Letter from the President

By Teresa O'Shaughnessy, JPI Biodynamics.

Michaelmas Season 2026 and the Dawning of the Spiritual New Year

Hello Friends,

The summer of 2026 has been a whirlwind of activities here at JPI … Some have been quiet, measured activities, others have required our courage to step onto a path that continues to unfold. If you have tea or lemonade ready, let’s sit together and chat for a while. I have been holding you in my thoughts and in my heart during this time of transition. And yet, “transition” is not the word that truly describes these events as much as the word expansion. Let me share some of our news with you today.

What we have learned is to return to our mission whenever we have questions or doubts about our next step on our path. The Spirit of JPI leads us through our mission statement.

Our mission statement says: The Josephine Porter Institute (JPI) strives to heal the earth by making high-quality biodynamic preparations available to everyone and by promoting the practice of biodynamic agriculture. We fulfill this mission by serving as an international and national provider of high-quality biodynamic preparations and by advancing research, education, and outreach in the making and use of biodynamic preparations. JPI works to build relationships based on a shared purpose and to create an inclusive, diverse community among individuals and organizations that serve the biodynamic movement in the United States, the Americas, and around the world.

Here at JPI, we began by calling upon the wisdom, experience, and grounding of our Advisory Council. They have been instrumental in guiding us along the way. We have had in-depth conversations with biodynamic practitioners, farmers, gardeners, growers, and people interested in or just learning about biodynamics. The question we always ask, “How can we help?” has become our guiding light. We’ve also received a lot of support from our guides and angels on the other side of the veil. All of these beings and their combined spiritual work have been amazing and enlightening.

Returning to our mission, JPI was created to make high-quality preparations available to everyone. So we are actively choosing the biodynamic preparations. We are ready for our next step. We have migrated our packing and shipping operation to Perennial Roots Farm in Accomac, VA, where most of our preparations are already being crafted. Natalie McGill and Stewart Lundy have made space for JPI to continue our work making high-quality preparations on their fully integrated farm, where they have practiced biodynamics since 2012.

It is an honor to reintroduce members of our JPI team:

Natalie McGill and Stewart Lundy are biodynamic farmers, educators, writers, and consultants who have co-owned and operated Perennial Roots Farm in Accomac, Virginia, since 2010. Across 50 acres of pasture and woodland, they manage a diverse market garden, CSA program, cattle, and heritage livestock while emphasizing soil health, biodiversity, regenerative practices, and on-farm fertility.

A first-generation, self-taught farmer, Natalie has accumulated 16 years of farming experience and shares it through workshops, preparation-making, webinars, study groups, apprenticeships, and agricultural consulting tailored to different climates and scales. She grows all biodynamic herbs on her farm or wild-harvests them from the land, then turns them into preparations applied to her own market garden and pasture and shipped worldwide. She is also an avid photographer, writer, cook, reader, and seeker whose commitment to sustainable living includes growing food and medicine, reducing waste, and preserving land for future generations.

Stewart is Executive Director of the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, where he oversees the production of biodynamic preparations for growers in North America and beyond. An active researcher, writer, speaker, and consultant, he explores biodynamic agriculture, agricultural innovation, and esoteric studies. His publications include Hugh Courtney’s 2024 book, Biodynamics for Beginners, published by SteinerBooks.

Both hold degrees in government and political theory. Together, their work unites the practical application of biodynamics with education, ecological stewardship, and a commitment to helping farms and communities build greater agricultural self-sufficiency.

Austin Perle-Ojala is a biodynamic farmer who has lived and worked at Perennial Roots Farm in Accomac, Virginia, since 2019. That same year, he attended biodynamic pioneer Hugh Courtney’s final fall practicum in Woolwine, Virginia. He later graduated from the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program, deepening his practical understanding of biodynamic agriculture through sustained, hands-on training.

At Perennial Roots Farm, Austin participates in the varied work of a diversified farm, including livestock care, fieldwork, infrastructure projects, and making, handling, and applying biodynamic preparations. He also supports preparation workshops and fulfills preparation orders through the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics. His work reflects a practical commitment to soil health, careful observation, and the everyday craft of regenerative farming.

Building up a vibrant biodynamic farm is a huge undertaking. It takes significant capital and years of consistent spiritual and physical work. Making high-quality preparations full-time to share with others requires significant capital and years of spiritual and physical work. Our JPI farm has struggled for years trying to do BOTH at the same time.

To be clear, JPI has no plans to sell the land in Floyd, VA, at this time. There is a future there that we cannot see yet, but we trust it will come. For now, we are letting it heal and breathe! The Spirit of the Land has more than earned its respite. The elementals are ready and willing to help us. Our guardian angels are ready, as are our supporters on the other side of the veil. We blessed and consecrated the land before we left last week.

Taking a moment of quiet amid a flurry of activity, we collected soil from our chromatography workshop, blended our preparations into it, and carried the mixture to a quiet spot by the oak tree behind the JPI office. There we read verses and buried this combination, bidding the elemental world a proper respite and the land a rest.

Rest now;

Heal anything that needs healing.

Listen to birdsong and play with the wind.

Nurture anything that needs nurturing.

Celebrate the rain and the snow.

Tend anything that needs tending.

Walk softly along the river and leave no footprints.

Love anything that needs loving.

Embrace the animals, flowers, and spirits of good.

Welcome any being that needs welcoming.

This sanctuary is meant to be shared.

While uttering these words, we looked to the horizon. The neighbor’s cows stepped onto JPI’s land, which is lush with grass and delicate flowers right now. It was hopeful and quiet, as if waiting for what might come next. With cows and pollinators keeping the space company, it will never be alone. You could feel a deep sigh that reverberated all the way to Accomac and back to the heart of the world.

With deep gratitude,

Teresa O’Shaughnessy
President
Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics