Developing biodynamic orchards in South Australia

Guest: Kym Green, biodynamic fruit grower at Ellimatta Orchards (South Australia).

Introduction to this episode:

My guest on this episode of the series, Kym Green, is a sixth generation fruit grower from Lenswood, near Adelaide in South Australia. Kym and his brother Peter run Ellimatta Orchards which are intensively planted with multiple modern varieties of organic and biodynamic apples and cherries. This was not always the case and Ellimatta Orchards were once standard commercial orchards farmed chemically for many decades. The story of the biodynamic transformation the orchards have undergone is told by Kym in this interview.

A written account of Kym'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 – 2.02
• Guest self-introduction – 3.10
• How would you describe biodynamics in 2023  – 6.27
• How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional agriculture – 14.46
• How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? – 23.28

• Can you tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have. – 31.02
• How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 45.05
• What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? – 58.30 (comments on black spot fungus)

• What does the future hold for your farm? - 1.07.57

• Guest take home message – 1.14.55
• Guest parting advice to audience on biodynamic adoption – 1.17.00
• Thanks, acknowledgements and episode close. – 1.20.45
• End of episode – 1.22.23

GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS:

Guest: Kym Green, Ellimatta Orchards, Lenswood, South Australia

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

Tel: 07 4639 2135  Email  WEB  Facebook

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.

25 Nobles Lane, BELLINGEN, NSW 2454,Australia

Tel: 02 6655 0566  Email  WEB  Facebook

 Production:

Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 11th October 2023

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

 BFGA podcast series - brief 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

RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION

GUEST FARM/property mentioned: Ellimatta Orchards, Lenswood, South Australia.

CONCEPTS:

Mulders Chart – representation of the interaction between essential plant elements.

Brix - measure used for estimating the approximate amount of sugars in fruits, vegetables, juices, wine.

Phion MEA water structuring device as described on the Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd website.                 

  

RESORCES MENTIONED IN INTERVIEW OR RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION:

Dowsing – for an introduction to concepts and practices see the Dowsing Society of Victoria Inc. and Dowsers Society of New South Wales Inc.

Francis Chaboussou: Healthy Crops - A New Agricultural Revolution (2004 edition) Google Books. listing.

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

Pierre Masson: A Biodynamic Manual (2014 edition) Google Books listing.

Jay McCaman: When Weeds Talk (2013 edition) Australian book source listing.

Ehrenfried Pfeiffer: The Biodynamic Treatment of Fruit Trees, Berries and Shrubs (1992 edition) Google Books 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. 

Peter Tompkins, Christopher Bird, William Thomas,  : Secrets of the Soil New Solutions for Restoring Our Planet (1998 edition)  Google Books listing

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)

GUEST INFLUENCES MENTIONED IN INTERVIEW

Dr. Elaine Ingham – soil biology expert – a brief background article on her expertise and educational work.

Cheryl Kemp: a short YouTube video with Cheryl talking about ‘biodynamic silica prep 501 application for atmospheric enhancing of natural vitality (2022).

Hugh Lovel: Book: A Biodynamic Farm, For Growing Wholesome Food (2000 edition) Amazon books review A recent video of Hugh Lovel offering farm consultancy in the USA Part 1 (2019)

Peter Procter Book: Grasp the Nettle: Making Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Work (2004 edition). Google Books review

Documentary: One Man, One Cow, One Planet (2007) a story of Procter’s teaching and training work in India - and the use of biodynamics by marginal farmers there to regenerate their lands as an alternative to the  bio-colonialism of multinational corporations.

John Priestly: A number of interviews on biodynamic topics contained on a podcast series Quantum Agriculture.

Jane Slattery  - Natural Intelligence Farming – fairly recent podcast interview conducted with Jane in March 2022 for the Regennaration podcast series (listed below)

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