Applied Biodynamics — Issue 011 (Spring 1995)
Issue 011 (Spring 1995) covers direct seeding at two garden scales, JPI’s institutional transition, compost-temperature observations, spring foods, and preparation work.
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Applied Biodynamics Issue 011 (Spring 1995) centers on two practitioner accounts of direct seeding, JPI’s institutional transition, Hugh Courtney’s argument for adding compost preparations early, spring food writing, and reflections on preparation work.
Direct seeding at two market-garden scales
Charlie Townsend and Rick Walker answer the same five interview questions: what direct seeding means, whether they use biodynamic seed, seed soaks, compost or preparations, and a planting calendar. The format makes their methods easy to compare, but these are farmer interviews rather than replicated trials.
Townsend describes about 7½ acres in Texas managed with a tractor, fall disking, ridge-tillage beds, cover crops, and direct planting behind a sweep that exposes fresh soil. Without a loader he does not make or spread compost. He instead reports winter applications of BD 500 horn manure and Barrel Compound, monthly Barrel Compound when field access permits, and spring BD 501 and BD 508. He says Texas A&M soil tests looked better than his first 1987 sample, but no test values or comparison field are printed.
Walker describes an intensive operation of slightly under one acre with fifteen beds. Ten beds are about 4 by 195 feet and five are 4 by 100 feet; lack of cold storage limits what he can harvest for Saturday market. He loosens soil about 12 inches deep without inversion, estimates four hours to fork one long bed, and applies roughly twelve wheelbarrow loads—or thirty five-gallon buckets—of compost to a 750-square-foot bed. He reports light composting two or three times per year, shallow tillage only when soil is dry, and seeding within a few days of spraying.
Walker modifies Earthway seed plates and uses perforated can lids to control sowing density. He reports greater than 95% germination from saved seed and describes seed soaks, dusting wet carrot seed with high-calcium limestone to make visible pellets, and using planting calendars when market timing permits. He also reports using BD 500, Barrel Compound, the BD 502–507 compost preparations, BD 501, and BD 508 horsetail. The newsletter records these practices and impressions but does not independently test them.
JPI’s transition and proposed permanent facility
Candace Coffin’s board report and Hugh Courtney’s “Reflections on the Past and Prospects for the Future at JPI” document staffing and infrastructure decisions. Nicholas Franceschelli was scheduled to leave the staff on March 31, 1995, and William Christopher Stearn to become assistant director on April 1. Courtney traces preparation-making from Josephine Porter’s work through JPI’s incorporation and direct assumption of the preparation program in 1992. He argues that a permanent building is needed for production, education, and research and proposes community “barn-raising” work parties and fundraising.
