Soil, Arts, Nutrition and everything in between
Research & Practice
Current work:
Youth-led Community Food
Asia Biodynamic Research Network
Courses & Workshop
Transforming the Fire of Life
- Youth Camp
Beauty of Breathing
Community Work & Exchange
Publication
contact: [email protected]
© Chik Ying Chai. All rights reserved.
Transforming The fire of Life
The youth movement today is again searching for nature; anthroposophical youth is also searching for nature, but it is searching for the spirit in nature... when we go out into nature, to the surface of the earth, we are deep in the belly of cosmic being. We may then also regain that feeling which I actually still experienced when, as a very small child, I associated with miners, not with coal-miners but with those mining for metals. There were still some among them who knew that if you descend into the earth you meet spiritual beings that you cannot find on the surface of the earth. You meet there the organs with which the earth dreams and thinks about the universe. With those people, thinking was still something that lived within the earth. They still knew that if you look up, you see abstract stars, but if you become acquainted with what lives beneath the earth, then you see in the universe something you could call pictures, but pictures that spring forth, that are truly living.
— Youth's Search in Nature,GA 217a, Rudolf Steiner, 17 June 1924, KoberwitzWhat really happens in human beings during the process of sexual maturity? Prior to this, as children, their relationship to the world was one in which they first imitated their surroundings and then came under the power of authority. Outer influences worked on them, because at that time their inner being mainly represented what they brought with them from preearthly life. Humanity as a whole had to work on them externally, first through the principle of imitation and then through authority. Now, at puberty, having found their own way into the human race and no longer depending on outer support as a younger child does, a new feeling arises in them, along with a whole new appraisal of humankind as a whole. And this new experience of humankind represents a spiritual counterpart to the physical capacity to reproduce. Physically, they gain the ability to procreate; spiritually, they gain the ability to experience humankind as a whole.
— Soul Economy Body, Soul and Spirit in Waldorf Education, GA 303 XIII. Adolescents after the Fourteenth Year, Rudolf Steiner, 4 January 1922, StuttgartYouth is in search in nature to fully incarnate. Human started to gain the ability to experience humankind as a whole when they turn into youth. Before that their inner being mainly still what brought with them from preearthly life, outer influence worked on them through imitation and authority. Then from puberty, they become a conscious being, they found their own way into the human race and no longer depending on outer support as a younger child does, a new feeling arises in them, along with a whole new appraisal of humankind, it marks the basic premise of love for fellow man as a whole.This project aimed to explore how we can facilitate the youth in our time today to be aware of their existence as a conscious being and empower them regarding food knowledge, skills and connections between nutrition, soil, environment and human's will, ultimately leading them to become responsible decision makers and guardian for future community food organism.Methods
Quantitative and qualitative survey. Community workshop and programs through partnership and collaboration with farms, schools, parents, cooks, natural farming, organic and Biodynamic communities, 7 life and learning processes, rhythm, Anthroposophical arts, philosophy and “humour” as supporting principle in the process.
ABRN 1st ONLiNE MEETING: Introduction to
Biodynamic Research and Methodologies
Asia Biodynamic Research Network(ABRN) Online Meeting
- Introduction to Biodynamic Research and Methodologies
10 April 2025 (Thursday)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SPrSWXCB1EThrough case studies and dialogue, we will explore how research can support problem solving, further develop biodynamic farming practices and meet the major challenges of our time, what are the research methods and how can we as a farmer or gardener practice it while doing agricultural work?Sharing includes Participatory, Horizontal and Vertical Holism Methodology by research scientist Dr. Christopher Brock and Goetheanistic and Artistic Inquiry by co-leader of the Section for Agriculture, Eduardo Rincón.We will also hear sharing from farmers and researchers from Asia: Regina Sharmila Dass, Thanga Pandian, Anthoniselvi, Etha Widiyanto and Liron Israely with their current research initiatives exploring questions such as "How do we develop an experiential relationship with astronomy and farming, with the rhythm of moon, sun and planets as they relate to our earthly activities? How can we observe the nutritional and life quality of our farming crops? How do we study the result and efficacy of Biodynamic compost in improvement of soil organic matter as a field application?"
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ABRN aims to support regional co-working network, to build and share expertise in developing agriculture and nutrition research that combine both scientific and spiritual scientific methods — approaches which considers the spiritual, ecological, social, economic, and cultural environment for the biodynamic movement in Asia countries and beyond. We believe that with positive and forward-looking ideas, research activities and research results can support problem solving, further develop biodynamic farming practices and meet the major challenges of our time, such as climate, socio-economic and spiritual crisis.ABRN work together with any individual or organization in local and worldwide biodynamic movement, in particular the Biodynamic Federation - Demeter International, Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum, and Forschungsring eV, for advice, support, partnership and collaboration. We are very grateful for their full support in the formation of this initiative and making this first online training a very encouraging start up.The research area that we are supporting includes but not limited to Biodynamic Preparation Work, Plants and Soil, Nutrition and Food Quality, Animal Husbandry, Goetheanistic Science and Arts, Sustainability and Regenerative, Biodynamic Training and Education.ABRN contact: [email protected]----
3rd International Biodynamic Research Conference:
https://www.biodynamic-research.org/
Transforming The fire of Life - Youth Camp
“今日的人们缺乏滋长灵性所需的力量，从思维到意志和行动的桥梁再也无法搭建，这是“营养”造成的问题。。。与食物和外在感官印象的交流是导致解放还是束缚，是提升还是沉沦，取决于我们吃什么、摄入什么和怎么吃、怎么摄入”。-鲁道夫·施泰纳博士如果一个孩子在青少年成长期间能够消化所需营养来支持骨骼和大脑的生长，那么他就能够在以后严肃的生活中充满信心和力量地为世界服务。《转动生命之火》生活营
28 - 29.6.2025
Lot 928 农场民宿, Kuala Klewang
早鸟价(至21.6) RM195/人(原价RM250)双人同行RM365(18人额满）邀请青少年、父母、教育工作者、友善饮食及园艺、农耕工作者透过体验式学习了解食物生命力与营养为何, 在这段青少年强烈发展自我意识的时期, 我们如何可以透过艺术、友善食物和与土地连接的工作协助青少年守护意志之火，并将之转化为提升家庭乃至社群与环境健康发展的生命力量!
beauty of breathing
Beauty of Breathing 2023/2024 (Home and Community Care Series)In this 6-hour workshop, we explored Rudolf Steiner’s Calendar of the Soul verse with movement and gentle self inquiry through painting, practice nature work and observation, explore wholesome food preparation, food testing with aroma painting and enjoy community meal.An invitation to slow down, to reconnect to our inner and outer world, and in turn, bring back our rhythm and balance to self and communities.----
Nature Observation, Painting and Drawing WorkshopNew series coming soon.
Malaysia Biodynamic Farmer Exchange
“From Farm to the World We Want to Live” Malaysia Biodynamic Farmer Exchange 2025On 14 December 2024, Malaysia’s Biodynamics community celebrated the 100-Year Anniversary of Biodynamic Agriculture with reflection on the theme “From Farm to the World We Want to Live” through exchange and dialogue. The event welcomed 45 from all over the country - including farmers, gardeners, researchers, producers, retailers, trainers, educators and representatives from biodynamic organisations.Limitation as Source of Creativity and Community Building
Malaysia, like many other countries in South East Asia, faced land degradation, soil pollution and flood due to unsustainable farming practices, monoculture oil palm plantation and heavy rain fall. The deteriorating situation had altered drastically the social, economic, and ecological environment in the recent years. Our homeland is clearly urging a call to action, but where do we stand? What can we in the Biodynamic movement do to reduce such impact? What are the challenges and opportunities, are we capable in transforming the two poles?We need a fundamental change to shift the way we relate to the world, there is a missing link of spirituality due to inadequate image of man and nature, we need to see the image of the fourfold human being as a way to explain the connection between matter and spirit. We cannot solve the many challenges of our time with only earthly-bound consciousness, we need to raise our consciousness from parts to the whole, with more sustainable, mindful, and interconnected practices. We need to cultivate subtle observation and creativity where we encounter soil, weeds, grass, microbes, insects, animals as part of our living community whom we shared the same breath. We need phenomenological observation to gain insights of the presence, to get away from judging what is good or bad but work with climate as partners for humanity development. We need to awaken not just individual will, but communal will for regional support group to strengthen skill and production in growing food that supply strength necessary for manifesting the spirit in man’s physical life, we need community dialogue, open exchange and living development towards whole food organism. We need trust, and equanimity, to everything that may come is given to us at this period of time to seek the awakening from within ourselves, as a community, for the world we are living in.Contributors include nutrition consultant Wong Kee Yew, applied scientist and agriculture researcher Dr. Hoe Yin Chen, sociologist and sustainability impact advisor Dr. Dalphine Ong, Biodynamic advisor Sundeep Kamath, farmers Ivan Ho (Jungle Family agroforestry initiative), Tung Siew Hoe (Centainnel Agriculture), Chuah Jiunn Harng (Hillside Organics), Ng Seow Lim (Ria Natural Farm and Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association of Malaysia), and representative from Malaysia Demeter Association Ee Tsao Chen. The program started with hearty breakfast from Vision Eco Farm and BeReal Café, closed with seeds exchange, food tasting and wholesome lunch prepared by venue host Green Bamboo Organics, together with Mari Orchard, Embun Farm, Kebun Che, GK Farm, Mivi Garden, Kampung Harvest, Farm Foodie, Damai FarmVille, SKC Slim River, Terra Farm who supplied their farm produces for the feast.Reported by Chik Ying Chai, facilitator, Malaysia Biodynamic Farmer Exchange, 21 Jan 2024----
Malaysia Biodynamic Farmer Exchange
Malaysia Biodynamic Farmer Exchange program is an initiative supported by local Biodynamic communities which consist of farmers, retailers, producers, educators, nutritionist, cook and consumers. The first circle was made in 18 April 2024, at Mari Orchard Raub, surrounding the theme of humus formation, soil dynamics and local farm challenges. The group run cross-disciplinary exchanges where farmers, producers, retailers, cooks, nutritionists, educators, and consumers are in dialogue and supporting farm work - cultivating new community culture through friendship, understanding, collaboration and love.---
Approaching Honeybees and Land As Unity
