Course aims and objectives
The foundation course aims to provide a range of learning experiences to stimulate students’ curiosity for, and understanding of, core biodynamic gardening and farming concepts, principles and practices.
This course is designed for new comers to biodynamics, people who may want a refresher/update, or people wanting to integrate biodynamics into other farming/gardening practices.
Delivery methods
This course utilises a blended learning methodology. The bulk of the specific topic content is delivered online, with clusters of content topics processed in more breadth and depth alongside specific practice exercises via in-person workshops.
Although some content areas can be stand-alone topics, generally the coursework is designed to be delivered sequentially, with subsequent topics building developmentally upon previous topics.
Online study groups and moderated discussion boards run parallel to the content and workshop delivery. These initially cover the core course readings – The Bio-Dynamics Tasmania Foundation Education Course Workbook - provide context for the more practice oriented Bio-Dynamics Tasmania Resource Handbook, and extend to recommended books and other readings.
Schedule
The course consists of 16 core topics, processed over 4 in-person seasonally timed workshops. That is, there is one weekend workshop (14 hours) covering 4 key topics, with seasonally attuned hands-on practices delivered per season.
Online Components
The online components consist of: set reading materials, recorded power-point presentations, video recorded interviews with wisdom holders on key topics, YouTube links for set topics, video recorded practice demonstrations and site visits, moderated discussion boards, and webinars.
The 16 Broad Content Topic Areas Headings
1. Context of Biodynamic agriculture
2. Locating biodynamics alongside organic farming, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, syntropic agriculture
3. Terrestrial and cosmic influences
4. Broader distribution of compost preparations (BD 502-507) and herbal ferments.
5. Enlivenment enhancing practices
6. The function of the animal sheaths in BD preparations
7. The significance of water
8. Liquid manures/teas/ferments and healing pastes
9. BD preparations 502 - 507
10. Cosmic influences and the Astro Calendar
11. Zodiacal rhythms and lunar positioning
12. The role of human beings in biodynamics
13. Review of key principles
14. Personal projects presentations – integrating and deepening BD practices
15. Animal, insect and weed peppers
16. Growing edges of BD
In Person Components
The in-person workshops involve seasonally attuned practice sessions (e.g., pruning and tree pasting, peppering, composting, using the astro-calendar, etc.) alongside:
· A recap and review of the content of a cluster of 4 key topic areas
· Group discussions and learning exercises
· Site specific, developmentally and ecosystem attuned, planning exercises
· Additional content delivery
Each training cohort will involve a maximum of 15 participants.
Cost
BDTas members – Full course is $800
Non members - $950 (includes the BDTas Resource Handbook and Astro-Calendar)
There will be 2 partial scholarship positions available for each training cohort, where eligible course applicants demonstrate financial hardship. The reduced course cost for the successful applicants is $500.
More information
Further details, including how to enrol, please register your interest by emailing the BDTas coordinator Trevor Crowe - coordinator@biodynamicstas.com
