Wanting to grow food or farm more naturally? Wanting to have a local approach to fertility? Curious to know easy achievable methods that are cost effective, or even free? Then come along and learn in this hands-on afternoon!

We will make Cow Pat Pit - what I call a ‘wonder tonic’. Suitable for a wide variety of uses from a soil conditioner, microbial inoculant, foliar spray, seed soak, tree paste, rooting compound, mulch and compost decomposition assistance. It is super easy to make, with good quality cow manure, biodynamic compost preparations, crushed eggshells and basalt in a clay brick pit. We will make a new batch of this, and learn how to easily care for it through the process. 40kg of finished cow pat pit can cost as little as $19.32 - or even free in time, by sourcing all materials locally. It takes us on eight hectares around nine months to use a batch, and we use it liberally!

Cow Horn Manure will also be prepared and buried for the winter processes with the land. Also known as Preparation 500, it is a living substance which helps build soil structure, stimulates microbial activity and the formation of humus, assists in root development to greater depths, improves absorption and retention of water in the soil and begins to bring overall ecological balance in the farming or gardening system. Fresh cow manure is buried in cow horns in fertile soils through autumn and winter, transforming it into a potent and incredibly fertile preparation for the soil.

The methods for these natural fertilisers come from Rudolf Steiner's biodynamics - a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition. Used worldwide, they are part of a modality that brings the mineral kingdom into balance and produces the most incredible tasting food, whilst caring for all that surrounds us.

Although these methods include good quality cow manure, please come along if you do not have access to cows and are interested - as there are many people up and down the country who are happy to provide materials needed to make these epic fully natural fertilisers!

We will also speak into other methods throughout the afternoon, of herbal leys, green crops, manure based teas and slurries, as well as connect in a community of like minded individuals.

Whether you are growing on a balcony, backyard, lifestyle block or larger land holding, these methods are scalable, and can be used in the home garden or commercial applications. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you are on your journey.

We will be outside for the duration of the event. Heavy rain date is Friday 5th April.
Please wear comfortable warm clothes, and bring gloves if you wish.

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About your host...

Monique Macfarlane is a holistic food systems facilitator, teaching biodynamics, planting by the moon, no-dig food growing and self-sufficiency. See www.natural-wisdom.net

She co-creates with biodynamic, organic, regenerative, no-till, and natural principles on eight hectares in Waihi that is certified organic and includes a market garden, orchard, pastoral grazing, chickens and agroforestry.

Her heartfelt passion for food, localisation, and thriving nature is the foundation of her incredible offerings. She also currently contributes a cosmic planting and gardening calendar to each issue of OrganicNZ magazine, as is an Eat NZ Kaitaki.

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Special thanks to Kete Ora Trust and Anthroposophical Society New Zealand, this free event is part of a series in Autumn / Winter 2024 after Monique attended the international Agriculture Conference in February 2024 at the Goetheanum in Switzerland.

Introducing the Kete Ora Trust

The aim of the Kete Ora Trust is simple - to grow a better Aotearoa. Over the past 25 years, Kete Ora has funded a range of education and research projects for biodynamic, organic and regenerative land use. Kete Ora is an independent registered charity and is proud to have invested 100% of its investors’ donations into programmes that are helping to future-proof land-use, communities, the environment and climate. The Trust welcomes enquiries for funding, or for donations that will help further its work.

Email the Trust at info@keteora.nz for more information.