From the Agriculture Course to Sustainable Farming: 100 Years of the Biodynamic Movement

Today, biodynamic agriculture is practised in more than 50 countries worldwide and offers a way of growing high-quality produce through the sustainable cultivation of soil, plants and animals. But where did it begin and how did it come to have such an impact? In this fascinating book, Ueli Hurter and Rudi Bind trace the history and development of the biodynamic movement over a century. They examine the roots of the movement in the Agriculture Course given by Rudolf Steiner in 1924, providing a clear overview of the course's key themes and ideas; they also include reflections from the course participants. The authors describe initiatives that have arisen from biodynamics, such as community-supported agriculture and the creation of seed banks, as well as the influence it has had on the wider organic movement, regenerative farming and the campaign against chemical pesticides and fertilisers. 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 the world.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. The Agriculture Course 2. Key Concepts and Practices of the Agriculture Course 3. The Historical Impact of the Agriculture Course 4. The Biodynamic Movement 100 Years On Appendix 1: Summary of the Contents of the Agriculture Course Appendix 2: A Timeline of Selected Events Notes Bibliography Picture Credits Index

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.

Review :
'An excellent, concise introduction to the philosophy and the practice of biodynamics which I found both interesting and hopeful. As we face many of the same challenges today that were raised a century ago, this book serves as a powerful reminder of how far we have come and how much further we still need to go.' -- Anna Stankiewicz, Star and Furrow