LEARNING & EVENTS

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Introductory Field Days 2021

The most effective way of learning about Bio-Dynamics is by attending a Field Day. Some of these field days are directed towards existing commercially operating farms, others are open to gardeners and new farmers.

Saturday 24/4/21 Pawleena, Tasmania
Gardeners and Small Growers Field Day
The venue is a long-time BD property of 4 acres producing a wide range of fruit and vegetables – many of which the owners process for their own use.

Saturday 15/5/21 Oberon, NSW
“Lynden” is a Demeter Certified farm producing beef, lamb, wool and cropping.

Sunday 16/5/21 Ballarat, Victoria
Gardeners and Small Growers Field Day
An established property producing a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Berries are a specialty.

Saturday 22/5/21 Hamilton, Victoria
Hochkirch Wines, a Demeter Certified farm producing wine and meat.

Saturday 19/6/21 Brooklet, NSW
Seeds Organic, a Demeter Certified farm growing vegetable seed and seedlings.

Saturday 24/7/21 Red Hill, Victoria – POSTPONED DUE TO COVID, NEW DATE ANNOUNCED – 26/2/22
Mock Orchards, a Demeter Certified farm that is a mixed orchard and also produces many value added products.

Saturday 14/8/21 Inverleigh, Victoria – POSTPONED DUE TO COVID, NEW DATE TO BE ADVISED
A Demeter Certified market garden producing mixed vegetables and vegetable seed.

Saturday 2/10/21 Glaziers Bay, Tasmania
Since Billy and Julie purchased their 7-acre property five years ago they have re-fenced the boundary, deep-ripped the ground, applied three 500 sprays with a 2-acre stirring machine, agisted a small number of cattle and now graze some sheep. They recently commenced a vegetable garden after two green manure crops. They’ve seen a marked improvement in the soil but there’s still a way to go.

Sunday 17/10/21 Castlemaine, Victoria – POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT YEAR DUE TO COVID
Gardeners and Small Growers Field Day at Castlemaine Steiner School where BD methods have been used for 25 years as part of the kitchen garden program.

Saturday 26/2/22 Red Hill, Victoria
Mock Orchards, a Demeter Certified farm that is a mixed orchard and also produces many value added products.

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Australian Demeter Biodynamic (ADBD) is committed to running safe and inclusive events to facilitate the education and training of farmers and practitioners in the Australian Demeter Biodynamic method. ADBD field days are run in accordance with our COVIDsafe plan and all relevant government regulations. Attendees are encouraged to practise good hygiene, maintain physical distancing and are respectfully asked to stay home if unwell.

Learn more

Introductory Field Days

More Information
Introductory field days are held across the country at different times of the year.
Topics covered include:

History and development of Bio-Dynamic Farming & Growing
Plant feeding within nature
Soil cultivation to improve soil structure
Soil humus formation and microbial activity
Bio-Dynamic plant expression
Using Bio-Dynamic preparation 500
Prepared 500 (Podolinsky introduced: 500 plus 502-507)
Using Bio-Dynamic preparation 501
Stirring and applying the Bio-Dynamic preparations
Preparing soil to receive the Bio-Dynamic preparations at the most beneficial time
Building a B.D. compost heap and using compost preparations 502-507
Sheet composting and green manures
Using the Bio-Dynamic Astrological sowing chart

Activities include:

Participatory demonstrations of stirring, spraying preparations, building a compost heap and green manuring
Where applicable, farm walks showing Bio-Dynamic results and discussing practical aspects of Bio-Dynamic farming
Quality Australian Demeter Bio-Dynamic preparations are displayed

Successful completion of an introductory field day facilitates membership of the Biodynamic Growers Australia or the Biodynamic Agricultural Association of Australia – depending on your scale. Information and application forms are available on the day.

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Learning Resources

A series of books and DVDs covering the Australian Demeter Bio-Dynamic practices can be purchased at biodynamic.com.au
For books – click here.

Suggested books to start with are:

Alex Podolinsky Lectures, Volume 1
Living Agriculture

For DVDs – click here.

Download Resources

	2011 Lecture Written version of an address given to farmers at a field day on a Bio-Dynamic grazing / cropping property near Young, NSW, Australia. Discusses (world-wide) problem of loss of water storage due to compaction of soils. Shows how Bio-Dynamics can remedy this situation.
	Bio-Dynamics Agriculture of the Future Excellent introduction to the Bio-Dynamic method, provides a comprehensive, yet easily readable, explanation of the difference between organic and Bio-Dynamic farming and resulting product quality.
	Living Agriculture Topics include: reclamation of salt affected farming land under Bio-Dynamic management / humus vs organic matter and their qualitatively differing effects on soil and plant feeding / education and training of farmers.
	Living Knowledge Topics include: Classic Natural Science vs Hypothetical Science / correct stirring of 500 reflected in Kepler’s 3 Laws / life implanting action of Chaos / 3 types of viewing – imagination, intuition, inspiration.
	IFOAM Conference Address 2005 Addresses the problem of Australian agriculture as world phosphate reserves diminish, providing a truly sustainable alternative to the modern approach of “input” farming – which is occurring even on organic farms.

Several videos are available to view here

Soil Conversion
5 Bio-Dynamic Farms
Compost Making
Cosmo Earthly Ecology
Vortex Vegies
Stirring Machine