About The Festival:

The BioDynamic Festival was the initiative of John Della Franca, third generation orchardist at High Vale Orchard (Est. 1939) and is designed to showcase growers & producers in WA who use the only 100% sustainable agricultural system in the world; that of BioDynamics.

Society today is demanding a healthier and more environmentally responsible lifestyle in response to a real concern for our well-being and that or the world we live in.

The 2009 WA BioDynamic Festival is now in its 2nd year (and in its uniqueness may be the only such festival in the world!) and enjoyed overwhelming success in its first year of operation. This year's festival looks to be even better.

Why Pickering Brook?

Pickering Brook is host to two biodynamic orchards and the largest producer of biodynamic fruit in the state at High Vale Orchard. It is also only half an hour from the CBD situated amongst rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and magnificent state forest. The picturesque scenery offers a relaxing trip to an undiscovered treasure so close to the city. See the magnificent venue; Highvale

For more info on the history of Pickering Brook go to: Pickering Brook Heritage Group.

What's it all about? BioDynamics in a nutshell:

Ask the converts - Biodynamic Produce just tastes better. You get the real taste of the produce with higher nutritional value. There are lots of studies out there that confirm this. And it's often also about what's not in it (artificial chemicals, growth hormones etc) .Many other food products promote these benefits but people who have experienced the taste and freshness of certified biodynamic fruit and vegetables know it's far superior.

Since the end of World War II, chemically-assisted agriculture has become the most widely practiced and is known as "conventional" agriculture. It is now recognised though, that this is not sustainable. Biodynamic farming is turning the tables on convention by proving its methods are sustainable.

Biodynamics is a specific type of organic farming based on the principles of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, who emphasised the simple point that when plants are sick, farmers should look at the soil. Healthy soil = healthy plants & trees = healthy produce

The biodynamic approach embraces the forces working within plants, the soil and from the surrounding universe. At its core is a substance called "500" which is made from cow manure buried for months in cow horns before being mixed with water and spread on the farm land to reactivate lifeless soil. Sound bizarre – talk to any BD farmer who will tell you it is like magic fairy dust!

But the proof is in the eating......

A great quote from a former cynacist:

“Greedily I take another bite, and decide I have nos problem with cows' horns, quartz rock, chamomile blossom, stinging nettles, intricate manure recipes, the full moon, or any other spiritual dimension of farming. Anyting that produces an apple this good makes perfect sense to me.”

More information about BioDynamics