Our Way.
Russian biodynamics initiative exists since 1995. During almost a decade, it developed from a circle of people interested in theory of ecological agriculture to a farm where the method is implemented.
Seven seminars and workshops were held since 1995 in Russia. Maria and Mattias Tun (Germany), Elizabeth Beringer (Germany), Reinhild frech Emmelmann (Austria), Vedig von Bonin (Germany) and Michael Sedden (Sweden) were among our lecturers.
The first seminars took place in St. Petersburg, however since 1999 we were able to organize workshops in our farm (Savotino village), 160 km from the city. The farm is located in a picturesque land of lakes and forests. The facilities include a 2-story building, suitable for classes. The area of two hectares is used to produce plants using biodynamical technologies and preparations. The farm, formerly an award-winning Soviet kolkhoz, once gave job to a significant number of technologists and workers. After its official shut down in 2001, the people were left unemployed – situation somewhat typical for contemporary Russian rural land.
Right now there is a rather large group of our constant customers, who prefer to purchase ecological vegetables. The products are delivered directly to their homes. Unfortunately, we will have to quit this service, since the number of clients is now too large, but there is still no transportation available.
The problem of technical equipment, especially, the lack of a cargo vehicle is very sharp. Since the farm is still quite young and virtually unequipped, we are unable to maintain mass production and cultivate large area. Although only one tractor is used (a gift from our western friends), we managed to gather 15 tons of carrot, 10 tons of beet-root and 7 tons of potato and consider it a significant achievement. Our farm is a voluntary association of people concerned with the idea to promote and implement advanced, natural methods of agriculture. We receive neither help, nor funding from the state structures.
Tun’s Planting Days calendar (translated into Russian and published by our organization since 1998) is an integral of our method. The calendar is now available in St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, Perm, Odessa, Moscow and other cities.