Farming Along The Z-Axis
22 Sep 2022
|
|
All too often we get stuck in understandably dealing with the immediacy of issues in farming. Broken equipment, weather events, pests, and more all occupy our day to day thoughts and tasks to the point that we forget to take time and look at the bigger picture, especially from a temporal context. If we approach farming only along two axes (X and Y) - height and width - but forget or ignore the Z axis (depth or time) then we place everything we do into a snapshot in time. Yes, this is critical, as we can't ignore the immediacy of damaging conditions - though there may not be much we can do about them, but ignoring them isn't an option. But we should also be thinking about what we can do in time to reduce the potential these problems arise again - in severity or at all. This requires us to think in temporal terms. Solutions sometimes require longer-term focus, shifts in consciousness, diligence and patience that we don't always have when we are dealing with what's in front of us on a daily basis.
This idea of Shifting Consciousness and Farming Along the Z-Axis in how we approach orcharding is something I will touch on over the next few months. It is often said in biodynamics that spring and summer are when we do the "outer work" and winter is when we do out "inner work." In other words, we make hay while the sun shines during the summer, and we think deeply about our work and contemplate continual improvement and betterment of the world around us during the winter. I've said for years that I start thinking about next year at the mid-point of the current growing season. Not as a distraction, but to contemplate what's happening this year in comparison to what happened last year, and ponder what next year might be like and how do we adapt. This approach opens up possibilities that might be forgotten in time or where the seriousness of issues dissipate. It allows for ideas to ferment and come into full light and fruition by the time the next year rolls around. For me there is no time like now to put what we've learned this year and fermenting ideas for applicable actions for next year.
Mike Biltonen
|
|
News from Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics
JPI is almost 40 years old as an organization. We are retiring some old equipment and upgrading to expand production to match market demands.
As part of our growing process, we will be auctioning off our Kemutec Centrifugal Sifter (valued at $6000) which has been part of our Pfeiffer Field and Garden Spray process.
JPI is hosting an online fundraiser to expand our educational outreach program, upgrade our equipment for increased biodynamic preparation making, as well as making preparations to introduce our own herd of cattle to the JPI farm.
We are also expanding our research program to include new plant trials and furthering the development of the body of empirical research around biodynamics. This will include preparation quality assessment using picture-forming methods like chromatography and sensitive crystallization. Our commitment is to bringing the world the best quality preparations we can.
If you are interested in funding specific research projects, please let us know.
We will be running an online fundraiser auction from October 1st through October 10th midnight.
There have been some generous contributions so far, including:
- biodynamic wines,
- book bundles,
- on-site consulting services from experienced biodynamic farmers,
- biodynamic honey,
- webinars
- workshops
- and more!
Our auction will be hosted on BiddingOwl. Note: the link is available here but will not appear active until October 1st. Thank you for understanding!
Anything you purchase or donate goes directly to bringing these special preparations not just to North America but to the entire world. We cannot do this without you. Thank you so much for your support.
Be sure to save the date for our fundraiser auction and spread the word!
If there is anything you would like to donate or contribute, please let us know.
|
|
|
|
