Spring BDANC Gathering
April 25,26, 2026
Perceiving Qualities
Building Soil Health and the Use of Biodynamic Compost Preparations
Explore qualitative methods to understand soils asking how we can sense and perceive soil health.
Observe soils from around Northern California. Participants are invited to bring 1-2 cups of Compost and/or Soil from their home or work in a jar to contribute.
Experience Biodynamic techniques for harmonizing soil life with compost preps through hands-on activities.
Celebrate Earth Month and initiate BDANC’s Healing Soils Community Project!
Schedule:
Saturday
7:30 Catered Breakfast
8:30 Welcome & Introductions
8:45 What draws you to Biodynamic Agriculture? – Through the eyes of a farmer’s biography with Emma Wade of Heartwood Farms
9:00 Perceiving Soil Life: Explore qualitative methods to understand soils. How do we sense what, who and how is contributing to soil health? From clear type contrasts to subtler nuance between samples. With Birgit Landowne, Franz Eilers & Sebastien Dupuis
10:15 Break & move to Hwy 26 Compost Yard
10:40 Practicing Biodynamics at the Compost Yard
Together dig up Heartwood’s Biodynamic Preparations/Observation
Break-out into working Groups (choose one)
Methods of how and when to prep Compost Piles with Harald Hoven & Franz Eilers
Stirring the BD Valerian prep for compost application with Birgit Landowne
Start to finish: making Biodynamic Barrel Compost with Sebastien Dupuis
12:30 Potluck Lunch - Bring a dish to share!
2:00 Open Hour Workshops (choose one)
101 Using Biodynamic Planting Calendars with Birgit Landowne
Farm Management with Patricio Ballesty
The Vision of Heartwood Farms, Farm Tour with Franz Eilers & Emma Wade
Eurythmy with Lilith Dupuis
3:00 Revisiting our soils from the morning with Emma Wade & Lilith Dupuis
4:00 Introducing Healing Soils Community Project - finding a common time to spray Biodynamic preps as a community event.
5:00 Barrel Compost stirring and spray
6:00 Catered Dinner
7:30 Outdoor Fire and Woodfired Sauna
Sunday
8:00 Catered Breakfast
9:00 Making BD Prep 501-Horn Silica with Harald Hoven
11:15 Closing Circle
12-12:30 Clean up: Volunteers needed
BYO gear Camping or Sleeping floor space available Friday and Saturday Nights
Sign up for catered meals by Tuesday April 21st!