New farming method brings life back into food crops

PRADO FARMS, Pampanga , Philippines -  – Food, as it is commercially produced today, has lost its quality of aliveness. More alarmingly, the process by which it is produced creates ecological imbalance. When soil is tilled or crops are removed, the land is exploited through the depletion not only of minerals but also of its subtle life forces.

In Biodynamic agriculture, weakened life forces are revitalized, stimulating root growth, microorganism production, and humus formation. This farming method brings back life into vegetables, fruit, and grains.  

On Sept. 4, Prado Farms will host a hands-on training on biodynamic agriculture. The training, called Practical Abundance, will discuss the basics of biodynamic agriculture and how it keeps nature in balance. Participants will receive training on actual biodynamic compost preparation, stirring and spraying from one of the country’s experts, Gregory Kitma.

Kitma, president of the Philippine Bio-dynamic Agriculture Research Foundation, Inc. (PhilBio), says biodynamic agriculture revitalizes the life forces of the soil, stimulating root growth, microorganism production, and humus formation. The method makes use of sprays and soil starter preparations derived from cow manure, herbs and mineral substances that will be applied to soil and plants. Biodynamic soils absorb and hold back large amounts of water, and assist in lessening the severity of floods.

PhilBio is a non-government organization that aims to promote biodynamic agriculture in the country. Together with a small group of vegetable farmers in the province Benguet and Mt Province, Kitma also serves as a consultant for organic and bio-dynamic agriculture to various NGOs and individuals in the country.

The training is open to farm owners who wish to introduce biodynamic agricultural process in their lands or know more about the benefits of the system, farmers who want to learn about implementation of the bio-dynamic process, agricultural students, professors, NGO professionals, and other individulas who wish to learn more about biodynamic farming and are interested in the practical application of Rudolf Steiner’s Ideas on anthroposophy. Training will be held in Prado Farms in Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga.

For inquiries and reservations, contact (02) 899-4675, text 0920-9831329 or email [email protected].