Barefoot Biodynamics: How Cows, Compost, and Community Help Us Understand Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture Course

With decades of knowledge and proven, common-sense methods from \”The Barefoot Farmer,\” this practical guide to biodynamic principles and practices will appeal to growers of every scale and experience level.


In Barefoot Biodynamics, organic grower Jeff Poppen-\”The Barefoot Farmer\”-combines tales from his personal history of building a harmonious farm community in rural Tennessee with the practical applications of biodynamic principles and the deep aspects of the biodynamic methods that continue to make his farm a success today.


Jeff’s friendly, direct, and humorous writing will appeal not only to the biodynamic-curious, but also to farmers and gardeners who have experimented with the biodynamic approach and are looking for a deeper understanding of the practice.


Rooted in the teachings of biodynamic pioneer Rudolf Steiner, Jeff’s unique insights and deep reflections on \”guiding lines\” of biodynamic growing are an invaluable resource. Those \”guiding lines\” include:




producing a farm’s fertility using cover crops, compost, and other on-farm inputs
enjoying the renewing power of farm festivals
augmenting scientific knowledge with the power of observation and intuition
avoiding chemical fertilizers
understanding that carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen make up 95 percent of the physical structure of plants and are freely available in the air around us
enhancing the availability of critical minerals such as silica and lime through good farming practices
building humus-rich soil teeming with microbial life
using homeopathic preparations to heal and enrich the soil


In addition, Jeff walks the reader through the eight lectures on farming given by Steiner in 1924, summarizing important points from each lecture and \”translating\” them from Steiner’s profound yet sometimes impenetrable vocabulary into plain language. In Barefoot Biodynamics, Jeff provides new insight into these enigmatic lectures, revealing an often overlooked yet cost-effective farming method rooted in common sense.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Imprint: Chelsea Green US
Publication date: 27/06/2024