Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   John Bradshaw
Publisher:   Hawthorn Press
Imprint:   Hawthorn Press
Dimensions:   Width: 18.90cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 24.60cm
Weight:   0.952kg
ISBN:  

9781912480937

ISBN 10:   191248093
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   01 October 2024
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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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.

Reviews

"""[This book] covers both the theoretical and the operational aspects of biodynamic practice in a thorough and very readable way. A very thorough, accessible, and practical guide to biodynamics for farmers and growers. I wish it had been available when we converted our orchard to Biodynamics 30 years ago!""---- Ian Davies, Biodynamic orchardist, Western Australia ""This book that John has created is a wonderful resource and reference for new and experienced biodynamic practitioners who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the Australian Demeter Biodynamic way of farming and gardening. I have been a practicing biodynamic farmer for more than 35 years, and I am still learning thanks to this book.""---- Mark Peterson, biodynamic dairy farmer, Victoria, Australia ""We have run our 10,000-acre wheat farm since 1986 using these practices, supplying clean food and being economically successful doing it. For anybody wanting to find a way of producing the most nutritious and chemical free food you can in your backyard or on a large-scale farm, this book has it all. John shows you how and why certain practices are done. This is a detailed instruction manual. Food and chemicals should never mix. This book will improve the health of all who follow its practices.""---- Barry Edwards, biodynamic grain producer, Victoria, Australia ""...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"

Author Information

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

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