What’s stirring: Biodynamic news & events

Council award for community service

This year, Biodynamics New Zealand recognised Ian Henderson with the Council award for commitment and service to biodynamics in Aotearoa New Zealand. The award honoured Ian for his years of commitment to Demeter.

Ian is one of the pioneers of biodynamics in New Zealand agriculture, with over 35 years’ experience as a practicing biodynamic farmer and Demeter licensee at Milmore Downs. Under his guidance, Milmore Downs developed from a conventional sheep monoculture into a diverse livestock and mixed cropping farm. The farm in Scargill, North Canterbury is certified with Demeter and BioGro and produces and sells beef, mutton, whole grains, flour and flakes.

Ian has been a Demeter licensee from the beginning; he became Licensee no. 2 in 1983 and has been a Demeter Inspector for over 30 years. Ian is on the Demeter International Standards Committee and is the convenor of the Assessment Group for Demeter New Zealand. His passion, mentoring and commitment have supported many of our community to thrive.

As well as the local community visiting the farm for field days and farm visits, every year Class 3 from the Rudolf Steiner School in Christchurch spends three days on the farm experiencing farm life and nature. Motivated by a sense of urgency to build stronger networks and to engage with a wider audience, Biodynamics New Zealand has created a new Education Coordinator role, with Su Hoskin filling this position. Su will be creating an educational framework which will support existing members and seek to increase interest in biodynamic agriculture. Su will be working with Biodynamics New Zealand’s knowledge holders, members and partners to design, develop and deliver educational opportunities nationwide. Su’s approach, as she described it in her application for the job, is to deepen and broaden the understanding of Steiner’s Thank you, Ian, for everything you have done and continue to do for our community. We are so pleased to be able to

Ian Henderson with his award.

Education with Biodynamics New Zealand

recognise you with this award. contributions to the modern world through hands-on activities, theory and practice, aimed at reaching both new and existing members of the biodynamic movement. The role will support and help to encourage regional groups and networks. There are already a number of workshops underway, which will seek to foster wholeness and promote biodynamic gardening, farming and produce. As an ambassador for biodynamics, Su will provide member services, guidance, incentives, support and mentorship regionally and nationally. The role is supported by a steering committee, including members of the Council and the Kete Ora Trust.

NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS

A Special General Meeting in October saw four new members elected to the Biodynamics New Zealand council, creating a full council for the first time in some time. The new members are Joanne Turner, Katrina Wolff, Andrew Criglington and Christine Moginie.

Joanne Turner

Joanne and her husband Greg own Woodhouse Farm Organics, a Demetercertified berry farm near Palmerston North. They grow raspberries, boysenberries and black currants, along with orchard fruit and vegetables, which they sell at local markets and to retail outlets in the lower North Island. Joanne spent over 25 years in administration at the executive level before retraining and completing a Diploma in Horticulture from Massey University. She recently completed the Agri Women’s Development Trust Next Level leadership programme, and the To The Core Governance and Leadership course run by Farmlands and Silver Fern Farms. Joanne served as the Biodynamics New Zealand Secretary for the past three years and continues in a very valuable and active role in the Association as Demeter Secretary. Joanne Turner

Katrina Wolff

Katrina Wolff

Katrina is a compost coach and kitchen garden consultant living in Titirangi, West Auckland. Her background is in applied linguistics and adult education. She first encountered biodynamics when her children were in Class 1 and 5 at the Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School.

Back in 2009, being new to Auckland, Katrina did what many Steiner parents do… geek out on anthroposophy. She joined a reading group hosted by Peter Bollen, learned a little eurythmy with Kimberle Haswell, and also worked part-time teaching music for Sistema Aotearoa in South Auckland. She then spent six years working as Operations Coordinator at Hohepa Auckland, where she immersed herself even further in the world of anthroposophy and social role valorisation. Somewhere along the way, a year of Extra Lesson training was squeezed in.

Skip forward to 2018 and Blue Borage was born, with a mission to build biodynamic compost in home gardens and workplaces and demonstrate how our urban food systems can become circular, seasonal, local and free of toxic chemicals – ‘good food for all grown in soil with soul’.

Andrew Criglington

Brought up on a conventional farm, Andrew had a feeling that things could be better, with more productivity and less damage. He loved the biodynamic idea that most fertility was on the farm, was internal, and didn’t need lots of external inputs. “With no use of chemical fertilisers and poisons, the nontoxic approach was perfect for me,” he says.

He went to university still searching for answers, and found some there. He met an old homeopath who introduced him to homeopathy. Its analytical stance was compatible with his thinking. He trained in commerce and worked in the medical school for years, and ultimately did training in homeopathy. He developed a homeopathic company and invented many homeopathic complexes, and still runs that business today. “Homeopathy and biodynamics have lots of similarities, so the move from homeopathy to bio dynamics was an easy one,” Andrew says.

Andrew started studying biodynamics and applied it to a farm in Otago. Visitors remarked on how the farm felt so dynamic, and how growth like this felt more reminiscent of the warmer North Island. Now Andrew lives in the city, but his heart remains with the land.

Christine Moginie

Christine was born in Auckland in 1956, an eldest child. Her parents came from farming and business backgrounds. She had a strong connection to nature, art, storytelling and colour from an early age.

Her interests in spirituality, meditation, philosophy, healing, natural medicine and organic gardening led to kindergarten and art teaching, Steiner adult education, artistic creation, art therapy, biography counselling, biodynamic certificate courses with Lynette West at the Biodynamic Education Centre in 2004, and studies in anthroposophy since 1983.

Christine has organised and led many biodynamic workshops over the years in Australia and New Zealand, collaborating with many leaders in the field. She has also taught workshops in art and Goethean observation. She settled in Mangawhai in 2013. Christine Moginie

Welcoming Josie Rainer

Josie Rainer

In April 2020, Biodynamics New Zealand welcomed a new Secretary and marketing and communications specialist. Josie Rainer was born in Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast, of Te Ati Awa descent. She lives on Waiheke Island with her husband Zain and seven year-old daughter Maisie. Josie has joined us as the Secretary inspired to learn more about gardening and to connect biodynamics with her local and more wide-reaching community. She is also looking forward to working from home and enjoying the island where she has lived for the past five years.

Josie is a communications specialist with a love of connecting people, networks and running engaging events. She studied business and marketing at AUT and has worked in small and large organisations in Auckland and London. Josie is looking forward to seeing a lot more of our country with the staycationing that will be happening In New Zealand over the next year. She’s looking forward to meeting many of you in person at the Biodynamics New Zealand AGM and conference in 2021 and working with many of you over the coming months and year.

New international partnership for BDNZ

Biodynamics New Zealand (BDNZ) and the Biodynamic Association (BDA) in the USA have recently formalised a partnership to promote the work of the biodynamic movement and each of our organisations. The partnership will foster ongoing opportunities for creative collaboration, sharing and promoting events, training opportunities and more. Biodynamics New Zealand members also get the benefits of a Seed Sower level membership in the BDA – view here: https://www.biodynamics.com/membership. This partnership recognises the sharing of many common visions, goals and activities, and both organisations look

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