How time flies, 2016 has well and truly started. We hope that this year will bring you great harvests, plenty of - but not too much - rain, good health and happiness.
After a lovely break, the team at BAA has had a busy start to the year. Preparations Manager, Alan Johnstone held an Introduction to Biodynamics workshop for the owners and staff of Gemtree Wines at McLaren Vale, in late January. The purpose of this workshop was to assist with their application of biodynamics in the vineyard, and to help cellar door staff give better advice on the benefits of biodynamics in viticulture.
As previously advised, we are busy a series of biodynamic field days across Australia in 2016. The first one will be held on the 20 March 2016 at Tinderry Mountain Herbs near Canberra, see the flyer below.
Save the date for 29 May for a field day which focuses on beef cattle, grain and lucerne production at Beaudesert Qld. A series of other field days and workshops around the country are being planned. Keep an eye on the website for further information.
Antoine Durandet has been volunteering his time and has produced some outstanding short, practical YouTube videos on biodynamic practices. He is also in the process of updating and streamlining our website www.biodynamics.net.au.
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Liquid Product Special
available only for February 2016
Buy four 20 litre Liquid Concentrate (Fish, Seeweed or Combined) and receive one 20 litre Liquid Concentrate free!
To order ring the office 02 6655 0566
*regular shipping costs apply
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Get your planting calendar - in stock now.
'Antipodean Astro Calendar 2016' by Brian Keats
$35.00 including shipping
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Special Offer - while stock lasts
'Quantum Agriculture'
by Hugh Lovel
Normally $35.00
Now $25.00
Call the office on 02 6655 0566 to order your copy
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Upcoming Workshops and Field days
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General information, advertisments and snippets
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BD Olive Grower Moving Overseas
For Sale
1 x 200 litre stainless steel Rob White built mixing machine.
1 x 200 litre stainless steel spray tank built by Rob White with Hardie Pump.
1 x Gas fired water heater, stainless steel with copper coils water pipes.
1 x Heavy timber four compartment preparations box built by David Donnet.
1 x Set of concrete flow forms by “Living Water Flowformsâ€
Click here for additional info and pictures
Equipment may be viewed in Mittagong Southern Highlands area or photographs sent on request. Vendor would prefer all articles to go to same home. Unfortunately this first class equipment must be sold.
Prices discussed on application.
If you are a serious about Biodynamics this is a rare opportunity to have the best equipment available.
Phone Ian on 0401 164 070 or e-mail: netley@hotmail.com
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Nobles Lane Summer Vegetables
This shot of our turmeric, basil and sweet corn in the BAA office garden shows how well heat-loving species can perform in these warmer temperatures. January was particularly hot this year, and fortunately came with just enough rainfall to prevent plant moisture stress. A local Indonesian-Australian commented that Bellingen reminds her of Java this year!
These plants also show how the combination of biodynamic compost and Soil Activator spray has prompted maximal growth of these plants. For example the corn is 2.7m high, and the cobs are superbly long and fat. The actual grains are so sweet that where fruit bats have partly chewed the odd cob exposing them, black ants have jumped in to help themselves to the sweetness.
Incidentally an unorthodox input into the office compost has been many kilos of spent café coffee grounds. The compost worms seem to relish them when mixed with the obligatory cow manure, grass clippings, vegie scraps, and the usual DE, basalt crusher dust and clay.
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To be or to do: the modern dilemma for human beings -
by News Leaf Editor John Hodgkinson
In a world addicted to materialism and growth-at-any-cost, life seems to have become more about doing than being. As much as we would prefer to de-stress, relax, meditate and generally behave more in concert with our spirit self, we feel forced to work, earn money, consume, and escape into entertainment and other distractions.
Unfortunately we are locked in to this ego-consciousness. The sobering truth of this is that our human ego represents the final stage of universal sleep, the identification of consciousness with form.*
So if indeed we cannot easily escape the dictates of our ego, why not change our perspective on doing? The way into this attitude to constant activity and work is via Tolle’s ‘Three modalities of awakened doing: ACCEPTANCE, ENJOYMENT (especially with a sense of humour), and ENTHUSIASM.*
* Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth, pp. 292, and 295-305
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