Why I farm biodynamically  - David Adams

My first reason is destiny. When I was 23 I was travelling in Europe. I was depressed and I wasn't really trying to get anywhere. In Stuttgart in the Youth Hostel there was only one person who wanted to go for a drink. He had just come from Botton Village and was full of it. I thought it sounded dreadful being in the country and with handicapped adults! I was a city boy and saw that as the future. But as I travelled on it grew in me like a plant that I had to go to Botton Village. So, in September 1970 I arrived hoping to work on one of the farms. My picture of what it would be like proved to be completely romantic, but it did feel like coming home and at the same time a future worth striving for.

I had never thought about agriculture so it took me a long time to come to biodynamics. Again, destiny played into my life many time so that I did continue in farming. Many people and places kept calling me back. In 1973 I went to another Camphill place because my first wife and I needed a home to start our family. In 1977 I went back to Plaw Hatch because I was asked. In 1983, when I was living and working in town, I did a tour of biodynamic work in Holland because someone offered to pay for me. This led to me becoming Secretary of the BDAA in 1985 for a year and a half. So I had many chances to realise what I should be doing with my life.

The second reason I farm biodynamically is Anthroposophy. Very soon after I arrived in Botton I knew that it would be important for me. I didn't know at first whether I would be able to work with it or not, but I did soon know that it would be on my back and I would have to make some decision about it. For many years I dabbled with it, read about it and slowly became more committed. But it did take meetings with certain people in whom I could see a lifetime's work before I was sure that this was my path. Now it is the centre of my life and it is very important to me that biodynamics arises out of Anthroposophy.

The third reason is Camphill. It became conscious to me about the same time that I became clear about Anthroposophy that I wanted to work for the well being of Camphill. The building of community with others is an important aim for me. In Camphill one can attempt to build it, and in a particular way, with: - one's fellow co-workers - the young people who come to find life experiences - the social therapeutic work with the handicapped, that allows an equality and a sense of building the community together. That one can positively help with biodynamic work is another strong reason for working this way.

After may years one can also see that it works. Through the combination of outer work with the methods, community building and inner work one can see the results in the landscape and the well being of the agricultural individuality. And yet it never reaches an end. There is always more to do and more to learn. And the deeper one goes into it the more there is to find. I want to stand for this way of farming.

Now I don't actively farm biodynamically. I have passed Botton Farm on to younger hands and I concentrate on other work. But I don't feel I have really left biodynamics. I am waiting to find my way back into it again.

David Adams