Biodynamics Turning 100

Originally published 2024-01-05. By Stewart Kahn Lundy.

Looking back on 2023 and toward the next century

This article is too long to fit in an email, so please click to see the full piece!

2023 was a year of unprecedented growth for the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics (JPI).

• We hired our new preparation maker and land steward Ben Nommay.

  

• We introduced our own herd of cattle as permanent residents at the JPI farm.

  

• We acquired our own hay-cutting equipment and now bale our own hay from clean neighboring fields treated with biodynamic preparations.

• We had a private concert with bluegrass musician Colin Cutler

  

• We’ve doubled biodynamic preparation production.

• We expanded picture-forming method analysis (chromatography) for improved quality control and preparation assessment

• We revisited and enhanced our proprietary Pfeiffer™ Field and Garden Spray based on Pfeiffer’s detailed instructions after reviewing hundreds of pages of confidential notes by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer.

  

• We received the donation of a custom stained glass window of a pelican from Stewart’s independent study group.

  

• We ran new rhizobox trials comparing root mass variations under different treatments, in the style of Jochen Bochemühl.

  

• We expanded biodynamic herb plantings at the JPI farm.

• We planted out wildlife habitat perennials and restored wild areas.

• We hosted both our annual spring and autumn workshops.

  

• We’ve raised $31,879 in 2023, thanks to your generous donations.

• JPI sponsored the 2023 BDA Conference in Colorado and served as the official bookstore.

• We hosted a booth at the Virginia Biological Farming Conference (VABF) where Stewart presented talks on biodynamics to likeminded biological farmers.

• We received the gift of architectural designs for JPI’s upcoming infrastructure projects

• We participated in the Chesapeake Biodynamic Network’s 2023 regional conference

  

• We launched our Substack account and are now promulgating biodynamic ideas around the world, migrating Applied Biodynamics online.

• SteinerBooks is releasing a new book in 2024 from JPI, compiled from the best of Applied Biodynamics with a new introduction by Stewart Lundy.

Believe it or not, there’s more to come!

For those of you who donated to JPI this year, thank you so much. As a 501(c)(3), the Josephine Porter Institute is dedicated to renewing the earth and educating individuals in practical biodynamics. Your support helps our efforts grow exponentially. We really can’t do this without you.

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