Hugh Williams, one of the best orchardists in the East and a biodynamic farmer for over forty five years, brings his perspective on harnessing the local ecology to cultivate the farm individuality. Also covered: the science and art of pruning fruit trees, including a few hours of pruning the Pfeiffer Center’s orchard under Hugh’s expert guidance.
The ideal biodynamic farm is a self-contained individuality to which cows contribute milk, meat, and soil fertility. Megan Durney shares about the essential nature of the animal, and Kim Vaughan covers the basics of biodynamic dairy herd management, including rotational grazing and pasture management. The day includes a visit to our herd, cow barn, and dairy, the only one in Rockland County.
Mac Mead introduces biodynamics in the context of the spiritual-scientific understanding of earth evolution. In the garden, we do hands-on work with the horn manure preparation, transplanting, raised beds, and planting cover crops.
This workshop with Mac Mead is for anyone who wants to start a vegetable garden, incorporating basic skills for new gardeners.
Through our conversations, presentations, artistic activities, and shared meals set with cosmic and earthly nutrition in mind, we hope to deepen our understanding of a kind of vital nutrition that can support the health of the earth, our unique individual destinies in the world, and our spiritual capacities.