Water is crucial to biodynamics: Not only to water plants, but for the process of stirring, which potentizes the preparations. But do we really know what water is, what tasks it has in life processes, or how it carries them out? Jennifer Greene of the Water Research Institute takes us far beyond what we commonly know, or suppose we know, of this element.
Barrel compost is an efficient way to boost soil fertility, especially when access to cow manure is limited. In the garden, Mac Mead leads the class through every step of making this valuable substance, and how to use it. Mac also covers weed and pest control using biodynamic preparations, and discusses small animal stewardship (primarily chickens and sheep). An afternoon artistic activity rounds out the day.
Tickets: $125
In the morning, Craig Holdrege explores how to work with the living dynamic qualities of plants and animals to better understand the world around us. In the afternoon, Sherry Wildfeuer, a long-time editor of the Stella Natura planting calendar, explains how the calendar is created, what it tells us, and how we can use it to learn to work with, rather than against, nature’s rhythms and forces.
Hugh Williams, one of the best orchardists in the East and a biodynamic farmer for over forty five years, brings his perspective on harnessing the local ecology to cultivate the farm individuality. Also covered: the science and art of pruning fruit trees, including a few hours of pruning the Pfeiffer Center’s orchard under Hugh’s expert guidance.
Hugh is the owner of Threshold Farm in Philmont, NY. He has been growing fruit trees and orchards using biodynamic methods on a commercial scale for more than forty five years.
Tickets: $125
The ideal biodynamic farm is a self-contained individuality to which cows contribute milk, meat, and soil fertility. Megan Durney shares about the essential nature of the animal, and Kim Vaughan covers the basics of biodynamic dairy herd management, including rotational grazing and pasture management. The day includes a visit to our herd, cow barn, and dairy, the only one in Rockland County.
Join us Friday evening for an introductory lecture on the overarching approach of biodynamic beekeeping, a meditative path of inquiry into the life of the honeybee. This talk is open to the public for a small fee, but included for those attending Saturday’s full-day workshop.
Join Threefold Community Farm Friday evening for an introductory lecture on the overarching approach of biodynamic beekeeping, a meditative path of inquiry into the life of the honeybee. This talk is open to the public for a small fee, but included for those attending Saturday’s full-day workshop.
Presenter: Alex Tuchman (Director of Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary).
Enjoy a sit-down dinner, prepared by Threefold Café, featuring biodynamic vegetables from Threefold Community Farm!
Includes raffle and auction to benefit the farm!
Hosted by Threefold Community Farm:
Mac Mead introduces biodynamics in the context of the spiritual-scientific understanding of earth evolution. In the garden, we do hands-on work with the horn manure preparation, transplanting, raised beds, and planting cover crops.
Willing the Future gathering hosted by North American Youth Section: from August 22nd to 25th we will make art, engage in exciting dialogue, participate in exciting workshops, and of course party! Part of the hope is to share our gifts and skills with one another. We invite you to consider what you might want to share with the group in a workshop form, from a skill to a hosted conversation to an experience. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please send us an email and we will help arrange the details to make it happen.
