Mixed biodynamic farming in far north Queensland.

Guest: Adam Collins, Kisima Farm, Evelyn Tablelands (FNQLD)

Introduction to this episode:

My guest on this episode of the series, Adam Collins, was born and raised in Kenya, and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in the United Kingdom. However he says that after five years of learning how to ‘kill’ everything he felt disillusioned as he believed that farming should be “about growing life, not killing it.” In 1985 Adam’s family moved to Australia and bought a 100-acre block in far North Queensland near Ravenshoe named Kisima Farm - the ‘place of peaceful water.’ After doing some soul-searching and travelling, Adam partnered with his father on the farm in 1999 and began his systematic  journey into biodynamic practice from that point on.

A written account of Adam's biodynamic growing experiences is contained in a companion text profile booklet of all the guests interviewed for this podcast series. Also entitled ‘Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners in Australia' details of this written publication are available from the Biodynamics Agriculture Australia Ltd. website. 

 INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS  - with approximate time elapsed in mins.

• Guest foreshadow comment  - 0.00
• Generic podcast series introduction. – 0.30
• This episode introduction - 2.04
• Guest self-introduction: description of current work and farm profile – 3.07
• Can you define and describe biodynamics in 2023  – 5.22
• How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional growing methods? – 8.57
• (Includes description of biodynamic preparation work – 11.52
• How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? -21.34
• Tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have. – 27.22
• How do you go about teaching and training others in biodynamic methods? - 31.40
• (Includes description of stirring work involved in biodynamic preparations – 36.26
• How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 40.22
• (Includes discussion of the benefits of higher food quality and human health and wellbeing- 44.50
• What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? - 51.04
• The key importance of long and thoughtful observation in biodynamics -54.56
• What does the future hold for your farm and for biodynamic practice more generally? - 58.20
• Guest take home message – 1.02.36

• Guest parting advice to audience on biodynamic adoption – 1.06.06
• Thanks, acknowledgements and episode close. – 1.08.16
• End of episode – 1.10.44

GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS:

 Guest: Adam Collins, Kisima Farm, Evelyn Tablelands (FNQLD)

Email: [e-mail]  WEB: Biodynamics FNQ  Tel: [phone]

Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc.(Australia)

Tel: [phone]  Email  WEB  Facebook

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.

25 Nobles Lane, BELLINGEN, NSW 2454,Australia

Tel: [phone]  Email  WEB  Facebook

Production:

Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on  9th October   2023

Interview questions developed by: Anna Kula-Kaczmarski   Incidental Music: James Nicholson

 BFGA podcast series - brief survey (2 – 5 minute) completion

The Stories of our Biodynamic Farmers and Gardeners podcast series was produced for Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd. Our short listener survey is available now on Survey Monkey. It consists of simple questions which should take less than five minutes to complete.

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