Urban agriculture catalyst is a subject that is drawing much attention globally. How do we work with it to get more from less whilst aiding food security, reducing CO2 from food production, developing a stronger food culture, building more resilient cities, aiding ecology and biodiversity and creating new economic pathways? All big picture questions where […]
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Biodynamic vs organic methods of food growing, is there a difference or are they pretty much different names for the same thing? The organic method is ecologically oriented. It tries to replace an overly complex, laboratory-oriented approach with a common sense approach which the ordinary gardener and farmer can relate to. In many cases, the […]
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Urban agriculture economic aspects are an evolving area of thought and practice where much innovation is occurring globally. I had the good fortune in February 2019 to attend an international biodynamic agriculture conference at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. The conference subject was the economic aspects of agriculture. It focused on agricultural examples from around the […]
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Establishing a small urban farm is a challenging and exciting task. We recently moved house to a bush land property only 35 minutes from Brisbane CBD. The 20 hec land is bordered by a creek and we live on a portion of the property. Our goal was to create a small urban farm that: Fitted […]
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Farm individuality is an important principle in biodynamic food growing. Individuality can also be applied in urban food growing spaces of any scale, but there are some changes needed in how to work with individuality, some new perspectives. I had the pleasure of running a workshop recently at the global centre for biodynamics in Dornach […]
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Making good compost is a key goal of any serious organic gardener. I have found that biodynamic methods used to enhance the quality of the organic composting process greatly increase the potential for making good compost. Here are my insights. Firstly, it would be easy to think that making good compost for your vegetable garden […]
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Four fold nature is a very helpful conceptual framework for looking at the make up of your organic garden or urban farm and how to optimise its quality. Being conscious of the integrated system forming the four main components of a successful organic garden or farm (its four fold nature) creates an essential platform for […]
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Using planetary impacts is a method of widening the system you work with to create greater productivity in your food growing activities. The planetary system is all around us and it costs nothing to access, all you need is the knowledge of how to use it and an openness to raise your consciousness around your […]
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Urban farming on a more commercial scale is evolving in Australia and although its early days, Millen Farm in Samford represents a great example of a peri-urban model that is packed with innovation in how it developed and operates. At the recent 2017 national composting week opening run by CORE and held at Millen Farm, […]
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Growing marigolds and nasturtiums in your vegetable garden helps control insects, adds beauty and is a tasty and healthy addition to your dinner plate. I have used them in my food gardens for many years. Both plants are prolific seeders once their long flowering period finishes and I have noticed to my delight that as […]
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