Today, biodynamic agriculture is practiced in more than fifty countries worldwide. Its methods offer a way of growing high-quality produce through the sustainable cultivation of soil, plants, and animals. But where did it begin? How did it come to have such an effect?
In this informative book, Ueli Hurter and Rudi Bind trace the history and development of the biodynamic movement through the past century. They examine the roots of the movement in Rudolf Steiner’s 1924 agriculture course in Kobierzyce, Poland, and offer a clear overview of the course’s key themes and ideas, including reflections from participants who were there.
The authors describe initiatives that arose from biodynamics, such as community-supported agriculture (CSA) and the creation of seed banks, as well as the influence it has had more broadly on the organic movement, regenerative farming, and the ongoing campaign against the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. They also include contemporary examples that demonstrate how biodynamics is helping individuals and communities around the world to thrive, including in Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and India.
This book will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand the origins of biodynamic agriculture, its growth into a worldwide movement, and its continuing impact on food production and the world.
Contents
Introduction 7
1. The Agriculture Course 9
2. Key Concepts and Practices of the Agriculture Course 24
3. The Historical Impact of the Agriculture Course 41
4. The Biodynamic Movement 100 Years On 85
Appendix 1: Summary of the Contents of the Agriculture Course 112
Appendix 2: A Timeline of Selected Events 116
Notes 118
Bibliography 121
Picture Credits 123
Index 124
About the Author
Rudi Bind studied Goethean phenomenology and existential philosophy. He has worked as a journalist and primary teacher, and is co-founder of the Heinrich Barth Society. He lives in Arlesheim, Switzerland.
Ueli Hurter is the joint-Head of the Agriculture Section at the Goetheanum, Switzerland, and sits on the executive board of the International Biodynamic Association.
Bernard Jarman worked as an apprentice on a biodynamic farm in Germany before running a hill farm in Botton Camphill Village, North Yorkshire. He was Executive Director of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association in the UK for fifteen years and continues to teach courses in biodynamic agriculture all around the world. Bernard is the author of The Biodynamic Movement in Britain. He lives in Stroud, England.
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