Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia

By: Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.
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  • Summary

  • The six episodes of this new series contain stories from a wide range of Australian biodynamic growers working across various forms of agriculture and horticulture and at various scales.
    Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
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Biological Sciences
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Episodes
  • INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

    INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
    Nov 21 2023

    Welcome to this podcast series, Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia. The series was commissioned by Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. and produced by Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc. (Australia).

    The six episodes of this series contain interviews with a wide range of Australian biodynamic growers working in various forms of agriculture and horticulture and at different scales. From a one acre organic property producing herbs, vegetables, and pasture-raised chicken in New South Wales, to a horticultural operation of over 100 acres suppling botanicals and healing herbs to a natural skin care company with international reach. From biodynamic cherry and fruit tree growing in South Australia to mixed biodynamic farming in Far North Queensland.

    Though the locations and types of growing undertaken by our podcast guests differ it has been fascinating to hear of the similarities of methods and approaches to their growing work which have developed through their adoption of biodynamic practice principles and wider philosophy.

    Each guest story illustrates the environmentally protective abilities of biodynamics to regenerate the biological health of soil, supercharge organic growing, restore biodiversity and work in harmony with mother nature – and all in the process of producing well grown food of delicious taste and high nutritional value - and plant products beneficial to human wellbeing.

    We hope that you enjoy this podcast series, as well as the text based profiles of our interview guests contained in a companion booklet also entitled ‘Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia.’ Details are available on the website of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.

    Andrew Nicholson - Producer of the series

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    2 mins
  • Biodynamic methods in botanical and healing herb horticulture

    Biodynamic methods in botanical and healing herb horticulture
    Nov 21 2023
    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 ...
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    39 mins
  • Developing biodynamic orchards in South Australia

    Developing biodynamic orchards in South Australia
    Nov 21 2023
    Guest: Kym Green, biodynamic fruit grower at Ellimatta Orchards (South Australia). Introduction to this episode: My guest on this episode of the series, Kym Green, is a sixth generation fruit grower from Lenswood, near Adelaide in South Australia. Kym and his brother Peter run Ellimatta Orchards which are intensively planted with multiple modern varieties of organic and biodynamic apples and cherries. This was not always the case and Ellimatta Orchards were once standard commercial orchards farmed chemically for many decades. The story of the biodynamic transformation the orchards have undergone is told by Kym in this interview. A written account of Kym'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 mins. Guest foreshadow comment - 0.00Generic podcast series introduction. – 0.30This episode introduction – 2.02Guest self-introduction – 3.10How would you describe biodynamics in 2023 – 6.27How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional agriculture – 14.46How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? – 23.28 Can you tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have. – 31.02How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 45.05What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? – 58.30 (comments on black spot fungus) What does the future hold for your farm? - 1.07.57 Guest take home message – 1.14.55Guest parting advice to audience on biodynamic adoption – 1.17.00Thanks, acknowledgements and episode close. – 1.20.45End of episode – 1.22.23 GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS: Guest: Kym Green, Ellimatta Orchards, Lenswood, South Australia 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: Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 11th 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 RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION GUEST FARM/property mentioned: Ellimatta Orchards, Lenswood, South Australia. CONCEPTS: Mulders Chart – representation of the interaction between essential plant elements. Brix - measure used for estimating the approximate amount of sugars in fruits, vegetables, juices, wine. Phion MEA water structuring device as described on the Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd website. RESORCES MENTIONED IN INTERVIEW OR RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION: Dowsing – for an introduction to concepts and practices see the Dowsing Society of Victoria Inc. and Dowsers Society of New South Wales Inc. Francis Chaboussou: Healthy Crops - A New Agricultural Revolution (2004 edition) Google Books. listing. Charles Massey: Call of the Reed Warbler: A new Agriculture a New Earth (2020 edition) Google Books. listing Pierre Masson: A Biodynamic Manual (2014 edition) Google Books listing. Jay McCaman: When Weeds Talk (2013 edition) Australian book source listing. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer: The Biodynamic Treatment of Fruit Trees, Berries and Shrubs (1992 edition) Google Books listing. Rudolf Steiner: The Agriculture Course Lectures (1924) – originally delivered in June 1924 and available in English translation on the Steiner Archives Website. Recent research paper (J. Paull, University of Tasmania, 2020) offering a brief overview of the historical significance of the Steiner lectures, with a timeline of their various language translation dates. Peter Tompkins, Christopher Bird, William Thomas, : Secrets of the Soil New Solutions...
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    1 hr and 22 mins

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