# In Search of Britain's Biodynamic Roots

Vivian Griffiths, John Paull

► To cite this version:

Vivian Griffiths, John Paull. In Search of Britain's Biodynamic Roots. Star & Furrow, 2024, 142 (Autumn), pp.12-15. 10.5281/zenodo.15187213. hal-05028964

HAL Id: hal-05028964

https://hal.science/hal-05028964v1

Submitted on 10 Apr 2025

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>
# In Search of Britain's Biodynamic Roots

VIVIAN GRIFFITHS (TEXT) AND DR JOHN PAULL (PICTURES)

To mark the 100th Birthday of Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course, Dr John Paull and I made a car journey in the summer of 2024 to trace the origins of those who pioneered biodynamic practice in Britain.

It was a tour initially arranged by Chloe Hindmarsh from Ruskin Mill especially for John Paull. He is an environmental scientist researcher from the University of Tasmania at Hobart, who has written many papers on the history of biodynamics since he discovered the personality of Lord Walter Northbourne. John maintains that through his insightful 1940 book 'Look to The Land', Northbourne coined the phrase Organic Farming from the term Farm Organism. This arose from meeting Dr Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, a pioneer attempting to prove the efficacy of the biodynamic preparations. Consequently, biodynamics has had a huge influence on the organic history narrative.

John had just come from giving a keynote address at the Biodynamic Federation Members Assembly 100th anniversary gathering at Kobierzyce (Koberwitz) in Poland as well as some time at the biodynamic archives at the Goetheanum in Dornach.

Our aim was to find places where biodynamic pioneer Carl Mirbt/Mier had lived and worked in England as a 'Koberwitzer'. But first John gave two talks to Ruskin Mill Masters students and staff on the Agriculture Course translator into English, George Adams/Kaufmann.

In the following diary and photographs, we can trace the journey wending our way through Britain. We could have gone to Scotland, a significant contributor to early biodynamic practice, but time and distance limits prevailed, and Carl Mier only went there in later life.

**4th July**

Nailsworth/ Stroud Glos. Election Day! Meeting Ruskin Mill staff member and inspiration of the trip Chloe Hindmarsh and John Paull.

Visiting the archives in the BDA Office in Stroud kindly put out by Jess Standing and Richard Swann. Looking at the original member list of The Anthroposophical Agricultural Foundation and early copies of its newsletter - Notes and Correspondence.

Day 1

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>Ruskin Mill at Horsely Valley, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.</figcaption></figure>

Day 2

**5th July**

Morning: 'A Sense of Place' walk around The Horsley Valley, Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth highlighting the Genius Loci approach of The Trust, observing the mineral, plant, animal and human aspects of the site which underpins their work as well as meeting staff and students along the way.

A second visit to the BDA Office with a generously provided lunch with the staff. There we discovered studies highlighting Lilly Kolisko's scientific work.

Afternoon: To the Field Centre where John Paull gave a lecture on 'The Koberwitzers' to Ruskin Mill's newster's students.

We tried to find Lilly Kolisko's little cottage at Edge above Stroud, where she lived from 1940 to 1975, but it was hidden behind a tree!
### 6th July

To Cardiff and West Wales.

Visiting Phil Forder who knew Barbara Saunders Davies at Plas Dwbl Farm. He gave a detailed slide show and archive exploration of her correspondence with Ehrenfried Pfeiffer which included the visit he made to her home in Pembrokeshire and journey to St David's Head. We realised we were just two handshakes away from Rudolf Steiner, if you want to put it that way! Pfeiffer called the spot "The Cradle of British Biodynamics" the Celtic Heart of biodynamic practice.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Phil Forder.</figcaption></figure>

Day 4

### 7th July

To Plas Dwbl Pembrokeshire and a hidden library!

Shown around the College farm site by Laura Wallwork and told about the history of the remarkable three older ladies coming there to farm biodynamically in the 1970s. Many students came for training courses from Europe, most notably from Ukraine. Ruskin Mill Trust now runs the farm as a special needs student training centre majoring on land work in The Preseli Hills, home of the Stonehenge Stones - or most of them it seems!

A chance comment led us to Barbara Saunders Davies' Library nearby, so that one day it can be returned to the Plas Dwbl site as part of the proposed Katherine Castelliz Research Centre.

Journey to Stourbridge along the Heads of the Valley's road and into England.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Plas Dwbl, Wales.</figcaption></figure>

Day 3

### 8th July

To Sunfield Children's Home and its important Anthroposophical library.

First of all, we went past Clent Cottage where Carl and Gertrude Mier lived in the early 1950s when he was Secretary of the newly formed Biodynamic Agricultural Association.

Not far away Broome Farm, Clent was bought for Sunfield by David Clement in 1933 who farmed there with his family from 1940. It became the office of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association in 1951 and sold in 1987. We met the widow of the subsequent owner, Mr Callow who offered help with records and the whereabouts of his daughter's Agricultural Student of the Year dissertation on the story of the farm.

At Sunfield, now a thriving part of Ruskin Mill Trust, we were looking at the new proposals for a Cafe, Library and Research Centre named after translator George Adams/Kaufmann. We then surveyed the large resource of historical documents pertaining to biodynamics in the library.

Day 5

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Present-day Broome Farm.</figcaption></figure>

Day 6

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>Sunfield Library.</figcaption></figure>

### July 9th

Another day in the Sunfield Library! John's infectious enthusiasm for its contents rubs off on to some young staff at Sunfield who begin to see its importance as primary source material. We discovered rare and valuable photos of early biodynamic pioneers; a first edition of The Agriculture Course in English - a very valuable resource typed out and numbered by Marna Pease with the name of its owner! It is a library of great importance for biodynamic history in Britain.

Afternoon tea with David Adams and his involvement in British biodynamics as a helper to David Clements in the 1980s as well as being a biodynamic farmer at Botton.
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>Mark Gartner at home in Stourbridge.</figcaption></figure>

Day 7

### July 10th

Morning: Conversations with Mark Gartner at his home in Stourbridge. Now in his nineties, Mark knew pioneers both in biodynamics and Camphill in Britain. He and Rosalind lived in Botton with Carl and Gertrude in the 1950s. Mark related Carl's interest in the Threefold Social Order being one of the reasons they came to Botton, which was in effect a pioneering social experiment living and working with people with special needs. It was an insightful conversation involving the thoughts and inspirations of Camphill's founder Dr Karl Konig.

### Day 8 - July 11th

To Huby village and Sleights Farm north of Leeds and the first biodynamic farm in Britain, home to Maurice Wood and family from the 1920s. This was the site where George Adams/Kaufmann translated The Agriculture Course into English in 1929. We met Maurice's helper, now in his 80s, who as a 14-year-old in the 1950s filled the bags with slow-milled biodynamic flour which had a faithful following in the UK supplying shops and individuals. His pamphlet 'Going Through The Mill' was widely read at the time.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>Sleights Farm Plaque with Vivian.</figcaption></figure>

Day 8

### July 12th -13th

On to Otterburn, Northumberland via Tynemouth - staying over with archive researcher and retired University lecturers Joan Harvey and her husband David with family connections to the Pease family and their family home of Otterburn Castle now a country house hotel. Marna Pease was the sister of Eleanor Merry, helper to Daniel Dunlop early Anthroposophical Society Chair. The visit of Carl Mier to Otterburn was a new development before the move to Bray, see below.

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>Otterburn Castle, Northumberland.</figcaption></figure>

Days
9/10

Day 11

### July 14th

COVID prevented us from talking to Land Group members of Esk Valley Camphill at the Botton site, but in rain and mist we crossed the moors to Upper Danby Dale to take photographs of The Lodge and Botton Hall where Carl and Gertrude lived and worked in the 1950s.

Then on to Nottingham for an overnight stay near Weleda in Derbyshire.

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>The Lodge at Botton Village, Yorkshire.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Kings Langley Priory.</figcaption></figure>

Day 12

### July 15th

To Weleda in Ilkeston, Nottinghamshire and Delrow Hertfordshire and on to Kings Langley. We visited the Weleda site and the biodynamic garden at the Weleda factory. Then we drove south to see the Carl Mier Library at Delrow College and Rehabilitation Centre which was set up in 1963. Carl and Gertrude based themselves at Delrow after their Botton time and Carl bequeathed his library to the college. We were welcomed by one of the residents who recognised the author with great kindness!

To Watford, staying with great hospitality at Odilia Kirst's house. Her family has many connections to the Kings Langley Steiner School. This was founded at The Priory by Miss Margaret Cross and became the office of The Biodynamic Association in 1935 following the split in the Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland, meaning that from 1935 to 1951 there were in effect two Biodynamic Associations.

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>

Day 14

<caption>The Old Mill House.</caption>

### July 17th

To Bray on Thames where we were joined by Mark Moodie (of Considera Website with its BD history timeline). A visit to The Old Mill House where Marna Pease and Carl Mier/Mirbt created a beautiful biodynamic bee garden and helped build compost heaps sculptured like altars! It was the first office of The Anthroposophical Agricultural Foundation in 1930.

In a way, it was the climax of the tour! The gardener of The Old Mill House showed John many features of Marna and Carl's time there including the little bungalow that became the home and laboratory of Lilly and Eugen Kolisko when they came to England from Europe in 1936.
(Picture 13 - The Old Mill House)
We realised we made this biodynamic history journey across Britain just before it slips into a folk memory. We were met with kindness and hospitality wherever we went.

It has become part of the 100th Birthday of biodynamics celebration which is turning out to be a significant event both nationally and internationally.

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>Allotmenteers at Kings Langley, Herts.</figcaption></figure>

Day 13

### July 16th

To Kings Langley where we were guests of the biodynamic allotmenteers on The Priory site land still belonging to The Christian Community - as did The Priory itself. It has been cultivated biodynamically since the 1930s. We enjoyed a tour of the site with its healthy plants and fruit trees and a shared picnic where we had a far-reaching discussion on the position and challenges biodynamic practice faces today.

Endnote, in the late summer of 2024 Phil Forder died of cancer after a remarkable career as a Steiner Teacher, and anthroposophist, working in prisons and as a consultant to Ruskin Mill in Wales. We would like to dedicate this article to his fond and special memory.

Photos and great help from John Paull. Text by Vivian Griffiths