This classic text by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer contains the practical experience of the pioneers of biodynamic agriculture, who experimented on the basis of the indications given to them by Rudolf Steiner, who passed on this valuable practical experience to all of us. Only by conscientiously carrying out all instructions from Steiner could full success be reached. Originally published in 1938, this is still an important resource for the biodynamic farmer or gardener. "These lines are written in the hope that the introduction and development of biodynamic methods may be furthered my methodical instruction. It is only a beginning, for in spite of fifteen years of practical work, we are but standing on the borders of a new world of knowledge and of life." (Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, Dornach, 1938)

'These lines are written in the hope that the introduction and development of biodynamic methods may be furthered by methodical instruction. It is only a beginning, for in spite of fifteen years of practical work, we are but standing on the borders of a new world of knowledge and of life.' Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, 1938.This classic work by a pioneer of biodynamics lays out the details of the biodynamic method. Following Rudolf Steiner's indications, early biodynamic farmers and gardeners experimented with the methods, and this book passes on their valuable practical experience. It includes sections on compost in wet climates, the treatment of fruit trees, and crop rotation.

And if she stayed still Without making a sound She could see gnomes Helping plants through the ground. This radiant picture book was written for Julianna Margulies--the film actor and former star of the hit television series "ER"--when she was six years old. Her father, Paul Margulies, captures the pure openness of a child's imagination. These reflections on what a small girl sees around her remind us all, young and old, that life's riches can come to us through our loving attention to the simple and "ordinary." The vibrant images by Famke Zonneveld (the illustrator of Living Alphabet) bring this book to life. (Ages 4 - 7 years)

Jill Winger, creator of the award-winning blog The Prairie Homestead, introduces her debut The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, including 100+ delicious, wholesome recipes made with fresh ingredients to bring the flavors and spirit of homestead cooking to any kitchen table. With a foreword by bestselling author Joel Salatin The Pioneer Woman Cooks meets 100 Days of Real Food, on the Wyoming prairie. While Jill produces much of her own food on her Wyoming ranch, you don’t have to grow all—or even any—of your own food to cook and eat like a homesteader. Jill teaches people how to make delicious traditional American comfort food recipes with whole ingredients and shows that you don’t have to use obscure items to enjoy this lifestyle. And as a busy mother of three, Jill knows how to make recipes easy and delicious for all ages. "Jill takes you on an insightful and delicious journey of becoming a homesteader. This book is packed with so much easy to follow, practical, hands-on information about steps you can take towards integrating homesteading into your life. It is packed full of exciting and mouth-watering recipes and heartwarming stories of her unique adventure into homesteading. These recipes are ones I know I will be using regularly in my kitchen." - Eve Kilcher These 109 recipes include her family’s favorites, with maple-glazed pork chops, butternut Alfredo pasta, and browned butter skillet corn. Jill also shares 17 bonus recipes for homemade sauces, salt rubs, sour cream, and the like—staples that many people are surprised to learn you can make yourself. Beyond these recipes, The Prairie Homestead Cookbook shares the tools and tips Jill has learned from life on the homestead, like how to churn your own butter, feed a family on a budget, and experience all the fulfilling satisfaction of a DIY lifestyle.

It has long been observed, by farmers, gardeners and botanists alike, that from time to time certain plants seem to affect certain other plants growing their near them – both favourably and unfavourably. By taking account of these relationships, farmers and gardeners can improve the quality of food and flowers, reduce losses from pests and disease, drought and frost, and enhance both satisfaction and pleasure in their work and financial profit. Years of experimentation by Richard Gregg and subsequently Helen Philbrick and others resulted in this unique reference book. It offers a detailed and comprehensive A-Z of plants and how they affect each other and their surrounding environment, including the soil, insects and birds.

Permaculture is a movement that is coming into its own, and the concept of creating plant guilds in permaculture is at the forefront of every farmer's and gardener's practice. One of the essential practices of permaculture is to develop perennial agricultural systems that thrive over several decades without expensive and harmful inputs: perennial plant guilds, food forests, agroforestry, and mixed animal and woody species polycultures. The massive degradation of conventional agriculture and the environmental havoc it creates has never been as all pervasive in terms of scale, so it has become a global necessity to further the understanding of a comprehensive design and planning system such as permaculture that works with nature, not against it. The guild concept often used is one of a "functional relationship" between plants-beneficial groupings of plants that share functions in order to bring health and stability to a plant regime and create an abundant yield for our utilization. In other words, it is the integration of species that creates a balanced, healthy, and thriving ecosystem. But it goes beyond integration. A guild is a metaphor for all walks of life, most importantly a group of people working together to craft works of balance, beauty, and utility. This book is the first, and most comprehensive, guide about plant guilds ever written, and covers in detail both what guilds are and how to design and construct them, complete with extensive color photography and design illustrations. Included is information on: - What we can observe about natural plant guilds in the wild and the importance of observation; - Detailed research on the structure of plant guilds, and a portrait of an oak tree (a guild unto itself); - Animal interactions with plant guilds; - Steps to guild design, construction, and dynamics: from assessment to design to implementation; - Fifteen detailed plant guilds, five each from the three authors based on their unique perspectives; - Guild project management: budgets, implementation, management, and maintenance. Readers of any scale will benefit from this book, from permaculture designers and professional growers, to backyard growers new to the concept of permaculture. Books on permaculture cover this topic, but never in enough depth to be replicable in a serious way. Finally, it's here!

Modern awareness of nutrition issues can be understood correctly if considered the destination of a historic journey, the critical aspects and outcomes of which have led to the current situation. In fact, over time there have been changes to scientific knowledge, food availability and processing and preservation methods. Commercial exchange has increased considerably between the countries of the world – so much so that it has defined a completely different scenario to the past and has influenced food availability, distribution models, preservation methods and the composition of individual foodstuffs. The products consumed on a daily basis throughout the world in industrialised countries have undergone review by the food industry, incorporating great aspects of innovation that make them highly different in their structure, content and even the packaging that protects and contains them. After covering the subject of innovation in the food sector, this Brief of work will discuss the various first- and second-generation product categories distributed in Europe starting from the period of post-war reconstruction, in order to illustrate the reasons that led to their birth and development on the market. Specific examples are shown for each proposed class, including highlights of their properties, technologies, innovation potential, related regulations, and distinctive features.

With this remarkable series of lectures presented in Koberwitz, Silesia, June 7-16, 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded biodynamic agriculture. They contain profound insights into farming, the plant and animal world, the nature of organic chemistry, and the influences of heavenly bodies. This translation from the original German by Catherine E. Creeger and Malcolm Gardner is a fundamental text for many intermediate and advanced students of biodynamic agriculture -- one to which the biodynamic practitioner will refer again and again over the years. In addition to the eight lectures, this version includes four discussions by Steiner, color plates of Steiner's chalk drawings, the address to the members of the Agricultural Experimental Circle, Steiner's report to members of the Anthroposophical Society after the lectures, Steiner's handwritten notes to the Agriculture Course, further agricultural indications given by Steiner, and "New Directions in Agriculture," by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (a colleague of Steiner's who brought biodynamic agriculture to North America).

This book brings together the best advice for cultivating fruit trees, berries and shrubs using biodynamic methods, with the aim of harvesting healthy fruit free of pesticides. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer discusses the principles of tree biology before describing the measures that can be taken to develop a pest-free orchard without the use of chemicals, including soil preparation, the selection of trees for planting, issues of transplanting and pruning, the application of pastes, green cover crops, and pest control. Michael Maltas ran fruit tree experiments on his biodynamic farm in Missouri for four years. The results are recorded in a highly practical annual spraying schedule for orchards, which is reproduced in this book. A month-by-month calendar gives information on specific methods and controls, based on Maltas's extensive experience. This is an invaluable book with practical advice on all aspects of planning and maintaining a healthy orchard. This is a thoroughly revised and updated combined edition ofBiodynamic Treatment of Fruit Trees, Berries and Shrubs by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer andOrchard Pest Management and Spray Schedule by Michael Maltas. Published in association with the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of North America.