Applied Biodynamics — Issue No. 104 (Summer 2022)
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Issue No. 104 is a summer issue emphasizing lived biodynamic practice, farm organism development, and the transmission of agricultural wisdom through both instruction and legacy. The issue balances institutional reporting, a detailed farmer interview grounded in applied experience, and a memorial reflection on a major figure in holistic orcharding.
Mike Biltonen’s “News From the Farm—It’s Summer and Life is Happening!” reports on renewed on-farm activity at the Josephine Porter Institute following pandemic disruptions. The article documents infrastructure upgrades, including continued work on preparation storage, water system reconfiguration, and plans to integrate JPI’s own cattle herd. Educational activity is recorded in detail, including an in-person biodynamic orcharding workshop, a grafting session, and an ashing/peppering workshop led by Larry Mabe and Stewart Lundy. The article also outlines planned research initiatives, such as rhizobox experiments to observe root development under different biodynamic treatments, and the reestablishment of chromatography and sensitive crystallization work to qualitatively assess preparation effects. Practical summer guidance is included, such as the use of horn silica in cool, overcast conditions, repeated equisetum applications during wet weather, and the fermentation of weeds or barley water to support leafy growth.
“Perennial Roots Farm: An Interview with Stewart Lundy,” conducted by Mary Maruca, forms the core of the issue. The interview traces the development of Perennial Roots Farm from initial land acquisition through progressive adoption of biodynamic practice. Lundy describes starting with small-scale application of preparations to establish a control comparison, then expanding across the full farm once consistent differences were observed. Specific practices discussed include rotational grazing with multiple livestock species, compost building with biodynamic preparations, reliance on ruminants—especially cows—for manure quality, and the use of chromatography to assess soil vitality. The interview also documents practical constraints, such as feed imports and limits to full self-sufficiency, and provides explicit guidance for beginning farmers: start small, observe carefully, integrate animals early, and treat the farm as a developing organism rather than a fixed system. Throughout, evaluation is grounded in soil structure, horizon development, plant resilience, and long-term continuity rather than short-term yield alone.
The issue concludes with “In Memoriam: Michael Phillips” by Mike Biltonen. The article honors Phillips’s life and work as an orchardist, author, and teacher, particularly his influence through The Apple Grower and the Holistic Orchard Network. The memorial situates Phillips within a lineage of agricultural thinkers who emphasized observation, ecological integration, and responsibility to future growers. While reflective in tone, the article remains anchored in documented contributions, including Phillips’s role in reshaping organic and holistic orchard management in North America.
Articles
- News from the Farm (M. Biltonen)
- Summer Practice for a Biodynamic Garden (S. Lundy)
- Perennial Roots Farm: An Interview with Stewart Lundy (M. Maruca)
- Moving On— Bill McCranie Steps Down from JPI Board (T. O'Shaughnessy)
- In Memoriam: Michael Phillips (M. Biltonen)
Key Topics Covered
- Summer operations and education at JPI
- Ashing and peppering as applied biodynamic practice
- On-farm research using rhizobox experiments
- Chromatography and sensitive crystallization planning
- Stepwise adoption of biodynamic preparations on a working farm
- Livestock integration for fertility and compost quality
- Practical guidance for beginning biodynamic farmers
- Memorial documentation of Michael Phillips’s orchard legacy
Citation
Applied Biodynamics, Issue No. 104, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Summer 2022.
