Barefoot biodynamics : how cows, compost, and community help us understand Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course

With decades of knowledge and proven, common-sense methods from “The Barefoot Farmer,” this practical guide to biodynamic principles and practices will appeal to growers of every scale and experience level. In Barefoot Biodynamics, organic grower Jeff Poppen—“The Barefoot Farmer”—combines tales from his personal history in rural Tennessee with the practical applications of biodynamic principles and the deep aspects of the biodynamic methods that continue to make his farm a success today. Jeff’s friendly, direct, and humorous writing will appeal not only to the biodynamic-curious, but also to farmers and gardeners who have experimented with the biodynamic approach and are looking for a deeper understanding of the practice. Rooted in the teachings of biodynamic pioneer Rudolf Steiner, Jeff’s unique insights and deep reflections on “guiding lines” of biodynamic growing are an invaluable resource.

Those “guiding lines” include:producing a farm’s fertility using cover crops, compost, and other on-farm inputsenjoying the renewing power of farm festivalsaugmenting scientific knowledge with the power of observation and intuitionavoiding chemical fertilizersunderstanding that carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen make up 95 percent of the physical structure of plants and are freely available in the air around usenhancing the availability of critical minerals such as silica and lime through good farming practicesbuilding humus-rich soil teeming with microbial lifeusing homeopathic preparations to heal and enrich the soilIn addition, Jeff walks the reader through the eight lectures on farming given by Steiner in 1924, summarizing important points from each lecture and “translating” them from Steiner’s profound yet sometimes impenetrable vocabulary into plain language.

In Barefoot Biodynamics, Jeff provides new insight into these enigmatic lectures, revealing an often overlooked yet cost-effective farming method rooted in common sense.