Agriculture: An Introductory Reader

by Rudolf Steiner, C. von Arnim (Translator)

Overview

Rudolf Steiner, the often undervalued, multifaceted genius of modern times, contributed much to the regeneration of culture. In addition to his philosophical teachings, he provided ideas for the development of many practical activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, religion and the arts. Today there are thousands of schools, clinics, farms, and many other organizations that are founded directly on his principles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781855843295
Publisher:	Rudolf Steiner Press
Publication date:	04/02/2013
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	283 KB

About the Author

Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner, 1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.

Dr. Richard Thornton Smith is a former a geography professor at the University of Leeds, specializing in soil science, environment, and conservation. Widely traveled, he has a long-standing interest in indigenous and sustainable farming. He was introduced to the work of Rudolf Steiner at an early age, and became fully involved with biodynamics in 1990, when he began to participate in training programs and workshops at Emerson College, UK. In 1996, he began a biodynamic extension program in Sri Lanka, for which he published a book, updated in 2007. Since 2001, he has been an inspector for the Biodynamic Association's Demeter and Organic certification program in the UK. In 2003, he produced an edited selection of Steiner's work relating to agriculture. He is currently a council member of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association and lives in Ross-on-Wye, UK.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	1
1.	The Evolving Human Being	14
	The contemporary human being	15
	Former evolutionary stages	17
	The emergence of modern consciousness	21
	The significance of changes in nutrition	28
2.	Cosmos as the Source of Life	34
	Stars and the significance of the zodiac	35
	The sun and its planetary relationships	42
	Elementary conditions and spiritual beings	46
	The nature of the four primal elements	49
3.	Plants and the Living Earth	54
	Plants, minerals and creation	55
	The plant world between earth and sun	57
	Earth's seasonal and diurnal breathing processes	60
	Trees and the astral environment of plants	67
4.	Farms and the Realms of Nature	73
	Animals and the farm individuality	74
	The cow, her horns and manure	80
	The mission of birds and insects	84
	Fungi and plant diseases	89
5.	Bringing the Chemical Elements to Life	95
	The nature of the atom	96
	Planetary influences on earthly life	98
	Silica, lime and clay	102
	The elements of organic substance	106
6.	Soil and the World of Spirit	115
	Nurturing the life of the soil	116
	The resonance of chaos and cosmos	123
7.	Supporting and Regulating Life Processes	131
	Field sprays to invigorate soil and plant	132
	Vitalizing solid or liquid organic fertilizers	134
	Suppressing the growth of weeds	142
	Regulating the abundance of pests	144
8.	Spirits of the Elements	148
	Elementals as the manifestations of cosmic forces	149
	Elemental beings of the plant kingdom	152
	Elementals as gatherers of substance	159
9.	Nutrition and Vitality	163
	New concepts in nutrition	164
	The plant and the digestive process	166
	The nutrition and health of animals	175
10.	Responsibility for the Future	186
	The inner challenge for human beings	187
	Human influence on nature's processes	190
	Recognizing the needs of spiritual beings	193
	The long-term goal of humanity	197
	Notes	205
	Sources	225
	Further Reading	231
	Note Regarding Rudolf Steiner's Lectures	235