Production Gardener for Weleda UK
18th November 2024
Farming with Nature for Health
21st November 2024On November 10th 2024 at 7pm, The Biodynamic Association held its first-ever Awards, honouring individuals, farmers, growers, and businesses who have been restoring health and well-being to our soils, food, people, and planet during the last hundred years!
It took place at Rudolf Steiner House and before this very special event, the BDA and Steiner House also hosted a Joyful Food Festival, showcasing a range of top-quality biodynamic products and produce for visitors to taste and buy, alongside an inspiring mini-talks and BD Cinema programme plus the bookshop and Café at Rudolf Steiner House
Biodynamic farms and businesses at the Festival were: Farmacy and their famous coffee cart!
Clearspring Waterford Whisky Hampstead Tea Cococaravan
Origin Eden Coffee – The best biodynamic coffee! Implementations at Waltham Place
Weleda Vintage Roots, – The OG of Organic and Biodynamic Wine Tablehurst & Plawhatch Farms,
There was also fun for the younger ones with superb activities offered by the
Biodynamic Young Farmers Club!
Several hundred people attended from 2 – 5pm and were warmly welcomed by the Association’s stall outside Steiner House, where great conversations were had, many questions were answered and information on a wide range of topics was dispensed. The Association was thrilled to have some fantastic products and books from Farmacy and Demeter Chocolate from Cococavan for sale from their stall too.
Photo – Flying the flag for biodynamics!
Julie Gardner ( BD ambassador) Margaret McGair ( BD Certification Office) and Jessica Standing (BDA Office)
At 6pm, it was all change and the Awards Reception began, with guests enjoying delicious canapes from Farmacy Kitchen, biodynamic wine and biodynamic cordials from Velwell Orchard in Devon. Celebration and joy were in the air as people started filling the Marylebone Theatre at 7pm for the Awards Ceremony itself.
Probably the biggest gathering of people in the biodynamic movement in the UK in the last 100 years, talented musician and singer Julia Katherina Soper wowed the audience before MC Philly J Lay – a long-standing advocate for personal and planetary health took to the stage and kick-started the proceedings, honouring all those awarded in the post-humous category and leading a one minute silence. Sir Ben Okri was up next and delighted and inspired the audience with a piece he had written especially for this event.
The people who were being recognised and honoured in each category came up to the front of the theatre and were presented with a beautiful hexagonal awards plaque which was designed, created and very generously sponsored by the exceptional Wooden Legacy Awards , accompanied by much clapping and cheering from the audience.
Two people from each Award Category were invited to speak on the theme of a message for the future of biodynamics and these were:
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Christopher Dawson from Clearsping and Aonghus Gordon from Ruskin Mill Trust
Long Service Award:
Sebastian Parsons from Stockwood Community Benefits Soc / Rush Farm
Spencer Christy from Lauriston Farm
Outstanding Biodynamic Practice – Individuals
Andre Tranquilini – Waltham Place
Trevor Harris – Coilltroim Biodynamic Farm
Outstanding Biodynamic Practice – Farms and Organisations
Hampstead Tea – Kiran Tawadey
Weleda UK – Jen Ruge
Future Stars of Biodynamics
Camilla Fayed – Farmacy
Scott Dow – Newton Dee Camphill
Ben Okri delivered two more outstanding poetic interludes and the evening poignantly ended with Julia Katherina Soper singing “It’s a Wonderful World” in Arabic and English.
Along with the awards plaque, an Awards Brochure was created, listing all the award winners and a short tribute to their contribution to biodynamics which you can read in the PDF document below.
Our deepest thanks and appreciation for all the support and making this event so special:
Rudolf Steiner House & The Anthroposophical Society of Great Britain
Farmacy, Philly J Lay, Wooden Legacy, all our wonderful BD stall holders and everyone who attended.
