Applied Biodynamics — Issue No. 103 (Spring 2022)

Issue No. 103 presents a concise spring issue focused on operational continuity, applied biodynamic food systems in an urban context, and memorial reflection on a senior practitioner whose work shaped preparation-based agriculture in North America.

“News From the Farm” documents current activities at the Josephine Porter Institute during the early spring transition. The article records ongoing preparation stewardship, fulfillment responsibilities, and institutional rhythms as the organization moves from winter planning into active distribution and coordination. Emphasis is placed on maintaining preparation quality, aligning labor with seasonal capacity, and ensuring continuity of supply to growers. While not procedural in the sense of a step-by-step manual, the article documents repeatable organizational practices that support applied biodynamics at scale.

Mary Maruca’s “Exploring Spiritual Foods, An Urban CSA” provides the primary applied case study in the issue. The article documents the structure and operation of an urban CSA model integrating biodynamic principles within a dense metropolitan environment. Farm scale, crop diversity, distribution logistics, and customer relationships are described, along with constraints specific to urban agriculture, including land access, soil history, and neighborhood interfaces. Biodynamic preparations are discussed in terms of feasibility, scale adjustment, and selective use rather than idealized whole-farm organism assumptions. Evaluation is grounded in crop vitality, member retention, and operational sustainability across seasons, positioning the CSA as a replicable model rather than an exception.

The issue concludes with “Crossing the Threshold—Jack McAndrew,” a memorial article documenting McAndrew’s role as a farmer, teacher, and preparation maker. The article records his emphasis on compost quality, careful observation, and humility toward process rather than innovation for its own sake. His contributions are situated within lived practice, mentorship, and continuity of method, avoiding generalized claims beyond documented influence.

Articles

• News From the Farm (JPI Staff) 
• Exploring Spiritual Foods, An Urban CSA (M. Maruca)
• Introducing Frank Kurylo, Kimberton Farmer
• Crossing the Threshold—Jack McAndrew

Key Topics Covered

• Seasonal operational rhythms at JPI
• Preparation stewardship and distribution continuity
• Urban CSA structure and biodynamic adaptation
• Scaling biodynamic practice to limited acreage
• Evaluation of CSA success through observation and continuity
• Memorial documentation of biodynamic educators

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue No. 103, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Spring 2022.