BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION

Programs: The association maintains a robust education program that includes:-organizing local, regional and continent-wide conference and events, including the biennial north american biodynamic conference, the premier educational and networking event for biodynamics in north america the north american biodynamic apprenticeship program (nabdap), which helps aspiring farmers develop the skills and knowledge they need to build successful organic and biodynamic farms the biodynamic scholarship fund, which serves farmers, aspiring farmers and others who want to learn about and develop their skills in biodynamics, but lack the financial resources to participate in the educational opportunities they wish to pursue support for learning communities within the biodynamic movement. Some of the accomplishments of the association in this fiscal year included convening the 2014 north american biodynamic conference on the theme of farming for health november 13-16, 2104 in louisville, ky, with 88 presenters, 64 workshops, four on-farm field days, and more than 600 attendees from across the continent growth in the north american biodynamic apprenticeship program to 47 apprentices and 49 mentor farms organizing workshops on farming to the demeter biodynamic farm standard and biodynamic beekeeping a biodynamic discussion group, a biodynamic mixer co-hosted by frey vineyards and the biodynamic association, and office hours with bda staff and members throughout the 35th annual ecofarm conference in pacific grove, ca, yielding total participation of approximately 230 individuals holding a total of 10 workshops targeted to advanced biodynamic practitioners and/or educators at the 2014 north american biodynamic conference over $25,000 in scholarships awarded to more than 133 individuals to attend biodynamic workshops and conferences continued growth of learning communities, evidenced by three interactive conference calls held by the biodynamic educators collaborative, and the successful gatherings of 18 other interest groups and learning communities at the 2014 conference.

the association is the primary hub for communications and outreach in the biodynamic movement and in this role exhibits at organic and sustainable agriculture conferences publishes books, a bi-annual journal, a monthly e-newsletter, and a print newsletter and maintains a robust website that receives over 10,000 visitors a month. Some of the accomplishments of the association in this fiscal year included:-publication of two issues of the biodynamics journal on the themes of creating health and the art of composting and 12 issues of our e-newsletter new design of our print newsletter for members, appearing twice a year membership challenge grant campaign implemented for march and april 2015, along with new membership branding and language implementation increased staff presence and outreach through participation at the ohio and new mexico organic conferences, southern sustainable agriculture working group conference, several regional biodynamic communities, ecofarm conference, slow money gathering, and the biodynamic conference at rudolf steiner college, and through conversations with individuals, businesses and organizations interested in biodynamics.

the bda began a planning process in 2011 to give fresh impetus to biodynamic research in north america. This process has involved conducting an online survey, convening several meetings of leading researchers and farmers, inviting the submission of innovative ideas for biodynamic research and creating a new research section on the bda website. In 2013-14 this work culminated in the development of a far-reaching new concept paper called healthy farms, healthy soils, healthy food: establishing a food quality research network in north america. Based on successful models in europe, the project would create a network of labs and researchers working closely with local groups of farmers across north america to enhance our understanding of what constitutes quality soil and healthy food and to better understand the intimate relationship between food and soil quality. In 2014-2015 the bda began to implement the quality testing network envisioned in the concept paper by carrying out a pilot study in collaboration with a number of partners. Goals of the pilot year included identifying suitable methods and laboratories for testing soil and crop health and quality, and beginning to correlate results from different methods. Two varieties of carrots and three varieties of corn were planted on cooperating farms with differing management systems in northeastern and midwestern united states. Samples of the corn, carrots and soils were then assessed for quality using a range of methods.