamic(Cosmic) FormativeForces CosmicRhythms Developingterrestrialand

celestialsynergy

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Note

Healthandresistancearefunctionsofbiologicalbalanceandcosmicfactors.

E.Pfeiffer

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G. Adams translation

NOTE: Ishouldliketoremindyouthattotaketheright

steps,onemustlookintothenatureofthewhole

processandfindingtherightthingtodoinanyparticularcasewill,orcourse,dependtoagreatextentuponhavingtherightFEELING.(p.41) Understanding

P.115

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Substance and Forces in Nature

Ifwewanttomanagevariousdomainsofagricultureproperly,itisnecessarytogaininsightintothewaysubstancesandforcesworkandalso

intothewaythespiritworks. RudolfSteiner,Lecture4,AgricultureCourseP.110(What

isBiodynamics?)

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BD Preps

Purposeof500and501

Toenhancetheimprovethemanuringprocess P.135

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Summary of BD Preps and Their

Relationships Fieldsprays:

500-Hornmanure Ca Form 501-HornSilica Si Structure 508-Equisetumarvense Si Structure/Balance/H2O

CompostPreparations: 502-Yarrow/stagsbladder K Plantstructure 503-Chamomile/intestine Ca N-Stability 504-Stingingnettle/earth Fe Inwardsensitivity 505-OakBark/skull Ca Balance-etheric/astral 506-Dandelion/mesentery Si Mediator-sensitivity 507-Valerian P Warmth

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Rhythms

Lunar Full/NewMoon Ascending/DescendingMoon ApogeeandPerigee

Planetary 12Constellation 4Seasons 7planets

Solar 4Seasons-Earthtilt Daily

Sunrise/noon/sunset/midnight

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Macrocosm

Itisnotenoughtolookonlyattheplant,animalorhumankingdom.Lifecomesfromwhattheearthitselfprovides.Natureisaunity,

withforcesworkinginfromallsides.Thosewhoseeyesareopentothesemanifestforceswillbeabletounderstandnature.

R.Steinerp.176

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Whole Farm Organism

Whatisawholefarmorganism?

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Whole Farm Organism

CompleteClosedSystem BiologicalSoil(physicalattribute) PlantDiversity(ethericattribute) LivestockDevelopment(astralattribute) RoleofFarmer(spiritualattribute)

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Role of Livestock (Astral)

Physical- Root

Etheric- Leaf

Astral- Flower

Spirit- Fruit

Earthworm

Cattle

Bee

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Role of Farmer (Spiritual)

Itisuptoyou.Youdecide!

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Questions