About the Book
This book provides a comprehensive overview of Biodynamic farming, its scientific basis, detailed instructions for practical application, together with a series of detailed case studies of a variety of Biodynamic farms in Australia and Europe. These farms use the Australia Demeter Biodynamic Method which is applied widely in Europe, Asia, and in the USA.
It is called the 'Australian' method because it was where Biodynamics developed most extensively under the leadership of Alex Podolinsky (1925-2019), extending to hundreds of thousands of acres by the mid-1980s. Through Alex Podolinsky's annual advisory trips throughout Europe from the 1990s until his death in 2019, hundreds of farmers now use the 'Australian Demeter Biodynamic Method'.
Key themes are:
• Biodynamics is a proven, successful system of sustainable, regenerative agriculture that allows farmers to develop the biological activity and fertility of their soils with minimal fertilizer inputs, producing food of exceptional quality
• The method is soundly based on scientific research
• Attention to detail in all aspects of the method is needed to ensure success. This includes the critical importance of the highest quality Biodynamic soil biology and light metabolism enhancing preparations, without which Biodynamics will not work effectively. Farmers worldwide get excellent results. This is a comprehensive resource book for farmers interested in farm conversion and regenerative farming, biodynamic farmers and growers, farming and horticulture students, gardeners, college/university lecturers in agriculture.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Foreword, Acknowledgements, Introduction.
Part 1 – Understanding Biodynamics: 1. Biodynamics: An Overview 2. The Biodynamic Preparations 3. A Brief History of Agriculture 4. T he Scientific Basis of Biodynamics 5. Why Farm Biodynamically? 6. Biodynamic Soil Development 7. Biodynamic Upper Plant Expression 8. Balance in Biodynamics 9. Transitioning to Biodynamics 10. Organic and Biodynamic Certification
Part 2 – Practical Application 11. Preparation 500 Storage and Application 12. Applying 501 – the Light Spray 13. Biodynamic Compost-Making 14. Biodynamic Liquid Manure 15. Supplementation of Biodynamic Soils 16. Cultivation 17. Sheet Composting 18. Green Manuring 19. Working with Natural Rhythms 20. Plant Pests and Diseases 21. Weed Management 22. Peppering 23. Biodynamic Fruit Tree Care 24. Animal Health
Part 3 – Biodynamic Farm Studies 25. Biodynamic Dairy Farming, Nathalia, Victoria, Australia 26. Biodynamic Orchard, Merrigum, Victoria, Australia 27. Biodynamic Vineyard, Bourgogne, France 28. Biodynamic Market Gardening, Latina, Italy 29. Biodynamic Grains and Legumes, Marnoo, Victoria, Australia 30. Biodynamic Free Range Eggs, Noggerup, Western Australia 31. Biodynamic Goat Cheese, Gidgegannup, Western Australia 32. Biodynamic Market Gardening and Cropping, Leipzig, Germany 33. Yatesbury House Farm, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Biodynamic Resources, About the Author, Index.
About the Author :
John Bradshaw has used Biodynamic methods for over 50 years as a working farmer, gardener, trainer, researcher and certification inspector in Australia. He wrote the Biodynamic Practical Notes booklet, endorsed by Alex Podolinsky. He edited the hands-on Biodynamic Growing magazine from 2003-2019, and produces the annual Biodynamic sowing calendar
Review :
"...a clear and accurate guide to Alex Podolinsky's Australian Demeter Biodynamic Method and a very useful resource for farmers."
---- Bridgette Olsen, Agricoltura Vivente, Italy, medicinal herb producer
"[The author] presents a very clear overview of the method, details the extensive scientific foundation of the method, and provides a comprehensive guide to its practical application. As an agricultural engineer and research scientist, I can confidently state, based on my numerous farm scale trials, academic studies, and shared observations with the farming community that biodynamics, properly applied, produces wholesome nutrient-rich plants grown unrestricted within the natural processes and are not limited as those plants grown using conventional agricultural methodologies. The resulting biologically dynamic soils increases the soil organic matter, humus, and structure to depth resulting in seasonally resilient productive soils, not depleted shallow soils as is the case resulting from high input conventional agricultural practice, where ongoing financial sustainability of such practices is of major concern worldwide."
---- Dr. John Russell, PhD, former lecturer at La Trobe University
