Guests: Luigi and Nidya Marasco-Bellido, The Patch Organics (Bellingen, NSW) Introduction to this episode: My guests on this episode of the series, Luigi Marasco and Nidya Marasco-Bellido are share farmers whose Patch Organics business cultivates an acre paddock using biodynamic techniques on what used to be a holding pen for dairy cows. Their Patch Organics cultivation produces herbs, vegetables, and pasture-raised chicken, and takes place within the bigger, certified organic, 500-acre Levenvale Farm situated within beautiful rolling hill country near Bellingen NSW. A written account of Luigi and Nidya'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 - 0.00Generic podcast series introduction. – 0.30This episode introduction – 2.03Guest self-introduction – 3.31How would you describe biodynamics in 2023 – 6.15How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional agriculture – 9.23How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? – 21.35 including Luigi’s story of mentorship and early workshop training. The generosity of the BD community linked to history of concern with healing the land – 32.35Can you tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have. – 36.28How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 46.11What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? – 1.00.42What does the future hold for your property? - 1.05.26 Guest take home messages and parting advice to audience on biodynamic adoption – 1.11.02Thanks to guests and acknowledgements - 1.20.40End of episode – 1.23.37 GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS: Guests: LUIGI AND NIDYA, THE PATCH ORGANICS (BELLINGEN, NSW) Tel: 0422 872 206 Email: WEB: Facebook 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 27th 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 MENTIONED IN INTERVIEW OR RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION: THE PATCH ORGANICS FARM Facebook page and Patch Organics on Levenvale Farm’s website with details of produce ordering, events, training and other matters of interest. Anthroposophy: For a short introduction to some key Anthroposophical ideas such as personal growth and development, interdisciplinary collaboration and spiritual science, see: the Anthroposophical Society in Australia website (2023) and Sydney Rudolf Steiner College (teacher training) article What is Anthroposophy? Astral calendar use in biodynamic growing see the short article Working with the Antipodean Astro Calendar on Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.’s website. Masaru Emoto: researcher on water energies - for example see The Secret Life of Water (2011) Google Books listing and preview Charles Massey: Call of the Reed Warbler: A new Agriculture a New Earth (2020 edition) Google Books review. Peppering for pest control in biodynamic growing – webinar handout (2020 from My Food Garden. Permaculture as a model of ‘organic gardening . . . and. . . a design system for resilient living and land use - based on universal ethics and ecological design principles.’ This wording taken from the Holmgren Design Permaculture Vision and Innovation website of David Holmgren the co-founder of permaculture along with Bill Mollison (now deceased) World Permaculture Association website with definition of ...
