This Friday, February 17th, we had that amazing opportunity to go up to the Pfeiffer center and explore their operation. Little did we know that this organization is under the umbrella of the Threefold Community. On their grounds they have a K-12 school, a cafe, a Waldorf school and training for teachers of this school, a studio for fiber craft, and the Fellowship Community for inter-generational care among other operations! On our tour we witnessed first-hand some of the methods the Pfeiffer Center uses to farm biodynamically. We saw their compost pile, and how raw food waste transforms to beautiful compost soil ready to be used for planting. We also saw their raised plant beds. Half of these beds were resting with legumes growing on them in order to bring nitrate back into the soil. The other active beds were going to be divided into early and late season plants.
On our tour we learned from Mac Mead that the most important point to note about biodynamics is "having what you need from your farm for your farm." By doing so you put the nutrients your land needs back into the soil by using animal and food waste
from your farm. The plants take what they need from the soil, drawing from below the surface soil nutrients not available on top. Therefore, when you use these plants in your compost, the nutrients drawn out from the soil is replaced.
In addition, we also had the opportunity to meet the two work horses on the farm, Captain and Paris. What beauties!! We then were able to meet the dairy cows, whose owners are working on a partnership with the Threefold Community currently. I loved that there was a kindergarten class located right next to the dairy cows' barn so the children could be a part of the operation. I know I would have loved to have gone to a school with farm animals as neighbors!
On the Threefold's grounds there is a Waldorf school which I believe was for kindergarten. Outside of the school was a garden which the students tended. I thought that was so amazing. Allowing the students to learn how to bring a plant to life and care for it at such a young age is incredible. It teaches the child so many skills and lessons, as well as bringing them closer to nature.
Finally, we were treated with lunch at the Hand n' Hoe were we ate a delicious mushroom soup, bread, and salad all made from food grown on the farm.
As our project, we will be researching how to grow Threefold's camps for children. Such things as pricing, advertising methods, and funding will be explored. We hope to help this amazing organization grow their programs so they can educate many other individuals about their methods and how to grow their own gardens at home.