Online course

Nourish to Flourish:
Introduction to Biodynamics

Online course with BDAC (U.K.)

 16 October–11 November 2017

 

The Biodynamic Agricultural College (BDAC) offers this course several times a year. We have timed the NZ workshops to take place before and after the online study so that you’ll have both a practical and a theoretical experience.

Instructions

  1. Log onto http://www.bdacollege.org.uk/introduction-course/
  2. You will be charged £50 (50 British pounds). This is approximately NZD$90. You’ll need to pay this by credit or debit card.
  3. Registration is simple and straightforward and the site is very well laid out. Please spend a little time looking at the layout so you become familiar with navigating through the material. The NZ tutors have all studied this course, so will be able to help with any questions you will have.

If you have any difficulties with registration, please email the NZ course coordinator Andy Black on andybiodynamic@gmail.com 

Note that you must register for Nourish to Flourish first.

Next steps

Immediately following our ‘ Breaking Ground’ workshop (14–15 October), the online course will go ‘live’ on Monday 16 October.

This distance-learning course is designed for anyone interested in biodynamic agriculture. Offered as a 20-hour mix of live seminars, video recording and guided reading over four weeks. No prior learning is required. All that is needed is 5 hours per week and a good internet connection. Each week’s information becomes available only at the close of the previous week.
—From the BDAC website

Our NZ course coordinator will also participate online to assist and contribute where required.

When we reconvene for our ‘ Emergence’ weekend (18–19 November) we’ll have the opportunity to discuss what we’ve experienced online.

 

Summary of the BDAC online course content

 Week 1: Biodynamic agriculture in context

  • How is biodynamic agriculture situated in the world now?
  • Where are the biodynamic farms and what do they produce?
  • Where did biodynamic agriculture come from, what does it mean and how is it placed in the history and wider context of agriculture?
  • How do you know something is biodynamic?

Week 2: Biodynamic world view

  • How can our understanding of nature inform our practice in agriculture?
  • Does it matter how we think about nature, culture, food and vitality?
  • What are the principles of biodynamic agriculture?
  • What is the understanding of nature that informs biodynamic agriculture?
  • What is a farm organism?

Week 3: Biodynamic practice

The seminars in this week are not taught by a single individual but are composed of presentations and conversations with farmers. The aim is to give you a flavour of how biodynamic agriculture works on the ground, on different continents and in a variety of situations. It includes:

  • What are the biodynamic preparations?
  • What is the sowing calendar and how does it work?
  • How do farmers work with biodynamic principles in different situations around the world?

Week 4: Getting involved

  • How can I move from interest to engagement?
  • What can I do at home?
  • What resources are available?
  • How can I learn more?

We hope you learn a lot from this course and we look forward to meeting you at our first workshop on 15-16 October! Remember, if you have any questions, contact Andy (NZ course coordinator) at andybiodynamic@gmail.com