Applied Biodynamics — Issue 081 (Summer 2013)

Issue 081 brings together applied biodynamic practice, cultural land stewardship, and institutional continuity, demonstrating how biodynamics is adapted, evaluated, and transmitted through lived agricultural systems and organized practitioner communities.

In “Biodynamics in the Sacred Hoop: Enlivening Native American Soil through Buffalo,” Hunter Francis interviews Devon Strong, founder of Four Eagles Farm in northern California. The article documents Strong’s long-term work integrating biodynamics with Native American ceremonial traditions, particularly through the raising of buffalo and the use of buffalo-derived materials for biodynamic preparations. Strong details the evolution of his farm from small-scale market gardening to a 220-acre dryland operation raising buffalo, sheep, and vegetables.

The interview provides procedural clarity on preparation making with buffalo horns and manure. Strong describes comparative evaluation of preparations made with sheep, goat, cow, and buffalo materials, noting tactile assessment, storage stability, and feedback from preparation quality groups. Buffalo horn manure preparations were evaluated by experienced preparation makers as possessing strong structural integrity and long-term vitality, with laboratory analyses later showing high nutrient-holding capacity and nitrogen content relative to other samples tested.

Strong reports using standard biodynamic application rates for buffalo-based preparations, while noting observational indications of greater potency. Preparation use is described primarily on vegetable crops, with pasture applications limited by equipment constraints. The article emphasizes peer review within preparation makers’ groups, repeated comparative assessment, and acceptance through international conferences as mechanisms for evaluating quality.

The interview also documents educational outreach on Native American reservations, including preparation making at a Waldorf kindergarten on the Pine Ridge Reservation and distribution of preparations to community garden projects. These activities are framed as field trials in cultural and agronomic context, not abstract theory.

In “Oregon Hosts Twelfth Annual FOPM Conference,” Patricia Frazier reports on a multi-day gathering of preparation makers focused on yarrow (BD 502) and valerian (BD 507). The conference combined plant study, preparation making, comparative observation, and discussion of planetary gestures within the compost pile. Presentations addressed preparation function, animal characteristics of yarrow, and compost dynamics. The report documents hands-on practicums, group observation, and tours of preparation gardens and storage facilities, highlighting peer-based evaluation as a quality control mechanism.

In “Meet the JPI Staff,” Abigail Porter introduces the individuals responsible for preparation making, packaging, administration, and technical production at JPI. The article details training lineages, particularly in Pfeiffer-based products, microbiological handling, and preparation storage, establishing institutional continuity and process integrity following JPI’s relocation to Floyd, Virginia.

Across all sections, Issue 081 emphasizes biodynamics as a practice verified through repeated making, comparative evaluation, peer review, and long-term use, grounded in both cultural context and material discipline.

Articles

• Biodynamics in the Sacred Hoop: Enlivening Native American Soil through Buffalo  (H. Francis Interviews Devon Strong)  
• Oregon Hosts Twelfth Annual FOPM Conference (P. Frazier)  Meet the JPI Staff (A. Porter)  

Key Topics Covered

• Biodynamic farming with buffalo and dryland pasture
• Use of buffalo horns and manure in BD preparations
• Comparative evaluation of preparation materials
• Preparation quality assessment by peer groups
• Application limits and equipment constraints
• Education and preparation making on Native American lands
• Fellowship of Preparation Makers conference on BD 502 and BD 507
• Peer-based quality control and storage practices
• Institutional continuity of preparation making at JPI

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue 081, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Summer 2013.