Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Friday, March 4, 2016
Workshop on Biodynamic Agriculture in Italy
March 11 and 12, 2016
Venue: Agribio, Cissone, Italy
I will be conducting two day workshop on Biodynamic Agriculture at Agribio, Italy. Agribio is an association of biodynamic farmers in Italy. This workshop will be focused on my experiences in advising the Government of Bhutan for 6 years and building the capacity of the stakeholders in organic and biodynamic agriculture. Bhutan is the first country to go fully organic by 2020.
Venue: Agribio, Cissone, Italy
I will be conducting two day workshop on Biodynamic Agriculture at Agribio, Italy. Agribio is an association of biodynamic farmers in Italy. This workshop will be focused on my experiences in advising the Government of Bhutan for 6 years and building the capacity of the stakeholders in organic and biodynamic agriculture. Bhutan is the first country to go fully organic by 2020.
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Thursday, December 24, 2015
Online Course in Biodynamic Agriculture
Biodynamic Agriculture is an advanced state of organic farming which lays the foundation for a new way of thinking about our relationship to earth and the environment. It was the first ecological farming system to raise a voice against the commercial fertilizers and pesticides during the early years of industrial agriculture. In Biodynamic Agriculture, a farm is considered a self-sufficient organism with interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.
This course will introduce students to biodynamic agriculture: concepts, principles, and practices. Students will understand soil as a living entity, soil formation, and agronomic aspects comprising soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and the importance of organic soil matter. This course will also cover biodynamic preparations, which are vital in this system of farming. The role of planets and constellations on plants and farming to attune the crops to the biorhythms of nature will be discussed.
Course Structure
This course consists of four pre-recorded lessons discussing the benefits of biodynamic farming.
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Biodynamic Agriculture
- Lesson 2: Biodynamic Principles and Practices
- Lesson 3: Biodynamic Preparations
- Lesson 4: Biodynamic Preparations and the Lunar Calendar
Sunday, October 11, 2015
This Tiny Country Is Going 100% Organic
A tiny country like Bhutan is going 100% organic to safeguard its citizens from the consumption of toxic residues in food and preventing contamination on natural resources. Organic agriculture not only produces safe food but it helps to support traditional rural life and build communities that respect and revere nature. The industrial agriculture has systematically destroyed the rural communities and the culture associated with it. There is a need to radically redesign the present food system to build local, regional and global food systems that are based on deep agroecological, ethical and spiritual principles for a happy planet. Bhutan's organic story is a reminder for the countries to rethink on their food and agriculture programs and policies.
Interesting article on Bhutan going 100% Organic
Interesting article on Bhutan going 100% Organic
 |
| Extension officials learning Organic Agriculture techniques in Bhutan |
Friday, September 4, 2015
Wild Edibles
In nature there are about 7000 plants which are edible to human beings. The native tribes knew most of the edible wild plants in their locality and had a knowledge of using these plants. The advent of industrial agriculture with emphasis on hybrid crops focused on breeding commercially important crops. About 15 crops are bred through different modern breeding techniques which fulfills about 70% of the global calorie requirement. This has resulted in mass monocultures, soil degradation, environmental pollution and systematically uprooted the traditional knowledge systems of communities in food and nutrition.
Wild edibles are available year around which grow voluntarily and do not require any resources to cultivate and manage them. Unfortunately we have branded such wonderful edibles as weeds. Every attempt is made to destroy these edible plants by using toxic chemicals. If we can be respectful to these plants and use them, humanity will benefit from a lot. It will reduce the pressure on land to cultivate crops and reverse the degradation that is happening today. Wild edibles are rich in nutrients and has medicinal properties.
Recently I had an opportunity to share my views on wild edibles in a radio show organized by KRUU FM's Great Taste. It was fascinating to cook lamb-squatters (Chenopodium album) a very common weed plant which is invasive in nature. Lamb squatters are rich in nutrients which can be cooked in a variety of ways.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Course on Composting and Biodynamic Agriculture
Date: March 30 to April 23, 2015
Venue: Fairfield, Iowa, US
Biodynamic
agriculture is an advanced state of organic agriculture. Every farm
is treated as a “living organism” where all farm activities are
self-supporting, interrelated and influence each other. Biodynamics is unique in its practices that include following the lunar
rhythms to guide planting and
cultivation, using herbal preparations for enhancing the composting process, spraying specially aged manure and silica solutions on
soil and plants to aid the growth and
development of plants.
Biodynamic farms are
characterized by self-sufficiency and biological diversity where crops and
livestock are integrated; nutrients are recycled to nurture the health of the
soil, crops, animals, and the farmers. Scientific research in the past 2
decades has proved biodynamic agriculture as one of the efficient methods for
carbon sequestration and address climate change.
Through the practice of
Transcendental Meditation (TM), a
student can establish a deeper
understanding and appreciation of biodynamic agriculture and the nature’s
unbound intelligence, the unified field of all the laws of nature.
Objective of the course
To
understand the principles and practice of biodynamic agriculture techniques,
gain farming skills and deep understanding of the relationship of earth, life
and human beings from a scientific and eco-spiritual perspective.
Course Contents
•
Modern agriculture Crisis and Climate Change
•
Understanding Dr.Rudolf Steiner’s 8 lectures on
Agriculture through modern science.
•
Principles and Practices of Biodynamic
Agriculture
•
Nine Biodynamic Preparations: making and
utilization
•
Biodynamic Composting
•
Liquid Manure, Cow Pat Pit (CPP) and other
formulations
•
Crop Pest and Disease Management
•
Animal Husbandry and Biodynamic Agriculture
•
Converting a farm to Biodynamic
•
Biodynamic Certification Procedures
“Biodynamics is all
about respecting nature, rebuilding
healthy soil, growing healthier food, and building a conscious community of
people ,”
Whether
you are a student, farmer, amateur gardeners, activists, organic food and
agriculture based organizations, if you want to learn about Biodynamics this
course is for You.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Introduction to Biodynamics for the Home Gardener
Workshop on April 12, 2014
This an introductory lecture for a series of hands on workshops. This lecture in not required to take the hands on course but it is strongly recommended. Participants will receive a free 2014 Farming Lunar Calendar.
Venue:
Sustainable Living Department,
Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa
If you are interested
Register HERE
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