Posted by Nir Halfon on Thu, Feb 11, 2010 @ 06:48 AM
I am a bit slow this term only 2 posts since the beginning of the term. Well I have an excuse, I have been away...
Last week we went to the biodynamic conference in Dornach.Dornach is the center of the Anthroposophical movement. It is the place where Rodulf Steiner settled and built the Geotheanum. To some extent it is a bit like Jerusalem is for the Jews or Mecca for the Muslims.
The Goetheanum building is quite a striking building. Its architecture is very unique. I don't think it has a single right angle in it. Also it is made out of soild concrete. This is very strange and curious. Why would Steiner chose such a material? Perhaps it is because the first building was made of wood and got burnt down, and he wanted something that will last longer. Or perhaps he had other reasons. Any way it is the second time I am there and this question occupies me everytime I see it.
The theme of the conference was "Christian Impulses in Agriculture". This theme presented quite a challenge to the organisers and the lectures were on looking at historical and philosophical connections between christianity and agriculture. For me more important was another aspect of the conference. It looked more at the interfaith and connections between other religions and Biodynamic agriculture. The speakers on this issue were very inspiring. They presented their work in non-christian cultures, talking about the difficulties and their successes. I was very moved by meeting Ibrahim Abouleish, the founder of Sekem. He showed how he bridges the gap between Islam and Anthroposophy.
There were a lot of very inspiring moments during the conference and a lot of fun with the second year BD. I participated in a workshop on Bees and on social farming both subjects close to my heart. I ran a disscussion group on Judaism and biodynamics or as I called it "How kosher is Biodynamics?" that went very well and people found it interesting as they didn't know a lot about Judaism. The research for the group on the task of the jewish people and reading what Steiner write about the Hebrew people was fascinating. But that is for another time...
One thing that I am taking with me from the conference is a deeper understanding about what happens in the realm of life. When we look at the world through a linear, mathematical, materialistic perspective then 1+1=2. Applying this to soil science, conventional agriculture adds the amount of nutrients that has been taken out of the soil. Soil science and nutrient budgets are part of this way of thinking. Also we experience it in nutrition. When one is applying 1+1 in the realm of life the answer is 3 (2 parents will make and offspring) and even when we look at cell level 1-1=2 (when a cell divides). This realization is very powerful when we deal with Biodynamic because in Biodynamic we work on enliving the earth and bringing the composting and soil into a higher vitality and life forces. It brings closer the work of the preperations as a way to enliven the compost and their ability to sensitize the plants to the forces and nutrients around. the farm as an organism becomes much more alive in this realm. it is not just a colloection of eneterprises. The ineterconnections between them makes the whole larger than the sum of the parts.
I look forward for next year's conference. The theme will be "Burning issues in Agriculture" there is a lot to look at.