Featured archival image for Applied Biodynamics — Issue 010 (Winter 1994)
Applied Biodynamics archive

Applied Biodynamics — Issue 010 (Winter 1994)

Issue 010 (Winter 1994) covers dairy husbandry and economics, potting-soil recipes, compost handling, winter food, a farm conference, and Evergreen Elm.

Published by The Josephine Porter Institute Download PDF

Applied Biodynamics Issue 010 (Winter 1994) ranges from dairy husbandry and farm economics to potting-soil recipes, compost practice, winter food, a farm-based conference, and a horticultural-therapy garden. Its central feature is Nick Franceschelli’s interview with Michael Wildfeuer of the Camphill Village Farm in Kimberton, Pennsylvania.

The animal within the farm organism

Michael Wildfeuer describes his aim as “letting the cow be a cow.” In practice, that means retaining horns, avoiding tail docking, keeping cattle outside when possible, providing sunlight, air, and a deeply bedded loafing barn, and relying primarily on forage. The herd receives small amounts of freshly rolled oats or barley but no soybeans or protein supplements. Calves are placed with nurse cows so they can suckle rather than being bottle-fed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can farmers measure when repeating the dairy-management approach?

Track forage and purchased-feed costs, milk output and components, veterinary events, fertility, hoof health, calf growth, bedding use, and labor. A season-by-season baseline makes the relationship between management changes and herd performance visible.
What cattle-management practices does Michael Wildfeuer describe?

He describes forage-first feeding with little freshly rolled grain, no soy or protein supplements, retained horns, no tail docking, outdoor access, a deeply bedded loafing barn, and nurse cows that allow calves to suckle.
What do the potting-soil recipes have in common?

They use mature compost prepared with BD 502–507 and combine it with materials such as peat, soil, vermiculite, perlite, sand, castings, or mineral amendments. Record exact proportions, compost age, watering, germination, and transplant growth when comparing recipes.
How can readers build on the reported economic figures and fair results?

Use the reports as hypotheses, then compare matched periods or groups while recording feed, labor, health, yield, quality, entries, and judging criteria. Repeating the comparison across years separates durable management effects from weather and selection differences.

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