Biodynamic Farming Handbook

"""[This book] covers both the theoretical and the operational aspects of biodynamic practice in a thorough and very readable way. A very thorough, accessible, and practical guide to biodynamics for farmers and growers. I wish it had been available when we converted our orchard to Biodynamics 30 years ago!""---- Ian Davies, Biodynamic orchardist, Western Australia ""This book that John has created is a wonderful resource and reference for new and experienced biodynamic practitioners who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the Australian Demeter Biodynamic way of farming and gardening. I have been a practicing biodynamic farmer for more than 35 years, and I am still learning thanks to this book.""---- Mark Peterson, biodynamic dairy farmer, Victoria, Australia ""We have run our 10,000-acre wheat farm since 1986 using these practices, supplying clean food and being economically successful doing it. For anybody wanting to find a way of producing the most nutritious and chemical free food you can in your backyard or on a large-scale farm, this book has it all. John shows you how and why certain practices are done. This is a detailed instruction manual. Food and chemicals should never mix. This book will improve the health of all who follow its practices.""---- Barry Edwards, biodynamic grain producer, Victoria, Australia ""...a clear and accurate guide to Alex Podolinsky's Australian Demeter Biodynamic Method and a very useful resource for farmers."" ---- Bridgette Olsen, Agricoltura Vivente, Italy, medicinal herb producer ""[The author] presents a very clear overview of the method, details the extensive scientific foundation of the method, and provides a comprehensive guide to its practical application. As an agricultural engineer and research scientist, I can confidently state, based on my numerous farm scale trials, academic studies, and shared observations with the farming community that biodynamics, properly applied, produces wholesome nutrient-rich plants grown unrestricted within the natural processes and are not limited as those plants grown using conventional agricultural methodologies. The resulting biologically dynamic soils increases the soil organic matter, humus, and structure to depth resulting in seasonally resilient productive soils, not depleted shallow soils as is the case resulting from high input conventional agricultural practice, where ongoing financial sustainability of such practices is of major concern worldwide."" ---- Dr. John Russell, PhD, former lecturer at La Trobe University"