Biodynamics for the Home Gardener!

Denise with Bu - her favorite girl!

Sunday from 9 to 2 we’ll be sharing the best kept secret in farming and winemaking to use in our home gardens at the Mar Vista Farmers Market MVCC Green Booth!

Any and all gardeners (either practicing or dreaming of practicing!) should come see how each and every one of us can truly help save this planet by healing our sub-soil with Biodynamics. Gardeners with potted plants that are having problems are encouraged to bring them for a dose of tea!

Denise DeGarmo Ritchie of Malibu Compost discovered the benefits of biodynamics through her interest in sustainable landscaping and soil conservation. This Sunday she will be focusing on Biodynamics for the Home Gardener. The morning will be taught by her partner Colum Riley and he will be focusing on how to make and use Bu's Blend Biodynamic compost tea. There will be a hands on demo learning how to create a vortex stir and applications.

Denise will be arriving by eleven and bringing with her Oscar Carmona, a noted horticulturist, biodynamic grower and builder of biodynamic farms in home yards. We will spend the rest of the day with demonstrations that cover how to fix your soil with biodynamics ...hands on demo transforming hardpan soil into rich, biodynamic humus.

Attracted by an article in a wine magazine about the Benziger Family Winery vineyards and their biodynamic model, Denise visited the vineyard and had extensive conversations about their system of soil enhancement and water conservation.

Research led Denise to Rudolf Steiner’s writings and his belief in the interconnectedness of species that benefit all life forms. Of specific importance in reference to the soil was the central role played by the dairy cow.

Denise has taken Steiner’s respect for the dairy cow and his formula for compost to two different fronts:

 1 ) Organically fed dairy cow manure is the basis for the biodynamic compost company she has created

2 ) She is creating a sanctuary for dairy cows, those that have given so much, to allow them to live beyond their milking days, not sold for slaughter, to be cared for until their natural death.

With the mantra “heal the soil, heal the soul,” Denise works with 900 school gardens in LA and Ventura County, assisting teachers in amending the soil for their edible schoolyards.   Read more about Denise in this LA Times article.

Oscar Carmona owner and operator of Healing Grounds Nursery has spent the last twenty five years helping connect people, plants and the planet. His log line is : "Healing the planet with Biodynamics one urban farm at a time."