A Living Relationship with the Land
Excerpt from: Cooking for the Love of the World
Awakening Our Spirituality through Cooking
by Anne-Marie Fryer Wiboltt
Cultures of the past were aware that their crops received nourishment from the earth as well as the ordered rhythm of life; the universe, the sun and the stars.
They worked the land according to their observations and they treated their animals, plants, grains and soil in a way that reflected this relationship. Biodynamic gardeners and farmers of today keep building on this respectful relationship.
Biodynamic farmers experience their farms as individual, self-sustaining, living organisms that live and breathe with the earth in a sea of cosmic life forces. Everything is alive for the biodynamic farmer or gardener and maintains connected to the spiritual cosmic world. The farmer or gardener sees it as his or her duty to act as a steward to maintain and foster this connection. S/he prepares the soil in such a way that it enables plants to take up the cosmic influences necessary for their growth, by using special biodynamic preparations.
Scientist, artist and philosopher, Rudolf Steiner, inspired these biodynamic preparations, which are made and used with the understanding of how the earthly and cosmic forces interplay throughout the year. He introduced a new way of thinking about the relationship of the soil to the forces of the cosmos. Rudolf Steiner recognized that plants grow with the support of the cosmos forces. These forces and activities stream into the earth through the living nature of the soil and its minerals. The quality and life forces of the food we eat influences the quality of our thinking, feeling and interaction with people and nature. Our thinking, feeling and way of interacting create the future condition of our society and the world. Rudolf Steiner felt that a renewal of agriculture was necessary to reestablish the relationship between the cosmos and humanity, for the world. He introduced the biodynamic preparations in order to re-enliven the earth so that the starry world, the cosmic forces and activities, again could find their way to the soil and our food,
What distinguishes biodynamic farming from other healthy farming practices such as permaculture and organic farming is that biodynamic farmers consciously think and work in a practical way with these earthly and cosmic substances, forces and activities. Sowing and harvesting are carefully done at the most favorable times in relationship to the sun, moon cycles and planetary rhythms. In addition to applying biodynamic preparations and composted manure, these farmers also maintain healthy soil by practicing crop rotations, incorporating plenty of organic matter and other holistic practices.
Animals, especially cows, also have a big part in the life of the biodynamic farm and ensure a cycling of substances and life forces. Cows are grazers and have an elaborate digestive system. They eat grasses and other roughage and in return produce rich manure permeated with their own life forces and qualities.
When the soil receives this valuable cow manure, composted with biodynamic preparations, its soil life is enhanced. This composted manure creates nourishing humus that is able to draw in the beneficial forces of the sun, moon, star and planets, which in turn supports healthy plants.
Ideally every biodynamic farm or garden has its own beehives as well. Bees live entirely in the world of air, light and warmth and are an essential part of the interrelationship of the cosmic forces.
In many areas of the world scientific research is carried out to develop a better understanding of the quality of biodynamic foods and farming practices. Ideas are implemented, observations made, comparative testing done and elaborate evaluation made in search for quality food and life for everybody in a living world filled with spirit.
Almond Yogurt Dessert
It is simple to make your own yogurt from raw milk. It should be eaten within three to five days. If you prefer the milk to be pasteurized, you can heat it to 140-160 degrees first, and then let it cool to 110 degrees. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt mature and wither quickly when sweeteners are added. To ensure healthy bacteria count, blend instead one banana with the yogurt in place of the maple syrup. Use some times vanilla instead of almond extract.
1 quart yogurt of whole milk (See recipe below)
2 tablespoons pure almond extract
1/2 cup maple syrup
Dandelion flowers for garnish
Blend the yogurt with almond extract and maple syrup.
Pour into small individual serving glasses and garnish with dandelion flowers.
Yogurt
4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup plain un-pasteurized yogurt or 5g yogurt starter
Heat the milk to about 110 F then transfer it to a glass bowl.
Whisk in plain yogurt. Cover the bowl with a cloth and let it sit in a warm place (around 100-110 degrees) for 6 - 12 hours. An oven with a pilot light works well.
When the yogurt has thickened, cool it in the refrigerator for another 6 hours.
Excerpt from Cooking for the Love of the World
Awakening Our Spirituality through Cooking
by Anne-Marie Fryer Wiboltt
Cooking for the Love of the World:
Awakening our Spirituality through Cooking
by Anne-Marie Fryer Wiboltt
A heart-centered, warmth-filled guide to the nurturing art of cooking.
"Cooking delicious nourishing meals - with heart and soul - is easy, fast, and fun with this great guide. Everything you need to know is right here - along with exercises and experiences that will help you love cooking, love yourself,
and love the earth."
-Susun S. Weed, Author, Healing Wise
Order Cooking For the Love of the World in our Bookshop
Nourishing Infusions, Medicinal Vinegars - 2 CD set
Susun Weed at Green Nations Gathering 2000
Nothing improves health faster and more firmly than regular use of nourishing herbal infusions and medicinal vinegars. Includes information on stinging nettle, oatstraw, comfrey leaf, red clover, linden, and aromatic mints. Recommended.
Price: $22.50
Order Nourishing Infusions, Medicinal Vinegars in our Bookshop
LOVE LETTERS
Hi!
Last year around this time I was fortunate enough to take my daughter to St. Augustine, FL for her 21st birthday to see Susun Lecture and we really enjoyed that together! I wondered when Susun may be coming this way again?
Also, I have many solitary green witch friends who would love to see Susun lecture in Savannah, GA. -Will she be anywhere near there this year? Thank you for any info.!
As I reflect on the fun I had at Susun's lecture last year..
I am smiling and wanted to pass along an offering to her that might also leave her with a smile.-Please pass it along to her.
Thanks!-Lynn
read more...
|
