GUEST: Cherie Hutchinson, biodynamic farm manager for the Jurlique Natural Skin Care Australia company INTRODUCTION TO THIS EPISODE: My guest on this episode of the series, Cherie Hutchinson, is a farm manager for the Jurlique natural skincare company overseeing the production of over 35 different botanicals and healing herbs on Jurlique’s farm at Biggs Flat in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. Jurlique is a natural skincare company established in 1985 by Jurgen and Ulrike Klein. The owners were passionate about growing biodynamically which led to Jurlique’s farm receiving biodynamic accreditation in the 1990s. Working for the company Cherie fell in love with the ethos of biodynamic farming. She attended regional and statewide workshops on agriculture and horticulture and learnt about biodynamics on the job and through training providers and workshops including those run by the Biodynamic Australia Association. She holds a Diploma in Horticulture. A written account of Cherie's biodynamic growing experiences is contained in a companion text profile booklet of all the guests interviewed for this podcast series. Also entitled ‘Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia' details of this written publication are available from the Biodynamics Agriculture Australia Ltd. website. INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS - with approximate time elapsed in minutes. Guest foreshadow comment - 0.00Generic introduction of podcast series – 0.30This episode introduction – 2.02Guest self-introduction: description of current work role at Jurlique – and farm profile - 3.16Can you define and describe biodynamics in 2023 ? – 8.35How do biodynamic practices contrast to more conventional growing methods in horticultural management? – 11.52How did you first become involved with biodynamic horticulture in the first place? - 15.00Can you tell us more about the biodynamic techniques you are use on the farm and the beneficial impacts they have ? – 18.47What is your experience of the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamic working philosophy? - 23.00 includes an example of a challenge experienced in Cherie’s past biodynamic work. What does the future hold for your managerial role and the farm you manage ? - 25.22 - includes Cherie’s comments on future human and leaner farming challenges to be overcome. Do you have a short take home message for listeners ? 31.30Do you have any more advice for listeners who might want to find out more about biodynamic methods and practices ? – 34.28Interviewer brief summary of some points covered – 36.33Thanks to guest and acknowledgements - 37.10Episode close – 39.28 GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS: Guest: Cherie Hutchinson Jurlique Natural Skin Care Australia Podcast production: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc.(Australia) Tel: 07 4639 2135 Email WEB Facebook Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. 25 Nobles Lane, BELLINGEN, NSW 2454,Australia Tel: 02 6655 0566 Email WEB Facebook Production details: Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 2nd October 2023. Interview questions developed by: Anna Kula-Kaczmarski Incidental Music: James Nicholson BFGA podcast series - brief survey (2 – 5 minute) completion The Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners podcast series was produced for Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. Our short listener survey is available now on Survey Monkey. It consists of simple questions which should take less than five minutes to complete. The survey has been created to encourage our audience to give more feedback than is usually generated via podcast app rating scores and comments. We value any ideas, insights or comments listeners might have which could help us develop possible future podcast offerings. All feedback received will be treated as anonymous data and will only be used for the strict purpose of helping us better design possible future podcast media. The survey is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HNFFBQ IDEAS MENTIONED AND RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING BIODYNAMIC GROWING IN AUSTRALIA Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. is one of the peak bodies supporting biodynamic practice in this country and it financed this podcast series. The organisation website offers a wide range of products for sale to ‘home gardeners and farmers including soil activators, kits for home gardens and compost making, specialised pastes and liquid blends. These products are made in Australia ensuring the highest quality and shipped nationwide wide.’ The website also contains links to information on training workshops, educational text and video resources on biodynamics and a free eNewsletter. Their Biodynamics Handbook comes free with membership of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. Or can be purchased separately at modest cost. Other ...
