These are Dire Times - Dare to be Bold, biodynamic

Perhaps I’ve spent too much time the past 30 years listening to the dire prognostications of conservationists and rabble-rousers like Dave Foreman, Paul Watson, Al Gore, and others. Perhaps. But unlikely. The fact is that even with these prominent folks sounding the alarm bell the last 40 years, we’re still fighting claims by science-deniers that realities like climate change, mass species extinctions, dying oceans, loss of arable land, etc. are not realities. That facts are that they are real and the repercussions of sticking our heads in the sands are here. Thirty years ago we had a chance to actually do something, now everything we do is a bit like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound, but necessary nonetheless. There is no putting lipstick on this pig – we are living in dire times.

Rudolf Steiner conducted his Agriculture Courses in 1924 in part as an antidote to what he already saw (and foresaw, as he was clairvoyant) as the unraveling of life on earth. These teachings came out of his more intricate Medical Courses and eventually evolved into what we know today as biodynamics. The philosophy and practice of biodynamics is not for the faint of heart. There are aspects that are fairly easy to practice and others that require years of study and practice to fully grasp. The basic reality is that Steiner saw biodynamics as a path to the salvation of the planet and humanity. Steiner saw all life on earth as intricately connected and not hierarchical, even though humans are the dominant species on earth. The fate of humans and the planet are interwoven and we as a species have both the responsibility and capability to course-correct the path we are on. Whether we collectively have the desire is another question.

We live in dire times and there should be sugar coating of this reality. The actions we take today literally define the fate – for better or worse – of the planet. Biodynamic agriculture takes us steps further than organic agriculture could ever hope. And with organics generally having been co-opted by big ag, we need to move forward and keep pushing the agenda, and practice, in how we grow our food. Biodynamics is the future of farming, food, and the planet.

As I wind up the growing season in my own (non-bearing) orchard, I will be helping to set the stage for a healthier growing environment next season. I’ll start with the use of biodynamic tree paste – a concoction made up of cow manure, sand, and clay, then mixed with dilute neem oil and Equisetum (BD508) mixture and applied to the tree trunk and lower scaffolds of the tree. The paste acts in part as an upward extension of the soil and provides for a strong biological environment in the overall orchard ecosphere. The sand and clay provide a binding component to help it stick to the tree, but also a mineral component that act again as an upward extension of the soil. The clay is an extension of the clay:humus matrix that cradles the soil fertility. And the sand acts in much the same way as quartz in BD501 and strengthens the overall physiological capacity of the tree. BD508 is antifungal and helps reduce an pathogenic stresses the tree may encounter both at both the end and beginning of each growing season. The neem oil [not part of Steiner’s teachings] also assists in adhesion, but also brings lots of holistic goodness to bear as part of the paste.

The paste then works slowly over the winter to both protect the tree, but also set it up so that when spring comes ‘round again, everything awakens fit and happy and ready to go. More importantly, with the stressful times that our trees and plants are going through, the tree paste, I believe, protects them from crazy winter temperatures, early spring warm ups, long, wet springs (like we just had) and attacks from a variety of enemies. Yet, the paste is just one aspect of biodynamics.

There is much more to biodynamics than just this one small, but important step. And no matter whether your journey begins with tree paste, spring 508 sprays, or diving right into it by reading Steiner’s Ag Course, take that step. Taking that first step is the most critical step of all.
As Goethe, Steiner’s mentor, was once purported to say:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

These are dire times, but there is optimism. Don’t hesitate, don’t drawback. Begin today.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Orchard Tour and Hors d’oeuvres
Saturday, October 8, 2017 ~ 2:00pm-5:00pm
Held at Eve's Cidery 308 Beckhorn Hollow Road, Van Etten, NY
Terroir is a is a French word used to describe the way in which a wine reflects a sense of place. We want to show you the elements that make up the terroir at Eve’s Cidery. Some of these elements include where we grow our apples, how we grow our apples and which varieties we grow. Get your blood flowing and join cider growers Autumn and Ezra and their special guest, pomologist Mike Biltonen for a tour of their Albee Hill orchards. 3:00pm Mike will discuss Growing Apples “Incorrectly “or, how to grow better apples for eating and cider. Modern apple growing has indoctrinated many to ignore the benefits that wildness, nature and biodiversity can provide to growing better apples. But the rising interest in growing apples for cider – and not as cosmetically perfect dessert apples – provides us with great opportunity to re-learn how to grow apples with nature in the driver’s seat. In effect, we need to relearn how to grow apples incorrectly by unlearning how to grow them “correctly.” This approach is better for people, the environment, the apples, and the cider – what’s not to embrace? FREE, but you must RSVP and get a ticket. Space is limited.
For more information, full schedule or to register, go to:Eve's Cidery

Climate Change and Agriculture
Saturday, October 21, 2017 ~ 10:am-3:00pm
Just Be Cause, 1013 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Facilitated by Mike Biltonen and Jay Smith
Climate change has been affecting our farms for several decades now. The science and data show that there will continue to be dramatic impacts on every farmers’ ability to grow and distribute food. Agriculture is one of our greatest tools for reducing and even potentially reversing the effects of modern industrial society on our global climate, but it also one of the greatest contributors to climate change. Something has to give. Come learn about how we can work together as a community to ensure local stability in local food production and security!
Sliding Scale $25 - $50
For more information or to register go to Groundswell

CANCELLED!! - Assessing Fruit Quality at Harvest
Saturday, October 14, 2017 ~ 11:00am-4:00pm
Held at Windborne Farms, 3796 Windborne Way, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Determining when fruit is ready to pick can be tricky especially if you’re looking for specific quality characteristics, such as for hard cider, storability, or fresh eating quality. Fruit is NOT magically ready when it turns red! In this workshop we’ll discover how to assess fruit quality and learn how much fruit quality can change over just a few days or weeks. Learning how to determine optimal harvest time involves knowing your objectives, taking note of obvious changes such as seed color, skin color, aroma, acidity, tannins, and overall taste, and measuring brix, starch, titratable acidity, tannins, firmness, and more. We’ll go over each metric and how to use affordable instrumentation accurately.
Space is limited, pre-registration is required.
$40 or $35 for those who pre-register by 10/8

Look here for upcoming
Know Your Roots
events and workshops.