Farming with Nature for Health

During the week we’ve seen farmers protest the Government’s inheritance tax changes in Westminster, and across the country, as well as threaten food supply chains – while the Biodynamic Association celebrates 100-Years of an organic, chemical-free farming system in harmony with nature.

To celebrate our biodynamic centenary, the Biodynamic Association in partnership with RuralPod Media, has launched two innovative, educational and entertaining podcasts. To promote our biodynamic podcasts – Gabriel Kaye, Executive Director of Biodynamic Association, and Ben Eagle, RuralPod Media presenter, are delighted to host a 20-minute rapid biodynamic Q&A at LandAlive on Friday evening to whet your interest in our podcasts. LandAlive is a sustainable food and farming conference being held at the Bath & West Showground from the 22^nd to 23^rd November 2024.

These podcasts provide a rich narrative highlighting the history and growth of the biodynamic movement from its origins in Koberwitz Poland, 1924 through to how 21^st Century biodynamic methods and preparations benefit from a wealth of proven scientific evidence.

Gabriel Kaye and Ben Eagle will discuss four key subjects where biodynamic methods deliver significant benefits. These are:

• Food health and security.
• Local supply chains.
• Living soils and carbon sequestration.
• Growing delicious, nutritious foods free from chemicals and in harmony with nature.

“Biodynamic methods work with nature and increase biodiversity working with communities at all levels: bacterial and fungal in soil, plant, insect and local population, enabling children to grow up knowing where their food comes from and how it grows. Respect is at its core, and it is regenerative, restorative and uses no artificial chemicals to grow good healthy harvests”, comments Gabriel Kaye, Executive Director of the Biodynamic Association.

Ben Eagle, Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, adds “Last year I was approached by biodynamic farmers Alison and John Chapman with the idea of creating a short podcast series to celebrate the centenary of biodynamic agriculture. I had volunteered on Alison and John’s farm in Galloway 12 years ago when I read Rudolf Steiner’s lectures about biodynamic farming. However, since then, my career has taken me in different directions and most of the podcasts I now produce, albeit based around farming and occasionally organic farming, are distant from biodynamics. The opportunity to take a deeper dive into the history of biodynamic farming intrigued me and so I accepted the challenge. The two episodes provide an overview of biodynamics and profile some of the people and issues behind biodynamic agriculture today. I hope they will interest listeners and encourage them to take the plunge into learning more about biodynamic farming.’’

A Centenary of Biodynamic Agriculture: with Biodynamics representing both an ancient and modern way of managing land and producing food organically with an evolving practical approach. Respect is at its very core, while good practice, scientific and nature-based understanding, with a recognition of the spirit, seek to balance the potential harmony of nature. It was in 1924 that the Austrian philosopher and scientist, Dr. Rudolf Steiner first indicated how to develop this new agricultural approach, in a series of lectures given to farmers, which is now practised:

• in 55 countries and
• on over 251,000 hectares of biodynamic farmland and market gardens.

RuralPod Media is a specialist rural podcast production agency. Our mission is to make rural stories mainstream and help rural people and organisations tell their stories through podcasting. The Biodynamic Association hopes to do further podcasts with RuralPod Media.
Gary Roberts  Charity Manager

To listen to the podcasts – click on the links below  NB The episodes will be going live at 5 am on Friday morning and they will also be available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify