Between the Leaves

Between the Leaves, the monthly newsletter from Biodynamic Agriculture Australia.

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October 2016

Hello everyone

We’ve been busy in (relatively) dry old Bellingen since our last BTL blast. Alan and John attended a wet and muddy Alternative Living Weekend near Mudgee NSW over the October long weekend – see the report below.

The generosity of the hosts and commitment of everyone involved resulted in two delightfully successful biodynamic workshops near Melbourne a fortnight ago. These two reports will appear in the summer edition of News Leaf journal, which will be sent out to all of our members. You can subscribe to News Leaf or become a member by clicking onto the links or ringing our friendly staff at the office on 02 6655 0566.

John and Shane Joyce (biodynamic farmer and past BAA Director) will conduct three South Australian field days in early November. Two vineyards/wineries - Paxton at McLaren Vale and Smallfry Wines in the Barossa, Kym Green’s amazing apple and cherry orchard at Lenswood, and a quirky self-sufficiency farmlet near Smallfry will feature their biodynamic practices and give insights into their various forms of vine, fruit tree and garden management. See the fliers for these field days below.

This is a rare opportunity to meet experienced biodynamic practitioners and network with like-minded enthusiasts. There are still places available, so register now by calling the office on 02 6655 0566 or via e-mail bdoffice@biodynamics.net.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

2016 Horn Retrieval

We are half way through pulling up the 2016 horn manure. Help us to retrieve horn manure (BD 500) which has been created in 13,000 cow horns, buried in top quality biodynamic soil over the winter months. We are located at 25 Nobles Lane, Bellingen NSW 2454.

Learn more about biodynamics from experienced practitioners, while you help us retrieve the gift to the earth which is horn manure.

Volunteers should ring to register on 6655 0566. We would be grateful for your help for even a couple of hours and will supply morning and afternoon tea. You will also be gifted with enough horn manure for your home garden and instructions on how to use it.

BAA has taken a site at the National Biological Farming Conference and Expo to be held in Cairns from Fri 28 Oct to Sun 30 Oct. Cheryl Kemp is going to be in attendance and will represent us for the duration, giving out advice and biodynamic materials, as well as networking in her inimitable style. Keynote speakers will be US regenerative farmer Gabe Brown and Bob Schaffer, Hawaii-based tropical/subtropical organic consultant.

Of note is that on Fri 28 Oct, FNQ biodynamic maestro Adam Collins will be conducting one of three pre-conference tours, taking participants on a magnificent Atherton Tablelands and tropical coast ‘Biodynamic-Organic Bonanza’. Click here for more information.

SPRAY DATES

Preferred Dates for Biodynamic Sprays in November and December

Sequential spray dates for spring 2016
Excellent dates this spring are

11^th – 13^th November
8^th – 10^th December

Moon opposition Saturn dates for spraying out biodynamic preparations (Eastern Australian Standard Time)

16^th November at 12.33pm
14^th December at 5.03am

Moon Descending periods – an alternative soil spraying time, when the Moon’s influences are working below the earth in the soil:

November 4^th – 17th
December 1^st – 15^th , 30^th-31^st

Moon Ascending Periods – an alternative atmospheric spraying time when the Moon’s influence are working above the soil.

November 17^th – 30^th
December 16^th – 29^th

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

Planting Guide for the Southern Hemisphere

Weather Forecasting
Sky Watching
Biodynamic Planting Guide
Detailed guide

Special Price until 31 October 2016
$14.00 including postage

To order click here or ring the office
on 02 6655 0566

The 2017 Astro will be arriving soon, keep an eye on our website.

SNIPPETS

Basalt Crusher Dust

BAA has recently purchased a load of basalt crusher dust from a quarry west of Dorrigo, NSW. It is 2mm minus, meaning its particles range in size from 2mm down to fine dust. It was considered necessary to obtain this as a companion product to the Palagonite basalt dust we already stock, due to its higher paramagnetic value (1120 as opposed to 1000 cgs) and its larger and jagged particles. Palagonite’s advantage over this new product is that it is a hydrated form of basalt due to having flowed into a freshwater lake at Mt Sylvia before solidifying. Thus its minerals are more plant-available than the Dorrigo crusher dust.

Click here to read the full article.

The Dorrigo Basalt Crusher Dust is available from BAA at the same price as Palagonite. Please specify Dorrigo Basalt Dust when ordering.

Biodynamic Strategies for Extremes of Wet Weather

This winter and early spring has seen extremely wet conditions in southern Australia, western NSW and south west WA. What can we do to restore balance, knowing that the use of biodynamic preparations affords resilience for the land which will bounce back from climatic extremes?

Click here for more information.

Report on Alternative Living Weekend

Click here for an illuminating report on the Scythe Australia Alternative Living Festival held near Mudgee on 30 Sep - 2 Oct 2016, written by John Hodgkinson.

Farming Together Initiative

The $14.9m Farming Together initiative is a national, two-year campaign for primary producers and processors to collaborate and claim marketplace power.

This Federal Government initiative aims to build financial and societal sustainability across Australia’s primary producers.

Visit our easy-to-use website (www.farmingtogether.com.au) and complete the simple self-assessment – no extensive forms to fill in.

All farmers who register receive a free one-on-one consultation to discuss their opportunities and appetite to create a successful collaborative group. This could be either as a co-operative, as a collective bargaining entity or as a less-formal collaborative group. Existing groupings may also apply.

The most-promising groups will be offered assistance for product research and development. Areas that are covered include advice on marketing, capital-raising, packaging, logistics and exporting as well as non-ongoing consultancy appointments.

FOR SALE

Biodynamic farm for sale in the NT

Certified organic / biodynamic farm growing winter vegetables, herbs, papaya and mango. Farm comes with all equipment including tractors, spreaders, sprayers brewers mulch sprayers power harrows, discs etc. The farm is a total of 20 acres, approximately half of property is divided into 8 separate blocks which are irrigated automatically. Everything is set up for someone to step in and continue production.

There is a packing shed, cool room, horse area with stables, paddocks etc. Next to the house there is a second kitchen and accommodation for woofers or workers.

$735,000.00 negotiable.

For more information, please contact David Boehme on 0418 872 676.

PO Box 54
25 Nobles Lane
BELLINGEN NSW 2454
Ph: 02 6655 0566
Fax: 02 6655 0565
www.biodynamics.net.au
ABN: 42 588 901 426

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