Smaller scale biodynamic and permaculture growing

Guests: Luigi and Nidya Marasco-Bellido, The Patch Organics (Bellingen, NSW)

Introduction to this episode:

My guests on this episode of the series, Luigi Marasco and Nidya Marasco-Bellido are share farmers whose Patch Organics business cultivates an acre paddock using biodynamic techniques on what used to be a holding pen for dairy cows. Their Patch Organics cultivation produces herbs, vegetables, and pasture-raised chicken, and takes place within the bigger, certified organic, 500-acre Levenvale Farm situated within beautiful rolling hill country near Bellingen NSW.

A written account of Luigi and Nidya'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 – 2.03
• Guest self-introduction – 3.31
• How would you describe biodynamics in 2023  – 6.15
• How do biodynamics contrast to more conventional agriculture – 9.23
• How did you first become involved with biodynamic growing in the first place? – 21.35 including Luigi’s story of mentorship and early workshop training.

• The generosity of the BD community linked to history of concern with healing the land – 32.35
• Can you tell us more about the biodynamic methods you are use on your farm - and the beneficial effects they have. – 36.28
• How have you incorporated the spiritual/cosmic aspects of biodynamics into your work? – 46.11
• What are some of the challenges you have faced in your biodynamic journey? – 1.00.42
• What does the future hold for your property? - 1.05.26

• Guest take home messages and parting advice to audience on biodynamic adoption – 1.11.02
• Thanks to guests and  acknowledgements - 1.20.40
• End of episode – 1.23.37

GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS:

Guests: LUIGI AND NIDYA, THE PATCH ORGANICS (BELLINGEN, NSW)

  Tel: [phone]     Email:  WEB:   Facebook

 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 27th 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.

The survey has been created to encourage our audience to give more feedback than is usually generated via podcast app rating scores and comments. We value any ideas, insights or comments listeners might have which could help us develop possible future podcast offerings. All feedback received will be treated as anonymous data and will only be used for the strict purpose of helping us better design possible future podcast media.

The survey is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HNFFBQ

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN INTERVIEW OR RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION:

THE PATCH ORGANICS FARM Facebook page and Patch Organics on Levenvale Farm’s website with details of  p