Biodynamic methods for wine grapes, olive and fig growing on Rosnay Farm, New South Wales

Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia

Guest: Sam Statham from Rosnay Organic farm near Canowindra, NSW

Introduction to this episode:

My guest on this episode of the series is Sam Statham who grows vines, olive and fig trees on his farm, Rosnay located near to the town of Canowindra in the central west of NSW. This is also the home of Sam’s family his wife Simone and their three children Molly, Georgie and Floyd. Sam himself grew up with his two brothers on a family farm in NSW which he describes as a bush paradise of rough, hilly country, mostly non arable and often drought declared.

During a life changing trip around New Zealand in the 1990s, Sam visited biodynamic farms there and took that biodynamic experience back into the family farm. Over the last 20 years Sam and his own family have continued to develop their farm using organic and biodynamic practices as well as turning it into a community title subdivision, with multiple growers working together under an organic covenant.

A written account of Sam's biodynamic growing experiences is contained in a companion text profile booklet of all the guests interviewed for this podcast series. Also entitled ‘Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia' details of this written publication are available from the Biodynamics Agriculture Australia Ltd. website.

INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS - with approximate time elapsed in mins.

• Guest foreshadow comment - 0.00
• Generic podcast series introduction. – 0.30
• This episode introduction – 2.03
• Guest self-introduction – 3.53
• How would you describe biodynamics in 2023 – 5.58
• How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional agriculture – 8.17
• How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? – 12.01
• Can you tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have there – 15.00 and on you – 20.45
• How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 25.00
• What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? – 29.45
• biodynamic methods to deal with starling, snail and cockatoo impacts
• What does the future hold for your farm? - 43.34
• The community title benefits of River Roads Organics farms – 45.20

• Guest take home message and parting advice on biodynamic adoption – 49.10
• Thanks to guest, acknowledgements and episode close. – 49.29
• End of episode – 54.03

GUEST AND OTHER CONTACT DETAILS:

Guest: Sam Statham

Rosnay Organic and Rivers Roads Organic Farms: Email:[e-mail] Tel: [phone] Web: https://rosnay.com.au/

Podcast production:

Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc.(Australia)

Tel: [phone] Email WEB Facebook

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.

25 Nobles Lane, BELLINGEN, NSW 2454,Australia

Tel: [phone] Email WEB Facebook

Production details:

Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 25th October date 2023.

Interview questions developed by: Anna Kula-Kaczmarski (HOPE) Incidental Music: James Nicholson

BFGA podcast series - brief listener survey (2 – 5 minute) completion

The Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners podcast series was produced for Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. Our short listener survey is available now on Survey Monkey. It consists of simple questions which should take less than five minutes to complete.

The survey has been created to encourage our audience to give more feedback than is usually generated via podcast app rating scores and comments. We value any ideas, insights or comments listeners might have which could help us develop possible future podcast offerings. All feedback received will be treated as anonymous data and will only be used for the strict purpose of helping us better design possible future podcast media.

The survey is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HNFFBQ

IDEAS MENTIONED AND RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION

GUEST’S FARM

Rosnay Organic – also has details about and link to information on Rivers Roads Organic Farms

BOOKS/DOCUMENTS:

Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge (2020 edition) Google Books listing and preview

Charles Massey: Call of the Reed Warbler: A new Agriculture a New Earth (2020 edition) Google Books review.

John Soper: Bio-Dynamic Gardening Paperback (2002 Edition) Google Book listing

Rudolf Steiner

The Agriculture Course Lectures (1924) – originally delivered in June 1924 and available in English translation on the Steiner Archives Website.

Recent research paper (J. Paull, University of Tasmania, 2020) offering a brief overview of the historical significance of the Steiner lectures, with a timeline of their various language translation dates.

BIODYNAMIC METHODS:

Dowsing – as a means of confirming a connection with another species. For an introduction to concepts and practices see the Dowsing Society of Victoria Inc. and Dowsers Society of New South Wales Inc.

Peppering for pest control in biodynamic growing – webinar handout (2020 from My Food Garden.

PEOPLE:

Cheryl Kemp former expert and education officer in biodynamic and organic farming. A short YouTube video shows Cheryl talking about ‘biodynamic silica prep 501 application for ‘atmospheric enhancing of natural vitality’ (2022).

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING BIODYNAMIC GROWING IN AUSTRALIA

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. is one of the peak bodies supporting biodynamic practice in this country and it financed this podcast series. The organisation website offers a wide range of products for sale to ‘home gardeners and farmers including soil activators, kits for home gardens and compost making, specialised pastes and liquid blends. These products are made in Australia ensuring the highest quality and shipped nationwide wide.’ The website also contains links to information on training workshops, educational text and video resources on biodynamics and a free eNewsletter.

Their Biodynamics Handbook comes free with membership of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. Or can be purchased separately at modest cost.

Other organisations in this space include Biodynamic Agricultural Association of Australia and Australian Demeter Biodynamics

OTHER PODCAST SERIES - containing material relevant to biodynamics and regenerative agriculture.

• The Regenarration podcast with Anthony James (produced in Australia)
• The Regenerative Journey with Charlie Arnott (produced in Australia )
• The Regenerative Agriculture podcast with John Kempf (produced in USA)