Biodynamic excursion

After the conference, we joined an excursion warmly hosted by the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International to visit places strongly related to the biodynamic movement. These places include:

FiBL ( Research Institute of organic agriculture)
Sativa ( GMO free, organic, biodynamic seeds supplier)
Rengoldshausen ( 800 year-old farm, 90 years biodynamic, Demeter certified)
Heggelbach ( Demeter farm)
WALA Gardens & HQ ( Anthroposophical medicine and cosmetics company headquarters)
Sonnenhof ( Demeter farm)
Reyerhof ( Demeter farm )
Uhlandshohe Waldorfschool ( first waldorf school in the world)
Esselsmuhle ( Biodynamic bakery & restaurant)

FiBL

Our first stop was the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) , an independent, non-profit organic farming information and research centre. which promotes research and projects that help farmers improve their productivity with consideration of environmental and health impacts.

It is the most important organic farming research center in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and Europe.

During our visit we were showed research on soil fertility and why cows are meant to be grass fed, and toured around their stables.

They have also shared with us online resources for organic farming which is the following:

orgprints.org

Presentation on research showing that soil fertility in organic farming is significantly increased, but only after 8-10 years.

In the FiBL center

Cows from the stable

Intestines of animals, showing what they should really eat.

Sativa

We have visited Sativa, an independent, GMO free, organic and biodynamic seeds supplier. There we have visited the largest biodynamic farm in Switzerland, plant breeding, seed production and quality control.

Magazine describing the history of Rengoldshausen

Rengoldshausen

A 800 year-old farm, Demeter for 90 years, located in Germany.

As we arrived late on a winter night, we stepped into a fairy-tale like cottage introduced as our accommodation of the night. Never would we have imagined a farm to be so fairy-tale like.

Rengoldshausen is 200 hectares with 50 cows, they have their own farmshop which provides organic and biodynamic produces and even serves as a biodynamic training center.

Heggelbach

200 hectares biodynamic farm run by 6 families, with cheese making and large vegetable production for supermarkets and co-ops

Reyerhof

This is a special farm located in the middle of a residential area. Why ? Because they are the only ones who did not sell off the farm to developers for housing projects. They have a biodynamic grocery store, a nice dining space upstairs and a cow stable just right next to it, and of course, farming land right behind it.