Dear Paul, Allan gave you lots of great info, but he left out the Oregon BD Group!! They have a website www.oregonbd.org and have local contacts for you. Also, the best book on BD - written by Dave Robison all about starting out in BD - see Learn about BD- then go to class menu and follow through each chapter. Great part on composting, and lots of local knowledge too. You are right about Bd fitting in with natural health and healing, many of us came into BD for this reason - how can you heal people with out the best and most nutritious food?? Then of course we get into healing the earth and we are really on our way. Best wishes, Cheryl Kemp Education and Workshop Coordinator BDFGAAustralia Phone /Fax : 02 6657 5322 Home: 02 6657 5306 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.biodynamics.net.au
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Fieber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2001 4:16 AM Subject: New to list > Hi my name is Paul Fieber and I currently live in Merced, Calif. I am a Physician Assistant and I work as an alternative health practitioner using holistic practices. I use mostly homeopathics and herbs in my practice. I have recently purchased a 52 acre farm in the Roseburg, Oregon area. I will be moving there in the spring with my family. This is pure virgin soil that has never been used for any agriculture purposes. It is a open gentle sloping south facing slope that has only had cattle and horses on it. > > I have only just recently learned of BD farming methods. I have been getting all my informatin at this time from the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association on the internet. I intend to use my land for planting a organic garden for fruits and vegetalbles and medicnal herbs as well as a small vineyard. > I would love to hear from others that have started such a project begining with natural soil that has had not other use. I would espeically like to hear from anyone who has put in a vineyard using BD methods. > > I have a lot of questions as I am not sure where to start at this point. First, should I have the soil tested to see if it will need more nutrients? How do I prepare a compost pile? How far in advance should I begin to make prepartions? I also need help with planting information and proper use of water. I have heard of vineyards using a catapillar to come in and rip the soil 3 ft. deep before planting. I hope there is a better method than this as I really do not want to disturb the soil anymore than possible. What books or other reference material would be helpful at this point for a beginner? I would also like to speak with anyone on the phone that would be willing to answer more questions and if possible visit some areas in Calif or Oregon that are using BD methods. > > I hope to apply the same holistic view to my land as I do in my everday life and in my profession. I have a wonderful opportunity to start such a project and hope to learn as much as possbile from others. I would appreciate any help anyone is willing to provide. Thanks Paul. >
