Latest News from Rachel Carson Centre

Check out the latest news from the Rachel Carson Centre Biodynamic Training, UK.

 

The Biodynamic Training continues! 

 

Emerson College now has a new Board of Trustees, a group of people who are  changing the college into an eco-community / anthroposophical venue. The courses that have been running at Emerson College in the past will all operate independently - and as we announced in our last email: the Biodynamic Agriculture Association has been keen to take over the Biodynamic courses.

 

The new Trustees have agreed to give the Rachel Carson building to St Anthony's Trust. Not only that, also the farm land currently owned by Emerson College but farmed by Tablehurst Farm will be donated to St Anthony's Trust, who already own most of the land and the buildings of Tablehurst Farm and Plaw Hatch Farm, our two local biodynamic farms. This makes the future of the Rachel Carson Centre, and of Tablehurst farm, very secure.

 

This is all fantastic news, we are incredibly happy and grateful for all the help and support we have recieved so far. The next big step is for us to raise enough working capital so that we can make a start in our own building this September. We had planned a range of Summer courses - which are still happening, but enrolment has been somewhat negatively affected by the whole Emerson affair. We have made a good business plan, which shows that from our first independent academic year (2010-2011) we will be breaking even - but we need to bridge this Summer. We need to invest in basic equipment such as chairs, tables, computers, teaching materials, etc and we need working capital for expenses such as telephone, internet, electricity, wages, marketing, etc.

 

We have budgeted £60,000 set-up costs, and so far we have raised £20,000. We need your help with this - you can now make easy donations using Paypal on the website of the Biodynamic Agriculture Association:

 

 http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/training/emerson-bd-course.html

 

What we have achieved so far:

 

1. Solid business plan written

2. Convinced board of Biodynamic Agriculture Association to take over the biodynamic course department

3. Convinced board of Emerson College to donate the teaching building to a local land trust

4. Convinced board of Emerson College to also donate Tablehurst farm land to a local land trust - creating a safer future for Tablehurst Farm

5. Raised £20,000 of the £60,000 working capital needed to get the courses going in September

6. In principle agreement with Plumpton College for continuation of collaboration to offer accredited, funded training courses

7. Members for our own Board of Studies identified and they have agreed to serve.

8. Successful online marketing campaign resulting in more than 25 new first-year students enrolled for this September already.

 

Please help us to achieve our goal: a successful thriving centre for biodynamic training in the UK. Donate now, please visit the following website and use the Paypal button to make a donation online:

 

http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/training/emerson-bd-course.html

 

Many thanks for your continuing interest and support!

 

Arjen Huese,

 

director Rachel Carson Centre for Biodynamics and Sustainability

 

 

 

Apprenticeship Soil Block Course at Laverstoke Park

 

Fourteen apprentices from the Biodynamic Agriculture Association Apprenticeship Scheme met last week for an intensive week on soil science. Arjen Huese, director and teacher of the Rachel Carson Centre, took the apprentices through a programme exploring the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil. On top of that he introduced the course attendants to the cycle of the etheric forces as they manifest in the plant, and in the atmosphere and soil. 

 

The course was hosted by Laverstoke Park, the biggest biodynamic farm in the country, where they have their own soil laboratory, as well as a huge composting business, a vineyard, an abattoir, buffaloes, pigs and many other lifestock. We were treated on tours around the various aspects of the farm, and we would like to say a big "Thank You" to Jody and Clare Scheckter, the owners of Laverstoke Farm for making this into such a fantastic week! One of the apprentices writes a blog about her experiences on Sturts Farm, where she does her apprenticeship - have a look at http://gardenapprentice.wordpress.com/ - thank you Jessie!

 

Arjen

 

 

More than 25 applications for September!

 

We have now passed the 25 mark for applications for the full-time courses in September this year! This is absolutely fabulous - if this continues we might have to hire extra classroom spaces from Emerson College...

 

The great thing is that it looks very likely that our students will be able to book rooms at Emerson College to stay during term time - and the cook is starting a catering business, so it also looks like lunches will be available.

 

Please help spreading the word - if you know of young people who would like to make a change in te world - who would like to work actively on local food production, combating climate change - or generally need a good dose of empowerment: nothing feels so good as growing your own food, being responsible and caring for animals, or even running your own market garden or small farm... Many of our students gain so much confidence in themselves and in life and the world - it is that which makes this course so incredibly worthwhile for me as the course leader.

 

Thank you for your good thoughts and wishes - and with your help we will continue this wonderful work!

 

Arjen Huese