Upcoming Events
biodynamic agrictulture & Nutrition year-long course monthly meetings: experiences, exercises and explorations
Painting by Sara Parrilli www.saraparrilli.com
intro to biodynamics
Monthly hands-on workshops exploring various practical aspects of biodynamic farming, gardening and animals care including the 9 biodynamic preparations, understanding and working with soil and plant health, and more. Discounted for those enrolled in the EduCareDo Biodynamics and Nutrition Course.
caregiver-toddler group
Fridays 10am-11:30am
20 months and up
We will begin our time together with a visit to the cows and bunnies and then head inside to hold an intentional space of warm, quiet observation for children’s self-initiated play. There will be space to bring questions and gentle parent conversation around understanding and supporting child development, family rhythms, sleep, nutrition, and overall well-being. We will also learn simple songs and gesture games together and share in bread making or another simple activity at the table. Tea, snack and short take-home parent readings are provided each week. Contact us with questions and to register. Sliding scale $10-20/session.
info@sunheartfarm.org or 908-227-0004
Drop-off Daycare at Sun Heart Farm
These morning sessions nurture children’s development through health-bringing, child-centered activities in the warm, supportive environment of home on the farm. Simple, rhythmical experiences of seasonal activities, a daily walk, animal chores, snack, circle time and space for self-initiated creative play will guide our time together. Gentle, developmentally appropriate activities are focused on the care and development of the young child’s senses, fostering wonder, and supporting their unfolding capacities. Children are welcome to attend for 1, 2 or all 3 days each week. Contact us to come for a visit, with other questions and to register. Sliding scale $40-50 per morning session. info@sunheartfarm.org or 908-227-0004
caregiver-infant group
Fridays 9-10:15pm
~6-18 months
Join us in holding an intentional space of warm, quiet observation for children’s self-initiated play. There will be space to bring questions and gentle parent conversation around understanding and supporting child development, family rhythms, sleep, nutrition, and overall well-being. We will also learn simple songs and gesture games together and end our time together with a visit to the cows and bunnies. Tea, snack and short take-home parent readings are provided each week. Contact us with questions and to register. Sliding scale $10-20/session.
info@sunheartfarm.org or 908-227-0004
Working with Health & Illness at Home - workshops with developing the self Developing the World
3 1-day workshops offered by Developing the Self Developing the World
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Working with Illness at Home
Meeting rich and diverse experiences of health and illness support the young child’s journey of growth and development towards inner freedom in adulthood. While we need to consciously support their unfolding, at the same time we must tread lightly, so as to not interfere in the potential fruits that may naturally unfold for them through their experiences of health and illness. We will work with the conscious activity of reverence to support them on their journey with health and illness.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Preventative Healthcare at Home
Even though we may recognize the deep meaningfulness of illness for growth and development and for the strengthening of both child and caregiver, that is not to say that all illness processes are necessary or unavoidable. By fostering good health we can support greater balance and harmony without having to traverse every illness process ‘available’. As adults, we have to know how to perceive and evaluate the wellness or imbalance of our own system in order to support this development in the young child. We also have to cultivate and deepen our own relationship to rest and to harmonizing therapeutic applications in order to facilitate these for the young children in our care.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Supporting Nourishment in Early Childhood - Body, Soul and Spirit
In this workshop we will look at different aspects of nutrition in the life of the young child. We will consider the ‘earthly nutrition’ of food in the life of the young child – recognizing that by observing a child’s relationship to eating and food preferences we can gain insight into their constitutional tendencies and needs and ask the question of how we could bring greater balance and diversity to the nutrition of the young child. We will also explore the ‘cosmic nutrition’ of all that they absorb through their senses as well as the influence of their unseen environment, particularly the world of thoughts, feelings, and will impulses of the adults that surround them.
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In addition to offerings on this workshop theme, each workshop will include a nourishing meal, the opportunity to both receive and learn how to offer therapeutic treatments at home, gain familiarity with some home remedies, space for individual reflection, experiential exercises and group conversation. Each workshop will deepen and build upon the pre-reading Supporting Inner Freedom in the Young Child through Health and Illness (a lesson in the EduCareDo Early Childhood Course). While the workshops are aimed at supporting parents and caregivers in the home, the workshop content and experience will also be relevant for those interested in deepening their relationship to their own experiences of health and illness as well as those caring for other adults. The workshop content will unfold and adapt to meet the questions and interests of the participants.
All three workshops will take place at Sun Heart Farm in Stephentown, New York.
Inquire about childcare available on-site: info@sunheartfarm.org
was founded by a community of individuals committed to working with inner development for world development and striving to build healthy community life in the light of anthroposophy. As an organization, Developing the Self – Developing the World also connects individuals and communities with artists, health practitioners, farmers, and educators who offer peer support, workshops, and programs for school faculties, students, and parents. This work has grown out of this community of individuals’ work with meditation and inner development, in relationship to the Inner Work Path, which offers courses, workshops and lectures on these themes.
Winter Residential Retreat with Developing the Self Developing the World
developing the self developing the World
2025 winter Residential Retreat
In the Light of Courage
A winter residential retreat towards finding our next steps
Friday, January 3rd to Sunday, January 5th, 2025 at Sun Heart Farm in Stephentown, NY
Opportunities for group conversation and engagement in offerings and experiences on the retreat theme
Baths, compresses and other therapeutic treatments
Space for quiet contemplation and time in nature
Renewal through the arts
Health-bringing meals and snacks
Sliding scale rates $500-750 and financial aid available on a needs basis. Please express your interest early! Space is limited to 7 participants. 908-227-0004 contact@developingtheself.org
Painting by Lisa Bono
was founded by a community of individuals committed to working with inner development for world development and striving to build healthy community life in the light of anthroposophy. As an organization, Developing the Self – Developing the World also connects individuals and communities with artists, health practitioners, farmers, and educators who offer peer support, workshops, and programs for school faculties, students, and parents. This work has grown out of this community of individuals’ work with meditation and inner development, in relationship to the Inner Work Path, which offers courses, workshops and lectures on these themes.
christmas singing to the cows
We will welcome the children and families attending early childhood programming at Sun Heart and other local friends to sing Christmas Carols to the cows on Christmas Eve.
Spiral of LIght
We will hold a spiral of light for the children attending early childhood programming at Sun Heart and other local friends of the farm.
BIODYNAMIC INTENSIVE SEMINAR A Healing Agriculture: Human Beings, Technology, and the Life of the Earth
Offered by the Biodynamic Association in partnership with EduCareDo (link is external), Sun Heart Farm (link is external), Hawthorne Valley Farm (link is external), Camphill Village Copake (link is external), and Churchtown Dairy (link is external)
Deepen your understanding of biodynamic agriculture
Over 3+ days working together we will explore the human being’s unique role in creating a healing agriculture in a context that is increasingly dominated by mechanical and digital technology. Biodynamics focuses on fostering healthy relationships in all aspects of our lives; with the natural world, within social life, and with ourselves. By developing our capacities to perceive and serve the life of the earth and humanity, we may help create and use ‘moral’ technologies with a potential to heal.
Through presentations, conversation, exercises, artistic activities, practical work, and farm visits, we will strive to more fully know, experience, and participate co-creatively in agriculture. New approaches from biodynamic agriculture will be offered to help us bring forward the gifts of our plant, animal, soil, and human communities towards creating a nourishing and healthy community of life.
This course is designed for anyone participating in or interested in deepening their relationship to and understanding of agriculture: farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders, teachers, food system and non-profit workers, activists, parents, caregivers, community members, and eaters. No prior experience is needed, just an openness and willingness to engage together.
Presenters include Anthony Mecca, Spencer Fenniman, Jess Brobst, Todd Newlin, Steffen Schneider, Jean-David Derremeuax, Lia Babitch, Marc Blachere, and Sam Mirkin.
Contact anthony@biodynamics.com or 607-353-3708
Holistic health seasonal clinic
Click here to register for the June Holistic Health and Healing pay-what-you-can Clinic.
BIODYNAMIC INTENSIVE SEMINAR
BIODYNAMIC INTENSIVE SEMINAR
A Healing Agriculture: Human Beings, Technology, and the Life of the Earth
Experience-based learning sessions in the mornings, including artistic, social, and economic work. Afternoon visits to 5 different local biodynamic farms. In collaboration with the Biodynamic Demeter Alliance and other local farms!
Deepen your understanding of biodynamic agriculture
Over 3+ days working together we will explore the human being’s unique role in creating a healing agriculture in a context that is increasingly dominated by mechanical and digital technology. Biodynamics focuses on fostering healthy relationships in all aspects of our lives; with the natural world, within social life, and with ourselves. By developing our capacities to perceive and serve the life of the earth and humanity, we may help create and use ‘moral’ technologies with a potential to heal.
Through presentations, conversation, exercises, artistic activities, practical work, and farm visits, we will strive to more fully know, experience, and participate co-creatively in agriculture. New approaches from biodynamic agriculture will be offered to help us bring forward the gifts of our plant, animal, soil, and human communities towards creating a nourishing and healthy community of life.
This course is designed for anyone participating in or interested in deepening their relationship to and understanding of agriculture: farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders, food system and non-profit workers, activists, parents, caregivers, community members, and eaters. The richness and diversity of views and experience can create a lively interplay that we encourage in our learning environments. No prior experience is needed, just an openness and willingness to engage together.
Throughout the days there will be ample social time to enjoy and get to know each other. Three simple organic and biodynamic daily meals and snacks will be provided and are included in the course tuition.
Accommodations and travel are the responsibility of each participant; we can help with housing and travel options – please contact anthony@biodynamics.com
Presenters include Anthony Mecca, Spencer Fenniman, Jess Brobst, Todd Newlin, Steffen Schneider, Jean-David Derremeuax, Lia Babitch, Marc Blachere, and Sam Mirkin.
