How to Create Nourishing Food by Enriching your Soil

Seven biodynamic workshops will be presented by Su Hoskin at Glendhu Station in West Wanaka (home of Wanaka Organics).

The main focus of these workshops is to stimulate and balance the processes in the soil and the plant. Workshops will be held once a month, at a cost of $25 per workshop. First workshop will be on 30th October.

Choose to come to one, two or all, a discount will be given for advanced bookings of three workshops or more.  Tickets will be sold at Wanaka Wastebusters from the Reuse Shop.

Be sure to bring a hat, camera, notebook, gloves, appropriate foot wear (e.g. gumboots), an open mind and a smile.

WORKSHOP SERIES

These workshops are designed to introduce biodynamic practices to any enthusiastic gardeners, wanting to create a low impact, working relationship with the land.

These seven workshops will discover balanced and sustainable methods of gardening, which reuses organic waste and provides an economic way to rejuvenate the life in your soil and improve your garden and/or farm.

This leads to the natural reduction of pests and diseases, and increase the flavour, quality and health giving value of the food you produce.  You will also gain an understanding of the natural rhythms and interrelatedness of all living things, along with the fundamentals of organic methods of living. We hope this hands-on training will provide a positive contribution to healthier soil, plants and lifestyles.

30th October  –  Introduction – Biodynamics is a science of life-forces, a recognition of the basic principles at work in nature, and an approach to agriculture which takes these principles into account to bring about balance and healing.  Discover the benefits of rejuvenating the life in your soil and it’s effects on plant, animal and human health.

27th November  –  Making and Applying 501 –  The balancing effects of silica and minerals in soil and plant strength. Enhancing plant growth and encouraging fruiting.

29th January  –  Raising and Applying 500 –  500 is used to improve soil structure and increase microbial life, and nutrient availability in the soil, and is intended to synchronise the earth with the influences of the moon and planets.  You also get to take home treatment for your garden.

26th February  –  Compost Tea’s, Potting Mix and Pest Control –  Natural recipes for homemade potting mix, compost tea’s and pest control.  Learn how to recycle your garden waste into useful by products.

25th March  –  Making CPP Fermentation Compost –  Create a fast fermentation compost, utilizing local resources. Barrel Compost in a Biodynamic preparation that transforms organic matter into a stable humus, which is an essential building block for healthy soils.  In addition to its many benefits as a soil soak, foliar feed, root toner, cover crop enhancer and fungal repellent. Take home some of this natural, powerful fertilizer.

22nd April  –  Making Preparation 500 –  Making the horn preparation and the importance of the cow in relation to soil health.  Take home a homeopathic portion of the finished preparation.

27th May  –  Making Hot Compost – Large scale hot composting and the benefits of team work (many hands make small work).  This is the ideal recycler of all organic waste, Compost bears new life, improves any soil and provides the highest quality fertility.  Learn the theory behind composting and practical skills for building compost piles for large and small scale operations. This is a full day workshop with a shared lunch, and you get to take home previously finished compost.

What is Biodynamic Agriculture.

Biodynamic gardening is often compared to organic gardening, in the fact that they both don’t use chemicals and put an emphasis on using manures and composts. Biodynamic gardening goes one step further.

It includes fermented herbal and mineral preparations that work in harmony with nature, providing an holistic approach to gardening, starting with the development of soil fertility, that then has an effect on plants, which in turn supports animal and human health.

Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic gardening uses the influences of the moons phases and cycles as a guide on when to perform various garden tasks. This ecological and sustainable approach to agriculture is used by number of cultures around the world, offering sound methods of growing whilst fostering respect for the land.

Su’s Biography

My name is Su Hoskin, I have lived in Wanaka for the past 6 years and I am passionate about our environment, it is a priviledge to be part of such a spectacular, community.

In 2006, having completed  a course at Taruna College in the Hawkes Bay, I gained a certificate in applied organics and Biodynamics in agriculture and horticulte.  From 2005 to 2009 I was part of a team working at Burn Cottage vineyard, which, successfully uses Bio Dynamic principles to produce world class wine.

Based on lectures given in the 1800’s, by philosopher Rudolf Steiner, Biodynamics is a form of organic framing, which addresses soil, plant and animal health.  It combines sustainability, self-sufficiency and permaculture methods of energy efficiency.

I have been using these principles for my own home garden and find these methods simplistic, successful and rewarding.

In my spare time I am involved with a local community radio station  – Wanaka Beats 107.3 fm, where I broadcast a music show every Thursday evening. My show is kindly sponsored by Wanaka Organics.  It is usual for listeners to hear gardening and health tips along with a mixed genre of music flavours.

I have been working for John and Emily at Glendhu Station since October 2011, it’s  wonderful to be part of a small scale sustainable environment, in an exceptionally beautiful part of this country.

I feel honoured to play a role in this exciting opportunity and share John’s passion, enthusiasm and vision for creating a locally owned, locally run co-operative type model that involves and provides our community with the chance to come together, a place for workshops, developing skills teaching, learning, and networking, at a time when planet Earth so desperately requires our attention and a positive contribution to healthier lifestyles.

My objectives are to share my knowledge and experience whilst advocating organic methods of growing produce as being crucial to the health of humans, animals and the environment, whilst addressing the sustainability of the worlds natural resources.