Crystallization Period: More reading!

One more week of the crystallization period, this quiet, dormant time when our psyches and the earth open to larger energies. More suggested reading (a little like studying seed catalogues!): C. G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Jung’s “so-called” autobiography, edited. Still, a great read, and a real introduction to his life and work. Gary Lachman,  Rudolf Steiner:… Read more »

Crystallization Period, Week Three: Musings

The moon is full tomorrow, February 7. Do you remember a time we always knew the phase of the moon and could read the passings of the clouds like e-mails from the gods? Being receptive to the cosmos opens our psyches to knowledge that our shared consensual state of consciousness, as it is often called,… Read more »

Spraying the Perimeter: Preparation for the Three Kings

Spraying the “501” along the boundary line early morning. Inviting solar and cosmic energies This time of year we spray the perimeter of our land, first with “BC prep,” a biodynamic spray that has all the biodynamic compost preps plus the horned manure earth spray, or “500”, (late afternoon), then with the quartz crystal cosmic… Read more »

Lot Number Goatsong 11

Lot Number Goatsong 11 This year 2011 most of the lavender we cut to dry came from field Goatsong, an area between our house and the labyrinth. This lavender grows in thin topsoil and the plants have grown more slowly over the years. But even now, at age 12, they are putting out the long… Read more »

Lot Number Toyon 11

Toyon leading goats up slope. Lot Number Toyon 11 Each year Ramon looks for those plants whose stems are the longest for bouquet making, and this year the field Toyon was one of two that won! Field Toyon is on an north-facing slope above the Chardonnay. Often the lavender there blooms earliest. The little brown… Read more »

It’s a Messy Job, but Someone’s Got to do it!

Putting Oak Bark “prep” into manure ball.               It’s a Messy Job, but Someone’s Got to do it! We wear gloves to insert compost preps. Once I didn’t―and, well, let’s just say, even lemon juice and Clorox didn’t help! We insert six biodynamic compost preps into the pile in… Read more »

Shoveling Sh_ _!

  Large load!           Shoveling Sh_ _! Yes, it smells like it looks, and yet, it is like gold to us!    Since we do not have cows on our ranch, and cow manure is the Biodynamic gold standard for fertility, Donald got two truckloads from Tresch’s Family organic dairy this… Read more »

Making Mulch

Making Mulch   In Napa County we are blessed with a free chipping service through Firewise, a community based fire awareness program to help reduce fire risk. This works well with our biodynamic mandate to recycle  as much material as possible back into our land. We are always busy clearing downed wood and brush, and… Read more »

Using Biodynamic Organic Lavender Essential Oil and Hydrosol

Using Biodynamic Organic Lavender Essential Oil and Hydrosol Distilling lavender brings many gifts. When you distill, you get the essence of that plant’s healing properties: the constituents. For lavender, that includes constituents that balance the nervous system. If you need to relax and go to sleep, lavender helps. If you are lethargic, lavender acts as… Read more »