Letter From the President
Originally published 2026-06-21. By Teresa O'Shaughnessy, JPI Biodynamics.
Merit Grant Update
Hello, Hello, Hello, dear Friends!
The first part of this year has been a whirlwind of activity here at JPI. Whew! Grab a glass of tea and a chair, maybe even a few snacks, we have a lot to talk about. You and yours have been on my mind and in my heart these past few months, so I am thrilled to share our news with you today.
The Josephine Porter Institute - Applied Biodynamics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
On January 6th, 2026, we launched our JPI Merit Grant. It is our gift to the earth! And it continues to be wildly successful!
Farmers and gardeners from around the globe have applied for the Merit Grant. Their stories of striving to heal their land with biodynamics, the challenges they have faced and overcome, and the sense of amazement and gratitude they feel when they are asked, “How can we help?” have been amazing and inspiring. We are just starting to post some of their stories on our website.
During our recent JPI Spring Workshop, we had two Merit Grant Fellows share their stories with attendees at our community dinner. One on Friday night and one on Saturday night. Everyone was deeply moved by what they heard. Later, we celebrated the JPI Merit Grant around our Saturday campfire. Sparklers, and I mean a lot of sparklers, were the highlight of our evening together!
2025 began with a challenge to the JPI Board of Directors to give away $10,000 in biodynamic preparations. After months of work, the JPI Merit Grant was launched on January 6, 2026. As of June 1st, we have successfully provided $12,136.25 in biodynamic preparations to applicants from around the world. All of them free of charge with free shipping. A few weeks ago, our Merit Grant received a $1,800 donation from our grant writers at Rebel Cultures. And now, thanks to an anonymous $5,000 donation to the Merit Grant, we hope to give away a total of $17,200 or more by the end of 2026. We are in the midst of fulfilling orders from those donations now.
Please know that every donation counts! Whether large or small, it helps someone in need receive biodynamic preparations at no cost. Our gift economy is working! And you can be a part of it all. There is a link on our website to donate to our Merit Grant program and/or fill out an application. There is a 0% processing fee when using the Zeffy donation link. Take a look! It takes all of us to heal the Earth, but together WE can do it!
With deep gratitude,
Teresa O’Shaughnessy
President
The Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics
The Josephine Porter Institute - Applied Biodynamics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
