Editorial Contact
Allan Balliett
(304) 724-6763
csa@claymont.org
"Deep Ecologist" Howard Shapiro to speak at Charles Town, WV Food and
Farming Conference Oct 1-3
For Immediate Release
September 26, 1999
Howard-yana Shapiro, one of the world's most knowledgeable and
inspirational speakers on biodiversity and the value of Nature's gene pool,
will keynote the Fourth Annual Biodynamic Food and Farming Conference at
Claymont Court on Friday, October 1.
Howard-yana Shapiro is the vice president of agriculture and purchasing at
Seeds of Change, the organic seed and organic food company that has been
influential in expanding public awareness of the importance of protecting
open-pollinated seeds for food crops and for publicizing the dangers of
genetically modified foods. Since 1968, he has been involved with
systematic sustainable gardening/farming with native, traditional and
commercial agriculture groups in the United States, Latin America, Asia and
Europe. He is a certified organic farmer, organic processor / seed cleaner
and organic orchard keeper in El Guique, New Mexico, on the banks of the
Rio Grande.
A two time Ford Foundation fellow and Fulbright scholar to Italy, he was
affiliated with graduate school education for 16 years. As a graduate
faculty member he was awarded a research award from Louisiana State
University, where he worked in Kyoto, Japan with Kichizaemon Raku, a 15th
generation Raku Master and began a long appreciation for the art of the
Japanese garden. He has worked continuously during the past 25 years in
Mexico where he is a respected expert on the agriculture of Oaxaca. He is
currently working on sustainable agriculture projects with government and
non government agencies in Latin America, South America, the India
sub-continent and various sites in the former Soviet Union. He is co-author
of the forthcoming book from Bantam Dell Doubleday: Gardening for the
Future of the Earth.
Fourth Time Around for Regional Organic Farming Conference
==========================================================
Biodynamics is America's oldest systematic approach to organic gardening.
It was developed in Europe in the 1920's by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of
Waldorf Schools. As conventional agricultural science becomes more aware
and accepting of the complex interdependencies that exist in Nature, the
once arcane-appearing Biodynamic approach (which considers the positions of
celestial objects not just for planting, but for pruning, cultivation and
harvesting and also uses specialty 'composts' to 'energize' the top soil)
has become attractive to a growing number of people, particularly those
working with herbs and grapes.
The overall theme of this conference ("Regenerative Agriculture and
Traditional Nutrition") is drawn from a recent reading of the Pulitzer
Prize winning "Guns, Germs and Steel," a book which highlights the
co-evolution of the human race with cultivated plants. The conference,
while full of hands-on workshops which will be helpful to any gardener
seriously interested in a non-toxic approach to raising food or
ornamentals, will illuminate why modern choices in cultivars and food
preservation methods have dangerously reduced the stamina of the human race.
The conference is held on the 350-acre organic estate outside of Charles
Town, WV, home of the Washington mansion "Claymont" which still sports the
remnants of the formal garden established by Victorian-era author, Frank
L. Stockton, when he was the 'plantations' owner.
This is a non-profit endeavor, sponsored by the Claymont Farm CSA, the
Claymont Society, and the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of
America.
Who Should Attend
This conference is of interest to anyone who uses plants for food, fuel or
fiber, be they health conscious consumer, gardener, or commercial farmer.
The Following Topics will be Discussed:
======================================
BIODYNAMICS
The Biodynamic Preparations (Hugh Courtney)
What is Biodynamics? (Hugh Lovel)
Horn Clay and the Cosmic Pipe (Hugh Lovel)
ECOLOGY
"Gardening for the Future of the Earth" (Howard Shapiro (Seeds of
Change))
FARM ECONOMICS
Relational Marketing (Joel Salatin)
Community Supported Agriculture (Carole and Steve Moore)
GARDENING/HORTICULTURE
The Four Season Passive Solar Greenhouse (Steve Moore)
Small Scale Small Grain Production (Eugene Canales (Ferrari
Tractor, CIE)
Using Particle Sprays (Gary Puterka/Mike Glenn (USDA Fruit Research))
Post Harvest IPM (Charlie Wilson (USDA Fruit Research))
Orchard Floor IPM (Mark Brown (USDA Fruit Research))
Sonic Bloom: the Ultimate Foliar (Dan Carlson)
HERBALISM
Herbs and Seed Saving (Vinnie McKinney (Elixir Farm Botanicals)
Preparing Herbal Tinctures (Jimmy Foltz (Peace in the Valley Herb Farm)
HUMAN HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Traditional Nutrition (Sally Fallon)
"Diet that Works" (Andrea Huff)
LIVESTOCK
Chicken and Turkey Tractors (Andy Lee ("The Chicken Tractor")
Rotational Grazing Pasture Walks (Joel Salatin)
SOIL HEALTH
Soil Life Foodweb (Jim Barlow)
Pasture Health (Jerry Brunetti)
SUBTLE ENERGIES
"Everyone Can Dowse" (Joey Korn)
"Agnihotra: The Vedic Atmospheric Cleanser" (Richard Powers)
"Radionics For Life" (Lorraine Cahill)
To enhance the experience of quality food, Chef Collaborative 2000's Peter
Berley of NYC's Angelica Kitchen is preparing all meals on-site of Organic
ingredients.
Retreat-style lodging is available on-site for modest expense.
For more information, please contact me, Allan Balliett, at (304) 724-6763
or email csa@claymont.org (Also see http://www.igg.com/bdnow/bdconf)
===========================================================================
BD NOW!, the International Biodynamic Agriculture Discussion Forum,
dedicated to restoring the earth while producing healthy, high-value, food
that promotes human development.
Don't miss the 1999 Mid-Atlantic Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Conference
this October 1-3 at Claymont Court, near the Baltimore-Washington
Megalopolis. For more information: http://www.igg.com/bdnow
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