Applied Biodynamics — Issue No. 98 (Summer 2020)

Issue No. 98 is a commemorative issue centered on the life, work, and continuing influence of Hugh J. Courtney, founder of the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics. The issue is editorially unified around remembrance, lineage, and transmission rather than seasonal practice, with one explicitly technical exception: a reprinted article on Preparation 501 authored by Courtney himself.

The issue opens with “In Memoriam: Hugh J. Courtney, July 8, 1932 – June 15, 2020” by C. Wesson, which documents Courtney’s death, institutional role, and decades-long leadership in biodynamic education. The article situates Courtney as a transmitter of European biodynamic practice into North American agricultural contexts, emphasizing his role in teaching preparation-making, compost work, and disciplined observation rather than abstract theory.

Two companion pieces, “Honoring Hugh Courtney” by A. Hamilton and “Honoring Hugh Courtney” by A. Porter, provide complementary perspectives. Hamilton’s contribution emphasizes Courtney’s mentorship, insistence on procedural accuracy, and resistance to dilution of biodynamic methods. Porter’s reflection highlights Courtney’s pedagogical style, accessibility, and commitment to experiential learning, particularly his encouragement of direct engagement with preparations, soils, and farm organisms.

The technical core of the issue is “501”, a reprinted article by Hugh Courtney. This piece outlines the purpose, material requirements, timing, and application method for Preparation 501 (horn silica). The article specifies silica sourcing, horn packing, seasonal burial and retrieval timing, dilution rates, stirring method, spray timing, and observed plant responses. Courtney frames 501 as a precision tool for light metabolism, plant form, and ripening rather than a generalized growth stimulant, and emphasizes restraint and observational feedback in its use.

Two legacy-focused articles extend the memorial into institutional continuity. “Hugh Courtney’s Legacy: The Elders” documents senior practitioners shaped by Courtney’s teaching, describing how preparation discipline, workshop rigor, and seasonal attentiveness were transmitted across decades. “Hugh Courtney’s Legacy: From Students to Educators” traces the evolution of workshop participants into instructors between 2013 and 2020, with specific reference to Earth Legacy Agriculture workshops. The emphasis remains on lineage, repetition of method, and fidelity to practice rather than innovation for its own sake.

The issue also includes “JPI’s Newest Board Member: Mike Biltonen” by C. Wesson, documenting governance continuity and institutional stewardship following Courtney’s death. The article outlines Biltonen’s background, research orientation, and long-standing involvement with JPI.

The issue concludes with a Notice of Online Biodynamic Conference: Seeding the Spirit of Stewardship, announcing a virtual gathering focused on education, continuity, and responsible transmission of biodynamic practice.

Articles

  • In Memoriam: Hugh J. Courtney, July 8, 1932 - June 15, 2020  (C. Wesson) 
  • Honoring Hugh Courtney (A. Hamilton) 
  • Honoring Hugh Courtney (A. Porter) 
  • 501 (reprint from H. Courtney) 
  • Hugh Courtney’s Legacy: The Elders 
  • Hugh Courtney’s Legacy: From Students to Educators 2013 – 2020 Earth Legacy Agriculture Workshops J
  • PI’s Newest Board Member: Mike Biltonen (C. Wesson) Notice of Online Biodynamic Conference: Seeding the Spirit   of Stewardship 

Key Topics Covered

  • Memorial documentation of Hugh Courtney’s life and work
  • Transmission of biodynamic practice through mentorship
  • Preparation 501 materials timing and application protocol
  • Observational use of horn silica in crop development
  • Educational lineage from students to instructors
  • Earth Legacy Agriculture workshop continuity
  • Institutional governance transition at JPI
  • Online conference focused on biodynamic stewardship

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue No. 98, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Summer 2020.

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What is the specific purpose of Preparation 501 and how is it applied?

Preparation 501 is used to influence plant light metabolism and form. Finely ground silica is packed into cow horns, buried seasonally, then stirred and sprayed in very small quantities under specific light and crop conditions.
What cautions are emphasized when using Preparation 501?

The preparation is applied sparingly, timed carefully, and evaluated through observation. Overuse or routine application without observation is explicitly discouraged.
How did Hugh Courtney emphasize repeatability in biodynamic education?

Teaching focused on exact preparation methods, seasonal timing, and hands-on repetition, with consistent comparison of results across years rather than theoretical interpretation.
How was Hugh Courtney’s work carried forward after his death?

Former students became educators through structured workshops, institutional leadership continued through JPI governance, and conferences and publications preserved methodological continuity.

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