An Introductory Course for The Saugeen River School for Sacred Agriculture
By Karen Davis-Brown
On the winter evenings of December 7 and 8, a group of twelve of us came together online from across the continent to explore more deeply our relationship to carbon in the world and carbon’s relationship with the solar system. Another group of students had gathered during the day to also explore these relationships, at Saugeen River CSA near Durham, Ontario.
Our leader in these explorations was Cory Eichman, biodynamic farmer and anthroposophical researcher, who shared with us an understanding of this unique and complex element that he had developed over the course of his life and work. He then supported us, individually and collectively, to see the manifestations of carbon around us with new eyes.
Cory began by asking the question, “Is there creative intention in the natural world?” This question was followed up by the description of the fundamental difference in perception that can take place when one perceives phenomena in the physical world as “expressing” rather that “causing” the outcome of their activity. This led to the question for this class: “What is carbon expressing?”
Expanding on Rudolf Steiner’s description of carbon in the third lecture of the Agriculture Course, we explored the annual carbon cycle of the earth, the miracle of photosynthesis as a foundation for carbon consciousness, and the formation of plants on the Earth in relation to the Sun as well as to the near and far planets. As part of developing an inner experience of these outer phenomena, near the beginning Cory asked us to each sit with a plant and ask ourselves, “Where is the picture of the plant before it emerges?” We carried this question through the rest of the course with increasing understanding, humility, and awe. We learned the technical and spiritual meaning of the term, “phyllotaxy,” meaning the pattern leaves form on a stem as a reflection of the forces of the solar system. We were also challenged to be open to the possibilities of consciousness in all beings, including the chemical and etheric elements, and to the presence of ancestral wisdom and support that may be provided through the plants around us.
This course was the first, and introductory, course offered by the Saugeen River School of Sacred Agriculture, and many more are planned for the coming year. What makes this School unique is that its courses will explore the sacred in agriculture focused on the personal experience of the student and not from any one spiritual tradition, including anthroposophy and biodynamic agriculture. Cory noted, “My goal is to open up the dialogue. There were several people on the call who know nothing about biodynamics. I heard from one who was very intrigued by the potential for the personal experience of ‘living into carbon,’ which was the whole point of the workshop.”
If you are interested in learning more about the school and the courses planned for 2025, visit https://saugeenrivercsa.com/school-for-sacred-agriculture/.