Hands-on learning at Krinklewood Vineyard’s 6th Annual Biodynamic Workshop.
Announcement posted by Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard 15 May 2012
Krinklewood owner and Vigneron, Rod Windrim, is an incredibly passionate advocate of biodynamics. Krinklewood Vineyard has regular visits from TAFE colleagues, secondary schools, sommelier and wine associations, gardening groups and the likes.
Krinklewood also hosts an annual Biodynamic Workshop at the vineyard just outside Broke in the Hunter Valley. The next one is due to take place on Saturday 26th May, 2012.
Krinklewood’s hands-on, informal biodynamic workshop introduces participants to practical aspects of biodynamic farming and gardening. Led byhighly experiencedbiodynamic experts, Hamish Mackay and John Priestly, participants learn the philosophy, theory and ‘how-to’ of biodynamics. Rod Windrim’s fully certified Krinklewood Vineyard has been operating biodynamically for 10 years and is the ideal venue for participants to experience all aspects of biodynamics.
Krinklewood’s Annual Biodynamic Workshop is always held in the descending moon phase and after the autumnal equinox. At this time, participants are able to fill and bury the cow horns, get hands on with compost making and creating the cow-pat-pit. They can see the mid-row cover crops planted with buckwheat, red clover, marigolds, lucerne, Queen Ann Lace, dill, coriander to name a few, planted as insect deterrents. They will also see the flow-form in action creating compost tea to spray over the vineyard; Krinklewood produces the majority of herbs and ingredients for the teas on-site, including acres of biodynamic garlic.
Krinklewood is a family run biodynamic vineyard and farm that perpetually strives to produce wines reflecting the unique characteristics of the Krinklewood terroir. Every aspect of the vineyard is managed in a holistic and sustainable way.
Rod Windrim started implementing biodynamic practices at Krinklewood in 2002 and has never looked back. He was fuelled by the desire to produce the best fruit, and in turn, the best wine, from his 48 Acre Hunter Valley property; Krinklewood is now Certified Biodynamic Organic.
Renowned French biodynamic winemaker, Pascal Lambert, visited Krinklewood Vineyard after being told from various sources that Krinklewood was ‘one of the best examples of biodynamic viticulture in Australia’.
Biodynamics is a homeopathic medicine for agriculture, based on using natural means to obtain a better, more sustainable and healthier end product. Based on the Rudolf Steiner philosophy, it is believed that every plant is influenced by the two major energy forces in the world-the earthly & the cosmic and each individual farm is seen as an individual organism that should be as self –sufficient as possible.
“To be truly biodynamic is to have a farm with animals all contributing to the food web, biodynamic cycle including pest control and management. At Krinklewood we have pigs, cows, sheep, geese, ducks, chickens, peacocks and bees! They all directly contribute to the living biology in our soil, and in turn, the health and of our vines and fruit that makes our wines.” Rod Windrim.
A Biodynamic farm demands a diversity of crops & livestock as one gives life to the other. Biodynamics recognises that the soil itself is alive, and this vitality supports and affects the quality and health of the plants that grow in it.
Biodynamic farming is organic, although it differs in that BD farmers use special Biodynamic preparations and they are applied a certain times of the year. The BD preparations act like a catalyst if used in the correct rhythm to improve the health of the plant or increase the life in the soil, ie: Preparation 500 is made from cow manure, it is applied to the farm in droplet form in the late afternoon of a descending moon or when the moon is in opposition to Saturn. (For more detailed information on BD preparations used at Krinklewood see www.krinklewood.com)
ENDS.
Krinklewood 6th Annual Biodynamic Workshop;
DATE:Saturday 26 May, 2012. 9am-5pm.
VENUE: Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard,712 Wollombi Road, Broke, Hunter Valley 2330
COST:$135 per person or $210 per couple (incl GST).