Dear students,
Thanks for your emails and blog posts - it's great to hear from you and how you are doing. I went to see Jefferson at Perry Court Farm a few weeks ago and he seemed to be doing fine as well.
I received the first farmer review sheet back from Alix, full of praise - which reminded me of the fact that you should all try to get your first review session with your farmer, and get the sheet filled in and sent back to me.
The other thing I wanted to remind you of is the crop observation assessment - I hope you'll all have chosen your crops by now that you want to follow through the season, and ideally made some first observations on paper.
This week I am teaching the Foundation Year about biodynamics - a combination of lectures and practical sessions in the garden. We did some weeding, planting, sowing and putting support netting up - the garden starts to look really great. Friday some peonies, snapdragons and sweet peas will go to the flower shop in the village, which has recently changed hands and is now owned by a lady who has a larger flower shop in Lewes. She is very keen on locally grown, organic flowers - so that is great. I reckon most flowers will go to her this year.
The coming weekend is the big meeting with the Trustees where the proposals of the Vision and Strategy Group will be approved (hopefully). That means start of the Rachel Carson Centre with integrated college garden, teaching kitchen, BD training etc. Keep your fingers crossed!
Keep your heads up - and keep posting to the blog!
Arjen
Wednesday 28 May 2008
Job in Tuscany
Farmer or "Farm Couple" for Genuine Carbon-Neutral, sustainable, Biodynamic resort in Tuscany.
We are looking for a Farmer or Farming Couple who are versed in biodynamic and sustainable agriculture method to join us on this unique project in Italy. We are renovating 8,000 square metres of buildings and rehabilitating 1,200 acres of field and forest. The project aims to be genuinely carbon neutral and sustainable when it opens in 2011. We have engaged a consultant in Biodynamic method. He is currently salvaging our vines and olives. He will work with our new Farmer[s] to completely redevelop the property to provide the resort's food, biomass and biofuel requirements by 2011. We have 3 hectares of wine, 3,000 olives and circa 100 acres of farmland - the remainder is in forest. We expect to develop food production ranging from wild boar to goat's cheese and from pasta to honey.
The Farmer[s] will become part of the management team developing the whole project. We envision a package that will include accommodation, salary and profit sharing. We are very flexible on this and will tailor the package to the successful candidate[s]. English is essential, knowledge of Italian would be excellent but we will provide appropriate courses as necessary. We are looking for a dedicated individual or couple who will relish the chance to apply sustainable and sympathetic agricultural method within a project which hopes to become a pattern for future living in Europe.
To discuss the position, please e-mail contact details to mike.payne2@gmail.com
Sunday 25 May 2008
Hay and much more...
Yesterday we got or second lot of hay in! Was kind of raining but gladly stoped after some minutes...
We were working from 2 to half past 9 in the evenings... nearly everybody was helping.
I'm glad we got it all in yeaterday so we have off today ;-)
Part of the afternoon I was aible to go on the field on my own for ridging the potatoes...
First time that nobody was walking behind me to make the settings... fas fun and I also got to hitch the plough for driving home... Even if I don't have I needed driverlisence (had to pace the road) I was driving this enormous thing home (hope some pictures will follow, its really amaising and everyother day we change implements on the plough...)
Can you all belive that we are allready more than nine weks on our farms? nearly have the time... it went soooo fast (too fast!)
Last week I got to drill a hole field of carrots!
And we spent a lot of time to take docks out of the fields
wish you all a suny sunday and a good time!
We were working from 2 to half past 9 in the evenings... nearly everybody was helping.
I'm glad we got it all in yeaterday so we have off today ;-)
Part of the afternoon I was aible to go on the field on my own for ridging the potatoes...
First time that nobody was walking behind me to make the settings... fas fun and I also got to hitch the plough for driving home... Even if I don't have I needed driverlisence (had to pace the road) I was driving this enormous thing home (hope some pictures will follow, its really amaising and everyother day we change implements on the plough...)
Can you all belive that we are allready more than nine weks on our farms? nearly have the time... it went soooo fast (too fast!)
Last week I got to drill a hole field of carrots!
And we spent a lot of time to take docks out of the fields
wish you all a suny sunday and a good time!
Wednesday 21 May 2008
harder than expected
my fellow intern quit last week. she was going to possibly take over the farm in the future, and because of that, way too many responsibilities and pressures were put upon her and she'd had it. im feeling a little lonely and scared. how am i to do all of the things it took all of my energy plus hers to do, every day?
its only so bad because we got along so famously, worked so well together, had the same strong work ethic, spent every waking moment together and i could really see myself farming with her long term in the future. maby i will some day.
other than that, and multiple other massive issues like communication, definitions of community, gender, cultural and age gaps (that feel somehow like un-crossable chasms), lack of appreciation and a total disregard for respecting humans....... im alright.
really, i love this island and the csa project im working on half the time is so gratifying and challenging. i feel like im really doing it!(market gardening) making real decisions, im really a part of something i can call my own there. its my happy place, and the people im working with on the csa keep me sane. i can talk to them and they to me, we are a support system for each other.
i will keep you posted. send me love and encouragement. i see the situation as a massive life lesson in bridging gaps and intensive communication skills.
hope your spring has sprung, cold and rainy here today, but last week hot and sunny. still waiting for the weather to really shift, and still waiting for fields to dry out enough to till and plant veggies.
love
erin
its only so bad because we got along so famously, worked so well together, had the same strong work ethic, spent every waking moment together and i could really see myself farming with her long term in the future. maby i will some day.
other than that, and multiple other massive issues like communication, definitions of community, gender, cultural and age gaps (that feel somehow like un-crossable chasms), lack of appreciation and a total disregard for respecting humans....... im alright.
really, i love this island and the csa project im working on half the time is so gratifying and challenging. i feel like im really doing it!(market gardening) making real decisions, im really a part of something i can call my own there. its my happy place, and the people im working with on the csa keep me sane. i can talk to them and they to me, we are a support system for each other.
i will keep you posted. send me love and encouragement. i see the situation as a massive life lesson in bridging gaps and intensive communication skills.
hope your spring has sprung, cold and rainy here today, but last week hot and sunny. still waiting for the weather to really shift, and still waiting for fields to dry out enough to till and plant veggies.
love
erin
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Full Moon
Bitten by pig. Squatting in farrowing pen to repair half eaten drinker. Unaware of disquiet causing very pregnant sow. She decides to let me know. Bites my back, I lunge forward in pain, hitting head firmly on wood. Knee connects too rapidly with concrete. Generally painful experience. Topping, now that's fun, nothing to bite you and a very pretty field when you have finished.
Saturday 17 May 2008
Vision and Strategy
Dear Students,
We have just finished our last retreat of the Vision and Strategy Group before the final meeting with the trustees on 31st May (in two weeks time). There has been a process of first tuning into the needs of the society at large, and the anthroposophical movement more specifically; and after that we have been trying to focus on the most urgent and current issues that we feel Emerson College can link to and try to address. One of the proposals appearing is the Rachel Carson Centre: the green bd-building transformed into a centre where the 2-year biodynamic training will be housed, as well as courses in the area of anthroposophical nutrition and cooking. Outside the Carson building it is proposed to (re)establish a biodynamic garden that supplies the college with fresh seasonal biodynamic food (vegetables, fruit, eggs) and where a fulltime employed gardener guides students from all kind of courses in weekly gardening sessions. It is also thought that that garden could feature in the afternoon work rota for the students on the biodynamic training, and that one or two bd-students could do their second-year placement on the college garden. Robin and myself are going to do a fundraise action in order to get money for a real glasshouse which can be attached to the Carson building in permaculture style - providing heat for the building in winter and fresh veg in winter for the kitchen.
There are several other proposals, but this is the one most obviously related to the biodynamic training and in the next two weeks Robin and myself are going to work out the financial side of this proposal and on the 31st May the trustees will decide if they want to go ahead with this proposal. Please send some positive energy to us and if you have any suggestions or ideas please let us know!
Arjen
We have just finished our last retreat of the Vision and Strategy Group before the final meeting with the trustees on 31st May (in two weeks time). There has been a process of first tuning into the needs of the society at large, and the anthroposophical movement more specifically; and after that we have been trying to focus on the most urgent and current issues that we feel Emerson College can link to and try to address. One of the proposals appearing is the Rachel Carson Centre: the green bd-building transformed into a centre where the 2-year biodynamic training will be housed, as well as courses in the area of anthroposophical nutrition and cooking. Outside the Carson building it is proposed to (re)establish a biodynamic garden that supplies the college with fresh seasonal biodynamic food (vegetables, fruit, eggs) and where a fulltime employed gardener guides students from all kind of courses in weekly gardening sessions. It is also thought that that garden could feature in the afternoon work rota for the students on the biodynamic training, and that one or two bd-students could do their second-year placement on the college garden. Robin and myself are going to do a fundraise action in order to get money for a real glasshouse which can be attached to the Carson building in permaculture style - providing heat for the building in winter and fresh veg in winter for the kitchen.
There are several other proposals, but this is the one most obviously related to the biodynamic training and in the next two weeks Robin and myself are going to work out the financial side of this proposal and on the 31st May the trustees will decide if they want to go ahead with this proposal. Please send some positive energy to us and if you have any suggestions or ideas please let us know!
Arjen
Sunday 11 May 2008
Hot and Horse
As the debate on food prices and energy continious around the globe all of us seem to get to the roots of the brew.
As I am covering my head with old sheats and shirts to prevent excess of the healing sun, I stumble behind the horse that pulls the wooden ridge tool over the field. The mountains around give me the feeling I am going back to the nest of production. The farmer on the other side of the hill shouts with his tractor as I clearly prefer to look at the ass of the working stalion. While I am trying to keep my balance and the ridge steady I wonder if this is something I did before.
The absence of the engine taking over almost all senses feels like old glory. Maybe the BD farmer in the Black Forest was ahead of his time when he declared a farm without tractor.
The other two families only work with the machine and when I talked to the Dutch organiser of this Sitio he doubted if this horse-team would be able to keep going.
The next day the horses are lost between the high grasses and there is no tractor to quickly prepare that field.
If we are going to learn how to work with animals again, we need to become specialists and realists. I am not sure yet how to bring these two together.
I have to say that I love the work and my drive to farm only seems to grow!!!
Wish you all very well!!
I got contact with Jefferson and he does not have acces to the internet but has a very good time in Kent on the farm. He gives you all his regards!
As I am covering my head with old sheats and shirts to prevent excess of the healing sun, I stumble behind the horse that pulls the wooden ridge tool over the field. The mountains around give me the feeling I am going back to the nest of production. The farmer on the other side of the hill shouts with his tractor as I clearly prefer to look at the ass of the working stalion. While I am trying to keep my balance and the ridge steady I wonder if this is something I did before.
The absence of the engine taking over almost all senses feels like old glory. Maybe the BD farmer in the Black Forest was ahead of his time when he declared a farm without tractor.
The other two families only work with the machine and when I talked to the Dutch organiser of this Sitio he doubted if this horse-team would be able to keep going.
The next day the horses are lost between the high grasses and there is no tractor to quickly prepare that field.
If we are going to learn how to work with animals again, we need to become specialists and realists. I am not sure yet how to bring these two together.
I have to say that I love the work and my drive to farm only seems to grow!!!
Wish you all very well!!
I got contact with Jefferson and he does not have acces to the internet but has a very good time in Kent on the farm. He gives you all his regards!
The Future's So Bright
A point to note, our governments do not so much allow private individuals to speculate on food and energy, rather they do not prevent the speculation. A fundamental difference and a liberty to which I for one am much attached. After all, it was the freedom to speculate that predominantly gave rise to the discoveries and inventions that then allowed so much energy and food to be produced and consumed. It becomes a circular argument. Not to say the modern day financial system is without its faults (another time) and speculation causes ripples and can puff bubbles, however, very rarely without an underlying momentum that is firmly embedded in the physical market place. This is particularly true with such deep markets as exist in food and energy. Generally, in my experience, it is expediency, petty politics and incompetence that give rise to such distortionary, devastating circumstances.
I would agree with 'Voland' that it is 'irresponsible laissez-faire and lack of planning' that are the real issues. Disjointed, reactionary government rather than malicious conspiracy. As Tim Lang has often responded when asked what the UK government's stance is; 'food policy?, sadly, we leave it to Tesco'. We have all been speculating and reaping the benefits of 3 decades of soft commodity price deflation (food prices have actually been going down for over 100yrs), the result of many factors. It was inevitable that at some point those deflationary pressures would reverse, particularly given the growth in population and GDP in China and India. What's amazing is that it hasn't happened earlier (oil bottomed in 1998 at $8bbl vs $125 now). Ultimately the brokers speculating are simply an extreme microcosm of the society (race?) in which we all share and, to a greater or lesser extent, are all complicit, that promotes consumption over compassion, more over less but also gives us the freedom to decide where we stand, as individuals, on all these issues.
The sun is out, the seed is drilled and finally the cows are in the field. Friday was a long day, we weighed all the calves, tagged all the cows who were missing a tag (quite a job, tagging a horned Sussex who doesn't want to be in a crush and definitely doesn't want her ear pierced). The grass has come on, we lack clean fields (and fences) so there's a fair amount of daily animal herding but all the barns are empty and mucking out will start next week.
It has been wonderful to watch the farm bloom in the short time I have been here; from the snow blanket of April 6th, to the humid heat just a month later. Lambs, calves, piglets full of joy and boundless energy. A multitude of birds from chickens, geese, phesants (shooting season is closed), guinea fowl (got some cheap day olds), turkeys (soon) to sparrow hawks, herons, cuckoos and cormorants. Deers, badgers, foxes, moles all contribute to the daily cycle and, of course, the bees are now very active. Max got a hive for his birthday and 2 days later he got his first swarm from the bush outside Stein's house. When I am able to stop for a moment, feel comfortable in my exhaustion, to look at the beauty surrounding me and gaze toward the unfurling landscape beyond, I am struck by the magic of it all.
I would agree with 'Voland' that it is 'irresponsible laissez-faire and lack of planning' that are the real issues. Disjointed, reactionary government rather than malicious conspiracy. As Tim Lang has often responded when asked what the UK government's stance is; 'food policy?, sadly, we leave it to Tesco'. We have all been speculating and reaping the benefits of 3 decades of soft commodity price deflation (food prices have actually been going down for over 100yrs), the result of many factors. It was inevitable that at some point those deflationary pressures would reverse, particularly given the growth in population and GDP in China and India. What's amazing is that it hasn't happened earlier (oil bottomed in 1998 at $8bbl vs $125 now). Ultimately the brokers speculating are simply an extreme microcosm of the society (race?) in which we all share and, to a greater or lesser extent, are all complicit, that promotes consumption over compassion, more over less but also gives us the freedom to decide where we stand, as individuals, on all these issues.
The sun is out, the seed is drilled and finally the cows are in the field. Friday was a long day, we weighed all the calves, tagged all the cows who were missing a tag (quite a job, tagging a horned Sussex who doesn't want to be in a crush and definitely doesn't want her ear pierced). The grass has come on, we lack clean fields (and fences) so there's a fair amount of daily animal herding but all the barns are empty and mucking out will start next week.
It has been wonderful to watch the farm bloom in the short time I have been here; from the snow blanket of April 6th, to the humid heat just a month later. Lambs, calves, piglets full of joy and boundless energy. A multitude of birds from chickens, geese, phesants (shooting season is closed), guinea fowl (got some cheap day olds), turkeys (soon) to sparrow hawks, herons, cuckoos and cormorants. Deers, badgers, foxes, moles all contribute to the daily cycle and, of course, the bees are now very active. Max got a hive for his birthday and 2 days later he got his first swarm from the bush outside Stein's house. When I am able to stop for a moment, feel comfortable in my exhaustion, to look at the beauty surrounding me and gaze toward the unfurling landscape beyond, I am struck by the magic of it all.
Saturday 10 May 2008
Speculations
Hello all, no new post here, pourquoi? Explosions of growth and life force here, much planting, now hoeing every day. Very hot, I thought I came to Sweden so that it owouldn't be so. Going to swim in the river now, but just before here's your fix of doom and gloom. Blessings, A.
Food prices, we have discussed, likewise the contibution of biofuels to the increase of, however is there more to it than that? My attention returned to these matters after reading an article about overpopulation on the Guardian's website, and the comments below it.
Guardian article
Global research
Truthout
Here, a blog commentary (from Manuscripts Don't Burn)
Check out the last one for lots of good links.
Irrelevant diversions as the price of food rockets...
The average UK family is facing a £1700-a-year utility and food bill increase over the past 12 months - that on a £20K gross salary. For most of the population, regardless of what the government says, actual experienced inflation is running at 10-15%.
It's inevitable, we are told. Poor harvests. Overpopulation. Global warming. "The era of cheap food is over." "We all have to tighten our belts and pull together - it'll be like the war again. It's the New Austerity."
Bullshit.
The elephant in the room is that we have food riots all around the world and looming shortages / starvation because a bunch of brokers are being allowed by supine governments to create a bubble in commodities (ie FOOD) to try and claw back some of the money they lost in the subprime fiasco (after they'd been "allowed" to flog off the backup foodstores we'd set aside to prevent this sort of thing happening).
It's not global warming, it's not overpopulation. Our governments are allowing private individuals to speculate with the global staple food and energy supply. Irresponsible laissez-faire and lack of planning is the crime, that and the fact that the media are not shouting the truth from the rooftops.
But, hey, this is corporate feudalism - it's cool if people die, as long as the brokers keep making their millions. We can always blame it on global warming and overpopulation! The poor saps will never cotton on till it's too late - then they'll be too hungry to do anything about it.
Buy coffee! Buy rice! Buy wheat! The price is gonna rocket once the people start dropping!
Food prices, we have discussed, likewise the contibution of biofuels to the increase of, however is there more to it than that? My attention returned to these matters after reading an article about overpopulation on the Guardian's website, and the comments below it.
Guardian article
Global research
Truthout
Here, a blog commentary (from Manuscripts Don't Burn)
Check out the last one for lots of good links.
Irrelevant diversions as the price of food rockets...
The average UK family is facing a £1700-a-year utility and food bill increase over the past 12 months - that on a £20K gross salary. For most of the population, regardless of what the government says, actual experienced inflation is running at 10-15%.
It's inevitable, we are told. Poor harvests. Overpopulation. Global warming. "The era of cheap food is over." "We all have to tighten our belts and pull together - it'll be like the war again. It's the New Austerity."
Bullshit.
The elephant in the room is that we have food riots all around the world and looming shortages / starvation because a bunch of brokers are being allowed by supine governments to create a bubble in commodities (ie FOOD) to try and claw back some of the money they lost in the subprime fiasco (after they'd been "allowed" to flog off the backup foodstores we'd set aside to prevent this sort of thing happening).
It's not global warming, it's not overpopulation. Our governments are allowing private individuals to speculate with the global staple food and energy supply. Irresponsible laissez-faire and lack of planning is the crime, that and the fact that the media are not shouting the truth from the rooftops.
But, hey, this is corporate feudalism - it's cool if people die, as long as the brokers keep making their millions. We can always blame it on global warming and overpopulation! The poor saps will never cotton on till it's too late - then they'll be too hungry to do anything about it.
Buy coffee! Buy rice! Buy wheat! The price is gonna rocket once the people start dropping!
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