Natural Agriculture Conference at Shumei

An all-day conference on natural agriculture took place at the Shumei Institute, in Pasadena, today. Among the presenters were key leaders in the natural agriculture movement, researchers, and master community gardeners who spoke on biodynamic agriculture. The term biodynamic refers to that process which allows harmonious coexistence between all organisms. The key to biodynamic agriculture is to plant seeds and grow food which adapt to the earth that already exists, instead of the other way around. So, while conventionally grown foods may refer to the use of amendments and chemicals in the soil, biodynamics relies solely on the existing natural environment, and the symbiosis between all living organisms. The principles of natural agriculture are also applied to urban agriculture, that is, gardening in large or small spaces in metropolitan or urban areas. 

One of our local champions of urban agriculture, Mark Rice, also presented at this conference. Rice is director of the Pasadena Learning Gardens,  a non-profit org that does a great deal of education, awareness, and hands-on work, to ultimately enhance and bridge communities to each other through healthier food. http://plgardens.wordpress.com/

 

A variety of sponsors were also present at the conference site, including L.A. Green Grounds,  Pasadena Community Gardens, Arroyo Co-op, to name a few.