Light and Portals
Tomatilla in late afternoon. Biodynamics is one of the few disciplines that addresses the forces behind what we “see.” It requires more quiet to feel these forces, another consciousness even, balanced with reason. What is it about light that opens these portals? The late afternoon sun shining through the tomatilla skin… Read more »
Cows and Climate Change
Okay, these goats are trimming up the toyon, good for fire prevention, but it is important that they move on. Browsing goats need to be monitored so they do not deforest an area. Research shows that wise grazing of cattle (and other animals, including goats!) improves fertility of the soil while also sequestering carbon,… Read more »
Dawn, Late Summer
Pre-dawn across the valley Dawn, Late Summer Stags linger in the forest, racks high, crickets chirp until the frogs take over. Sometimes these dark hours coyotes erupt in yips and yaps. Never know whom to root for.
Grape Harvest, First Block
Picking is a workout! Grape Harvest, First Block Although the early morning sky at 5 a.m. was full of stars, by 7 a.m. the fog softened the heat of the past week, and the picking was cool. Two and a half tons per acre yield on the old… Read more »
Learn Biodynamic Practices at the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, CA
Harvesting Biodynamic apples and Asian pears. Foods grown in rich soils have more nutrients. Learn Biodynamic Practices at the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, CA This week our certifier Demeter and the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association will be sponsoring a 10,000 square foot exhibition… Read more »
The Way
The Way The quiet of these early September days allows time for reflective walks. The forest is dusty and littered with dried leaves; the irrigation pond still full enough to swim in. Tuesday we will harvest a third of the grapes, but today there is time to follow the path into the woods, to contemplate… Read more »
Lavender Lessons on Flexibility
One of the old lavender plants just pulled. The new growth is so short that we were unable to harvest it even for distillation this year. One of the big things you learn in biodynamics is to observe not only what you see but also what you feel as you see it. As… Read more »
August Dry
August Dry August is dry. We have used the irrigation water from the small pond, the pond bottom now only a moonscape dreaming of winter rain.
Preparing for the New Cuttings
Pile of old plants being uprooted in Field Sophia. Preparing for the New Cuttings August allows the leisure to do projects that we do not have time for other times of the year. Some call this time of the year of summer dormancy in California (Mediterranean climate) the fifth… Read more »
How to Prune Lavender
We use a power trimmer to prune lavender into mounds. People ask us how to prune lavender, and our advice is, get really tough with it this month! Prune it back almost to the wood, but not quite, water it, and let it put on a little growth and then harden off… Read more »
© 2026 Patricia Damery.
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