From the Agriculture Course to Sustainable Farming

Today, biodynamic agriculture is practiced in more than fifty countries worldwide. Its methods offer a way of growing high-quality produce through the sustainable cultivation of soil, plants, and animals. But where did it begin? How did it come to have such an effect?

In this informative book, Ueli Hurter and Rudi Bind trace the history and development of the biodynamic movement through the past century. They examine the roots of the movement in Rudolf Steiner’s 1924 agriculture course in Kobierzyce, Poland, and offer a clear overview of the course's key themes and ideas, including reflections from participants who were there.

The authors describe initiatives that arose from biodynamics, such as community-supported agriculture (CSA) and the creation of seed banks, as well as the influence it has had more broadly on the organic movement, regenerative farming, and the ongoing campaign against the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. They also include contemporary examples that demonstrate how biodynamics is helping individuals and communities around the world to thrive, including in Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and India.

This book will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand the origins of biodynamic agriculture, its growth into a worldwide movement, and its continuing impact on food production and the world.

46 b/w illustrations