Short Course in Biodynamic Agriculture The first BIO-technology

1. King County Extension Todd Murray, MSc Co-operator Barry Lia PhD, Henning Sehmsdorf PhD&Elizabeth Simpson PhDS&S Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Homestead FarmLopez Island WA Short Course in Biodynamic Agriculture The first BIO-technology Curriculum The curriculum will be based upon a thorough, scholarly European text which combines proven BD methods with up-to-date management. Well illustrated with photos, graphics and tables, this book draws on case studies and the authors’ years of experience.2 The PI’s for several years have held on-farm BD workshops and developed training material. • The Short Course will consist of • lectures, • hands-on activities, • homework, and • a farm tour • Students will meet at the Carnation Tree Farm two all-day Friday sessions in early December • soil • plant husbandry • And one in early February • animal husbandry • There will be readings and exercises between the December and February sessions. • The fourth all-day session will be held in February on S&S Homestead Farm, a BIOAg Learning Site. This will include a meal of farm-produced food. Standard scientific study of biodynamic practices will be presented. We will also address the complementary phenomenological science, stemming from Goethe’s pioneering morphological studies, which is the primary background for the biodynamic approach to ecological farming.3 Abstract This Short Course will introduce students to proven BD approaches to soil, crop and animal husbandry, and position them for transition to BD practices through lectures, experiential exercises, and hands-on learning on the farm. The sustainable agriculture field and the broader public should become aware of what BD has to offer agriculturally, economically, and socially. Research Recent research by WSU researchers on S&S Homestead farm asked whether BD treatment might obviate the need for ecologically-costly liming of the acidic soils of Lopez Island.4 BD “preparations” were applied on random plots for comparison with liming and control treatments. BD treatment effectively raised pH into the range for efficient mineral availability. At the same time, forage amount and crude protein per unit weight were significantly increased above those for liming treatment. Impact In a recent editorial, Michael Pollan called for the next “Farmer in Chief” to adopt a “sun-food agenda,” as a response to global agricultural and energy crises.5 BD BIO-technology has long been available to answer this call. This Short Course will introduce practitioners to this proven, low-input, ecologically-sound, solar-powered farming system. Introduction World-wide trends are calling for a “paradigm shift” and for biological intensification of farm production.1 Biodynamic Agriculture (BD) is perhaps the pre-eminent model for biologically-intensive agriculture. Practiced in Europe for over 80 years, it is yet little known and little understood in this country. The wine industry is recently driving interest in BD for enhancing “terroir.” WSU researchers (Reganold, Carpenter-Boggs, Reeve) have performed several research studies on BD. Established BD farms in the region offer hands-on training. References 1IAASTD. 2Sattler & Wistinghausen,Bio-dynamic Farming Practice (1992), BDAA. 3Annals of Botany 88(6): 1103-1217, 2001; Seamon & Zajonc, Goethe’s Way of Science: A phenomenology of Nature (1998) SUNY Press. 4Biodynamics 265: 22-7, 2008. 5New York Times Magazine, Oct. 9, 2008. BIOAg Program mini-grant. BD control lime BD control lime FIGURE 1. Soil pH as measured in 12 field plots over two years. FIGURE 2. Crude protein content of forage in 12 field plots over two years.