I HAVE just had an interesting conversation with one of your regular correspondents about biodynamic agriculture and anthroposophy.

I am writing in response to her concern that despite growing interest in the practical work there seems relatively little public awareness of the core principles underlying it.

Articles about biodynamic farming have appeared regularly in the press and films have been shown on television and yet the biodynamic movement is still relatively unknown.

Should any of your readers be interested in finding out more there are some excellent websites available.

A lot of background information can be found on demeter.net, which is the website of Demeter International.

This is the body that oversees Demeter certification across the world (Demeter certifies the produce and products from biodynamic farms).

Biodynamic agriculture is an organic approach that seeks to work in harmony with nature, enhance the vitality of plants and animals and produce high quality nutritious food.

It does this by using sound and time-tested, organic techniques, taking account of the subtle interrelationships of nature and the wider cosmos and by building a strong, resilient and ecologically self-reliant farm entity.

The so-called biodynamic preparations used to enhance health and vitality, are applied in very small quantities in a similar way to homeopathic remedies.

They may appear strange to newcomers and yet their efficacy has been demonstrated time and time again through trials carried out on farms and in well established organic research centres across the world.

The recipes for making the preparations were given to farmers by Rudolf Steiner in 1924 as part of the lecture course that inspired the growing biodynamic movement.

Detailed information about the preparations and how they are made and used is available for all to read in various books obtainable from the Biodynamic Association (biodynamic.org.uk).

Those wishing to learn more about biodynamic farming and gardening can also become a member of the Association and/or enrol on courses offered from time to time at Hawkwood College and elsewhere.

Bernard Jarman – Orion Enterprises

Biodynamic Consultancy, Editing & Translation Services

Stroud