The New Market, Virginia, Lectures by Alan Chadwick

 

A Series of 30 lectures given at New Market, Virginia, in 1979

An Introduction to Chadwick's Lectures and a Glossary of Terms

 

Lecture 1: The Philosophy of Gardening

Audio quality: Fair (Includes the full text of this lecture along with a commentary)

Part 1.1 Welcome to new apprentices. The term "biodynamics" is pure verbosity, just a heading of terminology. Today, modern agriculture is an activity of pirates. Quote from Paracelcius. The true garden lies in the future. Utility as the modern attitude of approach; everything must be proved in the laboratory. But the garden is a great secret, a great mystery. Verbosity has blocked true vision. (9:03)

Part 1.2 We have become tangled up in empty words. But the garden leads one out of wordism into spiritual image. Biodynamic French Intensive System deals with relationship and dis-relationship. Soil is only one aspect of the plant environment. Seasonal changes. Nothing in nature is static. (9:19)

Part 1.3 The soliloquy of Friar Lawrence from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. "...For naught so vile upon the earth doth live, but to the earth some special good doth give..." Every plant is under the governance of a planet or a star. All life is interrelated. The human being is intended to be an integral part of nature, like the conductor of an orchestra, to magnify nature. (9:19)

Part 1.4 The plant world, under the rulership of the four seasons, gives us everything we have -- and it is all free. The clock and the calendar are paltry imitations of the planetary cycles. Nature is forgiving. Revolutionibus, the cycle of the seasons and the cycles. Luceferic and Ahrimanic elements. The four archangels as the progression of the seasons. Tension and relaxation. We separate ourselves from the essential connection to nature. The moment you stop trying to understand in words, you begin to perceive. If the more subtle senses are not used, they will atrophy. (9:19)

Part 1.5 Human individualities conceive of new plant forms and then coax them into existence. But man can work for ill as well as for the good. The vision of the garden is much larger than merely horticultural. This can not be found in the education of today, or by thinking in words. The truth is right in front of your nose. Poise and balance. Breathing. The dawn of every day. Food is not a material substance, rather it is metamorphosis, change, energy. All of the senses feed the body and soul. Food is a sacrament. The shadow side. (9:19)

Part 1.6 The garden is for the garden. Man creates the environment. This endeavour can change the world. Economy is the family in the home on the estate. All in balance with no waste. Only fresh food is fit for the sacrament of eating. The reverse side of this is growing for a cash crop, through a lack of faith. (8:36)

Part 1.7 We make ourselves into machines, separated from the divinity of the natural world. Our demands on the animals becomes a reflection of the shadow side of our nature. The story of the Emperor and the Nightingale. (8:36)

Part 1.8 The story of the Emperor and the Nightingale (cont.). (8:36)

Part 1.9 Conclusion of the story of the Emperor and the Nightingale. The garden is the vision that governs our lives, not merely the horticultural project. It is all our art and our happiness. A re-creation of Paradise. (12:34)

Part 1.10 Excerpt from part 1.3 above: Alan recites the soliloquy by Friar Lawrence in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. (3:08)

 

Lecture 2: The Cycles and the Four Seasons

Audio quality: fair (Includes the full text of this lecture along with a commentary)

Part 1 Some plants bloom in the middle of the period of sleep, others at the height of summer. Continual cycle of growth. No separation between vegetable and flower cultivation. Asparagus serves both sides. Some flowers bloom only at night, while others bloom during the day. Chicory, scarlet pimpernel, nicotiana affinis. Onions are lilies. All plants are governed by a planet: sun, and moon. Quote from director of Kew gardens: science and common sense. The four seasons. The sun as leader as secundus mobile. The yearly cycle of the sun. The solstice and the equinox. Ancient peoples did not assume that the sun would rise again in the new year. (13:16)

Part 2 From December 21 through March 21, night is longer than day, even thought each day is a little bit longer. Most plants prefer the equinoctial periods of the year. Excitement builds as the year progress. After the equinox, day is longer than night, which fills the earth with love and desire for procreation. But on June 21, the lengthening of the day stops and begins to diminish. This signals all of life to finish up the process, bringing all to fruition. Then at the fall equinox, the darkness begins to be predominant. All of life begins to close down. The winds of fall sweep the leaves off the trees onto the ground. Everything goes into sleep. Inclination and declination of the sun last six months each. (13:16)

Part 3 The moon exerts nine times more gravitational attraction than the sun on the moisture of the earth. This affects the tides of the oceans. The moon has a period of inclination and declination each month. At times the inclination of the sun and moon are in alignment, at other times they are in opposition. As the sun inclines, the period of inclination of the moon has more influence. Then, in the fall, when the sun declines, the declination of the moon is a powerful influence for all of life to go toward dormancy. The depths of the earth also play a part in counterpoint to the effects of the sun and moon keeping a balance among the forces. The tides of the spring equinox. (13:16)

Part 4 Spring and fall tides affected by the moon as well as water within the human body. The moon also draws out the moisture within the seed of a plant. Two nights before the new moon is the first invection of the magnetic-gravitational effect of the moon on germinating seeds. The plants of the garden appreciate the care that the gardener gives. The declination of the moon causes a kind of dormancy in the growth of plants, so transplanting should be done at that time. The twelve houses of the zodiac and their effects on propagation. (13:06)

 

Lecture 4: Man, Nature and the Garden

Audio quality: Generally good (Includes the full text of this lecture)

Part 4.1 Limnaya Muralis, a plant that purifies polluted air. Areas of discontinuity. Sedge as a plant that thrives on salt sand dunes. It leads the way for more complex land plants to move in. Iodine produced in the spume of seawater and air. Natural soil formation leading to fertility. The gravitational attraction of the moon on terrestrial water. (11:08)

Part 4.2 The geography of mountainous areas. Leadership in biological communities. Areas of discontinuity. The bloom on the skin of a tomato. Microcosm and macrocosm. The changes of the seasons. The oasis of fertile soil formed through a natural process. (11:45)

Part 4.3 Seeds arrive from established soil areas. Spring rainfall. Watering so that the soil should dry out again. Arrival of insects and animals and their manures. Cave man discovers the oasis and brings his son to collect food. The clever son recreates the oasis and teaches his father the art of gardening. Conservatory and Environment. Man, Garden and Nature. Man's magnification of nature. But man must not depart too far from the natural process. (11:45)

Part 4.4 Obedience to natural laws. Avenue to protect the soil. The Greek oikos. The entrance. This is an imitation of nature because animals typically follow the same path. Always blending with nature so as to conserve beauty. Hedge rows as natural fences and habitat for animals. The unknowable and imponderables in life. Limits to ownership. Partnership with nature. Vision for future. A healthy government which develops from the garden. For everything created, there is a natural control. Toadflax only grows in walls. (11:36)

Part 4.5 Conservatoir. The sun's sun. The fairy tale of The Merchant and the Seer. (11:45)

Part 4.6 Continuation of the fairy tale of The Merchant and the Seer. Questions and answers. The analogy of the sedge to humanity. Reclamation as destiny. The sedge as parable in contrast to the madness of mechanization. Never question the possibility of renewal. (11:06)

 

Lecture 5: Cultivation

Audio quality: Generally good

Part 5.1 Health of plants, soil, and atmosphere. Atmosphere highly important. Need wild areas to hold balance. Drainage is the primary consideration, both for soil and atmosphere. Breathing and pulsation. Natural processes of cultivation: glaciers, rivers, winds, plant and tree roots, heat, cold, moisture, drying, landslides. (13:12)

Part 5.2 Landslides (cont.) provide perfect drainage of soil and air. Stagnation of air is always a problem, movement is healthy. Landslides also provide better exposure to light. Plowing as an artificial landslide. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is another example of artificial landslide. The origin of the French Intensive System. Transplanting from pots. Communication between roots below and growing tips above. (13:12)

Part 5.3 Fear of death in plants. Analogy to human life. Building soil. Capillary action. Breaking hard-pan. Standard length of a French Intensive bed and how to build it in imitation of a landslide. When to cultivate and when not to cultivate. Never walk upon the cultivated soil, so construction of paths is important. The tragedy of compaction. (13:12)

Part 5.4 Worms as natural cultivators. The danger of hard-pan to worm activity. The beneficial effect of deep rooted plants: alfalfa, comfrey, chicory, Shepard's purse, etc. as ardent cultivators and promoters of worm activity. Warm moist gasses in the earth and in the air. Sloped soil in cold frames perpendicular to the sun. Soil textures promoting capillary. (13:08)

Part 5.5 Keeping the surface friable promotes capillary. Seasons for cultivation. Forces and energies. Protecting the soil during the summer. Plant coverage an essential aspect of the French Intensive System. Freezing of soil creates friability, but only if left in a rough condition. Always being conscious of worm activity in the process of cultivation. Fall as the best time to cultivate soil. Dust created by the flowering of trees. (13:12)

Part 5.6 Rains, ice, and wind can cause compaction. The application of a fine powdery material can release compaction where cultivation is not possible. Questions and Answers. The use of machinery. The French Intensive System is not dogmatic, but there are usually better alternatives to mechanical tillage. Visit from the Minister of Agriculture from Trinidad who marveled at the lack of tractors at Covelo. The French Intensive System can work areas for growing grains using hand tools. Quality vs. quantity. A method for developing large fields for grains. Reliance on machinery is largely a matter of habit. Soil is a sacramental matter. It may be advisable to go a little bit to the extreme in order to bring about a balance in the serious unbalance of modern agriculture . Warren Pierce, Richard Joos, and others to help with explanations if necessary. (13:12)

 

Lecture 6: Fertilization

Audio quality: Generally good (Includes the full text of this lecture)

Part 6.1 Modern education considers that it already knows everything of importance. Man thinks that fertilization is optional and mechanical. Chemical agriculture is madness. Fertilization is a vast subject. Accurate perception is of the highest importance. Strengths and weaknesses in virgin soil. The relation of humanity to nature. Fertilization is a process that occurs over time. Animal manures and their relative values. Reasons to avoid commercial poultry manure and mushroom compost. Leaf molds and their relative values. Leaves of particular trees to avoid in compost. Calcium-giving fertilizations. The relative values of seaweeds, which generally must be washed of salt before use. (13:23)

Part 6.2 History and fertilization for asparagus. Bracken fern, horsetail, and goosefoot. Wood ash and how to make and use it properly. Compost. Green matter is vastly superior to dead matter for the creation of compost. The effects of freezing on fruits and leaves. The need to conserve the gasses of decomposition in the compost process. Never leave weeds to dry out on the paths or their essential elements will dissipate into the water and air. Kitchen waste as a compost starter. Commercial compost starters (here Alan also alludes to the BD preparations "made by secret societies") are merely a business racket because nature provides all that is required most adequately. Trace elements. Tin cans as a source for iron and as a protection against gophers and moles. Change (metamorphosis) as the essence of fertility. Plants themselves are important soil builders. (13:37)

Part 6.3 Combustion within the compost pile. Weeds and herbs as of the highest importance in the garden. Relationship and dis-relationship. Planetary influences working through combinations of plants in compost. Synthetic fertilizers and reasons to avoid them. Life in to Death into Life. The need for the entire spectrum of positive and negative opposition to create authenticity in nature. Findhorn garden in Scotland. Organic garden as a healing force against the forces of destruction in the culture. Positive influence of Organic Gardening Magazine. Turf loam. (13:37)

Part 6.4 Turf loam continued. Roots of grasses are of great value in building fertility. Balance of lay crops to garden area. Correct ratio is 2/3 lay to 1/3 garden. Building the turf loam compost pile in the classic manner. Sand must sharp to be effective. Not sea sand or calcium sands. Sand should constitute 1/3 of potting soil. Worms and how to produce them in compost. Moisture in connection to fertilizations. Legumes as hosts to bacteria and how this builds fertility. Quality much more important than quantity. Lime to balance sour soils. It is a mistake to use lime to break down manures rapidly. Stalks of dried plants nearly useless in compost, but can be used in other ways or even burned. Sunflower stalks can add roughage to compost, but it takes time to break it down. Saw dusts are problematic as they do not decompose like whole stalks. Bone meal and hoof-and-horn meal. Pine needles with raspberries. No absolutes in the garden. (15:36)

Part 6.5 Comfrey and nettles. Compost as a source of warm, moist gasses, which are the basis of fertility. Use compost as it is decomposing, not after the process is finished. Wild origin plants are much more potent in their contributions to fertility than highly cultured plants. Heat is produced through the interaction of the sun with the earth. Never sterilize soil. Guano is superior to farm animal manures. How Guano is produced. The Chadwick family business of importing guano from Chile to England. (16:36)

Part 6.6 An experiment with cats fed upon canned cat food. How the vitality of the manures of the cats reflected the vitality of the food that they were fed upon. Wild bird guano far superior to domesticated animals. Legumes as a source of fertility. Compost of seeds. Questions and Answers. Nature as the great giver. The oaks of Dodona. Gratitude and sacrament. (16:36)

 

Lecture 7: Propagation

Audio quality: Good (Includes the full text of this lecture)

Part 7.1 Propagation by seed and by vegetative process. Grafting and sports. Pippins. Varietal disintegration. Propagation by seed is primary, and all progeny of seed are unique. Planetary influence. Buds are secondary to seed. Goethe on seed and plant: Idee and Metamorphosis. Inclination plants and declination plants. Bulbs. (13:39)

Part 7.2 Words prevent true comprehension. The process of seed formation. Comparison to the egg of a bird. Longevity of seed viability. Vast number of seeds produced per plant. Cannot generalize about plants and seed formation because of so much variation. Effect of moon on germination through moisture content in the seed. (13:39)

Part 7.3 The need for rapid growth of food plants, acceleration of growth, in order to achieve the best outcome. Recipe for potting soil. Preparation of seed flats. Transplanting into ever richer growing medium. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Stratifications of fertilizations in potting soils. But in production of seed, the process is otherwise. A reduced version of this method for production of bedding plants. Darwin and Parsifal. Time and space. Energy. The crown of the plant in the area of discontinuity. Luciferic and Ahrimanic. Seizure of soil and how to prevent it. Biodynamic French Intensive System is designed to prevent the seizure of the crown presentiment. Affect of the Elements on seed germination. (13:39)

Part 7.4 Affect of heat and cold on seed germination. Sensitivity of Scarlet Runner Bean to cold. Nerve system and the ripening process within the bean plant. Light and darkness and their effect on germination. Compost. Pteris and Urtica as an antidote to fungus problems. Seaweed. (12:08)

Part 7.5 Strikes and cuttings reproduce the parent plant exactly. Crown divisions. Varietal disintegration. Use of sand as a rooting medium. The Rachel Spur Dahlia. The difference between strikes and cuttings. Divisions of the crowns is necessary with some plants. The Soil Association. Honey Bees. (13:03)

Part 7.6 Pears ripen from inside out; apples from the outside in. The story of the Bramley Seedling (partial). The coconut. (17:21)

 

Lecture 8: Fertility

Audio quality: Good. (Includes the full text of this lecture)

Part 8.1 Quotes from Robert Graves, Lindsey Robb. Fertility is limitless, but cautions are necessary. Fertility is a marriage and a synergy of atmosphere and earth that deserves our reverence. Importance of technique, which becomes invisible if obeyed absolutely. Cultivation, stratification, fertilization, all combine to create fertility. Working in harmony with the elements. (10:29)

Part 8.2 Conservatoir created by plant growth as soon as possible, preventing seizure at collar of plants. Thermal control. Warm, moist gasses retained. Acceleration of growth. Inclination and declination. Atmosphere. Transformation of soil, which becomes more fertile after every crop. Degree of fertility indicated by the weeds that are composted from the bed. Compost becomes more and more effective. Obedience to a higher artistic order. Increase in variation of animal and plant life as fertility increases. Analogy to the story of the Nightingale. Surprise and magic that the gardener discovers. The giving and forgiving of plants. Connection of man to cosmic through the sacramental activity of the garden. (10:29)

Part 8.3 Ridiculous tendency to resort to poisons whenever problems arise. Remarkable adaptation of Tansy. A higher intelligence governs nature and creation. The tyranny of the machine. The misguided directions of modern society. The destructive is celebrated and the essential is slighted. But by the gardener's perseverance transformation is possible. The holy grail and the knights of the round table. A protection that comes from a correct attitude of approach. From the cosmic to the garden, and back again. The great battle for fertility and beauty. Egotism leads to a diminished physical and spiritual outcome. A sacred attitude produces an incalculable abundance. (10:29)

Part 8.4 Nature works as a partner to the work of the gardener. The majority of people stand in opposition, but the need for the gardener to persevere. Lime deposits originally came from snail shells. The need for a complete range of plants are necessary for a balanced development of plants, animals, and human life, to avoid artificiality. Learning the craft. Love and fear of the elements and the seasons was the cultural basis of peasant life in Europe. The pedantry of the scholarly class which has led to the decline of the knowledge and comprehension of nature and agriculture in a true sense. What is disease? Darkness and verbosity in place of a true understanding. Disobedience to natural process and fixation on monetary outcomes. (10:29)

Part 8.5 Application of chemicals to soil creates the illusion of fertility which actually destroys the latent fertility in the soil. Chemical agriculture creates a soil that, like white bread, is devoid of strength and nutriment, thereby causing the need for insects to feed voraciously because the do not get the nutrition that they need. Out of despair, they breed in a frenzy to preserve their species in the face of declining quality of food supply. This creates what is commonly called pests and disease. Protein as a vehicle of cosmic forces. Atmosphere and environment are integral to fertility, and therefore must be in health or fungus and disease impinge on the life of plants in the garden. Weeds, birds, bees in harmony with nature and fertility creation. That which first appears negative can be quite otherwise upon deeper reflection. (10:29)

Part 8.6 Elephant manure. Dung beetles. Bees. Fertility is based upon what can be considered repulsive and objectionable, but transformed into beauty and vitality. Questions and Answers: How to transform one's life to embrace truth and beauty. The seeking of the knights for the round table. It takes time. Truth will reveal itself. Chains of basilisk. The garden is liberating. Verbosity will be released. The gateway into the garden. The forgiveness of nature and the misguided, misplaced values of the world. (10:01)

 

Lecture 9: Ritual and Festivalia

Audio quality: Fairly good

Part 9.1 Rituals among the ancient Aztec culture, including their shocking sacrifices, point to an attitude of utter confidence in the invisible. The sun's sun. We are not proposing a religious ritual, rather one centered around nature, moving away from verbosity into the angelic and the artistic. Friday as a day of quiet and contemplation is one ritual that could be instituted, also a day of planting trees as in Greek culture. Poetry and song, poise and breathing, movement and deportment. Not a connivance out of reason and intellect. Color and design of clothing. Scent. The dance and performance of the bees. Tableau. (11:49)

Part 9.2 The myths of the flowers. The goddess Aurora fell in love with Tithonias, son of the king of Troy, and produced the boy Memnon, who later became the king of the Ethiopians and was slain by Achilles. Aurora begged Zeus for immortality for her husband Tithonias, which was granted, but since she had neglected to ask for eternal youth, his body continued to age. Aurora again begs help from Zeus, who transforms Tithonias into a flower. (12:00)

Part 9.3 A concern by one member that neighbors may react negatively to a festival program at the gardens. Festivals would be private, but celebrations would be merely expressions of joy. Only a lunatic could find fault. Druids were wiped out by religious fanatics. Greek myths were formulated during the Golden Age. They did not believe in myth, they lived it. Alexander the Great destroyed much of the authentic culture so that thinking about myth began to take the place of authentic living within myth. Humanity needs a huge restoration. Poetry could begin to bring this about. (12:00)

Part 9.4 A simple song to celebrate the coming of dawn each day. A performance to celebrate the fall equinox would need some organization. Mention of a poem performed for a recent conference, which was quite rough at the beginning, but came out well in the end. The need for practice. Alan responds to a question about the spiritual meaning of the fall season. The performance of the archangels in the movement of the seasons. The birth out of darkness at the winter solstice is a new event every year, waiting in uncertainty for the coming rebirth of the sun. (9:44)

 

Lecture 10: The Grand Perennial Herbaceous Border

Audio quality: good

Part 10.1 The invention of the perennial herbaceous border took place in England in the modern industrial period. It was in reaction to the industrial influence affecting garden design in Europe. The perennial border places the plant world as the focus, and is formed so as to appear perfectly natural. The border was designed to adorn the pathway or roadway that led from the home outward into nature and toward a vision into the distance. The spiritual-religious intent underlying the border. Crosses and hybridization. Egotism and Totemism. The border leads the eye toward the clairvoyer. (13:40)

Part 10.2 Errors sometimes made to interrupt the line of the clairvoyer with fountains or statues or other obstacles. The clairvoyer in the background of the Mona Lisa and renaissance madonnas. Shrubbery to back the flowers, and trees to back the shrubs. The eye is forced into the vision of the clairvoyer by the structure of the trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Varying heights of the flowers, from two inches up to seven or eight feet. Most common are plants in the two to four foot range. (9:10)

Part 10.3 Trees ideally are given an area thirty feet wide, shrubbery an area fifteen feet wide, and the flowers are given an area thirty feet wide. For the flower section, you may divide into areas of low flowers at ten feet wide, middle-size flowers at thirteen feet wide, and the high flowers are given an area seven feet wide. The roadway (clairvoyer) must be about twenty-five feet wide. In a small house planting everything would be smaller, but you can use optical illusions to make everything look larger and longer. Plant, shrubs, and tree heights vary in undulations and curves, but not geometrical, very natural. The borders appear to be in bloom all year long. An interplay of colors is woven into the patterns. Flower shapes are important. White flowers can over-power the eye if used too much. Periods of blooming are essential to take into consideration in the border design. Color, height, and periods of blooming are the main factors to consider. Shapes of pools of flowers should not be geometrical. (13:40)

Part 10.4 One third of the pools of flowers should be in bloom in one of each of the three periods of the year: spring, summer, and fall. Color schemes allow for various possibilities. Alan's experience building gardens on Long Island. The design must be created in advance. It is like a game of chess in its complexity. Each climatic area has plants that thrive better than others, which must be taken into consideration in the design. Warm and cool colors interplay. Blue flowers must be set off with two other colors, as in musical compositions. Shapes of plants are important to consider. (12:10)

Part 10.5 Scent and foliage. Verbascum. Synergies of plants. Never use stakes as they are unnatural, but plants can hold each other up. This can be supplemented with twigs that disappear as the plants grow up through them. Birds, insects, and atmospheres come to populate the environment created by the gardener. All is dominated by the clairvoyer that leads the mind toward infinity. An source of inspiration which increases through time. Design must include types of soils for the various pools of flowers. Nurseryfication of one year. Never cut flowers down until they are dormant, or this will reduce flowering in the following year. (11:24)

Part 10.6 The gift of plants as they spread and naturalize in the border, like a cathedral, full of mysteries and secrets. Relationships and dis-relationships in the border. Orientation of the border will affect the sun exposure, so this must be taken into consideration in the design. Expectation and surprise are the two great elements to use in the design of the garden. Cross-borders, for example, may be used in this way. Sanctum sanctorum and deer parks. (7:40)

Part 10.7 Attraction for hummingbirds and various birds that arrive in the course of time. Books that describe border plants and trees. Decadence of the seeds and hybrids of modern horticulture. Lists of flowering plants and their heights and periods of bloom that Alan will provide. Not to be caught by the mere names of plants, more important is the intimacy of direct experience. Future areas of discussion. The classic herb garden. (7:41)

 

Lecture 11: The Classical Herb Garden

Audio quality: At first, good; later, fair.

Part 11.1 Herbs are still in process of being discovered. Types and classifications of herbs. Herbs as moral forces, not transformed by man's influences. They contain vital energies. Relationship to the four elements and to the human body. The visible and the invisible. Today only the visible is accepted. Herbs act in the invisible realm. We have lost the fineness of the senses. Quality is far more important than quantity. Synthetic flavors cannot replace natural flavors; they belong to the modern age of deception. They expose us to the forces of the sub-terrestrial natures where they originate. The energy of the sun is not heat or light. Origin has the most energy and vitality, and herbs partake of this origin quality. (13:26)

Part 11.2 Synthetics that are imitations of the natural forces, from the sub-terrestrial Ahrimanic realm. Children are taught to accept deception by the government and by commercial interests. They are given "orange ice cream," for example, but this product contains no orange nor any cream. We must become aware of what we really are doing. Mustard and sulphur. Meat promotes the downward physical desires, but mustard has the opposite effect, and so helps to bring about a balance. Vinegar and tarragon are also balancing substances. Various herbs under the influence of different planets. (13:28)

Part 11.3 Domination of herbs by the different planets (cont.). Plants containing forms of sulphur. Phosphorus. Aspirin originally from willow, but now synthetic. Herb gardens in the monasteries. Potassium and magnesium. Synthetics as hypocritical inventions. They are not the same as the natural products. Relations between the human body, the herbs and the planets. Roots in relation to the earth and the melancholic, leaves to water and the and the phlegmatic, the air to the flower and the sanguine, seed to fire and the choleric. Herbs used in seasoning foods. If the food is a root like carrot, for example, one is prone to use spices that balance that predominately earthy element with the water, air, and fire elements -- leaves, fruits, and seeds. The interplay of the four temperaments to create harmony and health. The ancient festival of the Saturnalia. (13:28)

Part 11.4 The role of the herb savory in the celebration of the ancient Saturnalia. Parsley revives the nerve system. The use of Angelica Archangelica, from the same family as parsley, but with opposite effects. Lovage. The herbs as man's restoration, but each contains both positive and negative aspects. Direct knowledge is distinct from empty words. Intellect and reason supplant intuition. Endless specialization leads away from knowledge of the whole. (13:19)

Part 11.5 The elemental beings are the builders of the bridge between the powers of creation and human beings. The planets, the organs that they govern, and the metals under their domination. The Bach flower system. The whole person must be cured, not just the illness or disease. The stratifications of the atmosphere. The angelic forces of the plants. Ancient medical practices using the curative power of herbs, but these are disdained in modern life. Economic concerns have become the dominant forces, but this robs us of our true connections to reality. Clary sage as an eye curative. (13:26)

Part 11.6 The changing virtues of herbs. Cures for cough. Arabic materia medica. History of changes in pharmaceutical practices after the discovery of America. The cows of the Channel Islands lived on Alexander's parsnip, which changed the quality of their milk. The need for a classic herb garden. The history of the herb garden at the University of Padua. The effect of wars on the culture of food. (13:27)

 

Lecture 12: Anemone Culture

Audio quality: generally good. (Includes the full text of this lecture)

Part 12.1 The anemone coronarias: Monarch de Caen, and St. Bridgit. One of the best cut flowers. Chadwick raised a great quantity of anemones in Santa Cruz. Best to start with corms, since the seed is hard to get and not always very good. The de Caen is the better of the two. Buy the corms in the late fall. Plant them out in the spring, January or Febuary. Prepare the soil deeply. Lay down good drainage at the bottom, then some green matter, followed by some fresh manure, preferably horse, for heat. On top of that, ordinary top soil. Then prepare a mixture of 1/3 sharp sand, 1/3 turf loam, and 1/3 well rotted manure. Never alow weeds in the anemone beds. On top place about 1" - 2" of leaf mold, followed by the mixture of sand, turf loam and manure. Roll or press with planting boards. Plant 1" deep. Cover with a thin layer of sand. Then place 1" of well rotted manure. Finally a strata of half top soil mixed with one half leaf mold. Corms are now down about 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 inches deep. If frost is a problem, put down a layer of bracken fern. Remove this as soon as the shoots begin to come through. In 6-8 weeks they should shoot out. You can leave the bracken if you like and the anemones will simply come up through it. The first blooms will appear in 15-16 weeks. Each corm will produce about 15 blooms the first year. Typically they will come in four colors. Mark the best plants with little color-coded pegs. When they have died down, but when the stalks are still visible, it is time to lift them. But before lifting the whole bed, take up the marked corms first. (14:08)

Part 12.2 Place these into a drying sieve, one for each color. The rest go in a cutting bed the following year. No weeds should be allowed at all. The following year, plant the selected corms out at double spacing for taking seed. Remove the first two or three blooms. The plant will make about 25 blooms. Very carefully maintain the beds. From bloom number 4 to 10, either leave or remove. Leave five of the best flowers for taking seed. After the five are selected, remove all further blooms. The process for harvesting the seed is a little tricky. The little cone of seed unexpectedly blows open like a volcano. You must not collect the seed until it is about to fly away. You just have to watch carefully. Pulling off before it starts to fly will cause a diminished quality. Often you have to collect two times per flower, the first half as it ripens, then the rest when it is also beginning to fly. Store loosely in a paper bag. Sow in still air either in the spring or fall. Prepare seed boxes with a thick rotted leaf mold at the base, a layer of well rotted manure, then fill the flats with a mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 turf loam, and 1/3 well rotted leaf mold. Press the surface. Undo and spread the cotton wool in a thin layer on top. Under cover, do not over-cover. 50 degrees at night, 65 degrees during the day. Never allow to dry out. Some seed will germinate a month later. Corms live about 5 years. You will get up to 28 blooms after two years. The cut flowers drink the water madly. You can cut before the flower unfolds, and it will open in the vase. No need to cut the stalk to keep the flowers fresh in the vase. (13:37)

Part 12.3 From seed, you can have blooms in seven months. It is possible to have anemones throughout the fall, winter, and spring, by using frames. Pteris, bracken fern, is excellent for frost protection and disinfectant. Do not force the anemone in hot houses, it won't work. Don't let it bloom twice in the year or it will exhaust the corm. The anemone is primarily a cut flower. The myth of the red anemone. Alan supplied the queen of England with anemones, she would not buy fron anyone else. The specified stratifications are very important. The colors of the de Caen anemone are utterly classic and deep. Do not to allow the de Caen and the St. Bridgit to cross polinate, or the colors will become adulterated. A note on French geography and the wild anemones. (15:09)

Part 12.4 Questions and answers. Anemones love the sun, but with the heat they will go over. You must lift the corms before they dry out completely or you will not be able to find the them. So, do it while the stalks are still attached. (7:12)

 

Lecture 13, Plant Study: Fruit Trees

Audio quality: good at first, then fair.

Part 13.1 With stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums) the blossoms and fruit appear on the growth of the previous year. Pruning for growth, and pruning for fruit, are separate methods. Growth and fruiting habits of the fig are similar to the olive and the loquat. Characteristics of the wild grape vine contrasted to a cultured system of pruning. The cherry and it particular needs. Damsons and prunes used as windbreaks. The incredible longevity of the pear tree in contrast to the apple. The forward thinking of people in Germany several hundred years ago who planted a roadway of 250 miles on both sides with fruit trees. (12:28)

Part 13.2 A remarkable pear tree in Herefordshire that Chadwick visited as a child. The need to revitalize fruit tree stock by growing from seed. Perry is a cider made from pears rather than apples. The pear tree mentioned above produced 1400 gallons of perry in one year. Origin rootstock as the best for grafting onto. Some specific rootstocks for apples, pears, and cherries. The need for care in the harvesting of cherries so as not to destroy the fruit spurs. Pruning formations for apples and pears, and the corresponding rootstocks that are best for each one. Freezing and thawing and their effects on fruit tree culture. Blooming characteristics of the almond. (14:10)

Part 13.3 Sequence of blooming in various fruit trees. The dynamics of shade production in the cycle of fruit tree growth. Two sap rises occur each year, the first to produce the flower and leaves, and the second to ripen the fruit. Criticisms of the intensive method of fruit tree pruning, and a response from Alan. Early, middle, and late varieties of fruit trees and their corresponding values for storage. Ripening of green fruit while in storage. The design of fruit storage buildings. The use of herbs in fruit storage facilities in order to repel insects. (15:44)

Part 13.4 Bloom on the skin of the fruit is essential for good quality fruit. Stone fruit will not continue to ripen after harvest, but apples definitely will. Truffles as flavoring agents with eggs. All vegetables and fruits have a delicate bloom which imparts flavor and storage capacity to the produce. Questions and answers: The meaning of the word synergist and other technical terms used by Alan in his lectures. Details of the pruning system and where to nip off the new growth. Years required to produce fruit in the various formations of fruit trees. Renewing the vitality of the trees by pruning for new main branches. The advantage of thinking in pictures rather than in words. (19:44)

 

Lecture 14: Sambucus, The Elder Berry

Audio quality: good.

Lecture 14: There are various sambucus, but sambucus nigra is the principle one. It is easy to grow, and commonly found in hedgerows of an earlier time when the herbs were more appreciated. Not a fussy plant, but somewhat untidy and rakish. An early bloomer, sometimes as early as December, and easy to propagate. Not to confuse with the Alder, which is distinct. In ancient times, the wood was used to make Sheppard's pipes. All synergists (water, alcohol, oil, etc. to extract the essence) work with the Elder. Wine made from the berries is a strong curative in small quantities. Syrup reduces fever. Salve made from berries cures skin problems. The berries are injurious to poultry. The dried flowers drive away insects from stored fruits and are used in cosmetics. A distillation cures headache. Young shoots cooked like asparagus foster longevity. The inner bark cures burns and inflammations. Some ancient authorities have stated that the plant can cure most illnesses. Flowers in vinegar assist with the humors. The plant in general is an emblem of woe. Works as an insecticide or, stuffed in their underground runs, as a way to drive out gophers and moles. Makes a good blue dye. Sambucus is an important plant in the classic hedgerow. (19:43)

 

Lecture 15, Herb Study: Stellaria Media, Chickweed

Audio quality: Good

Part 15.1 Stitchwort, Chickweed, and Hen's Inheritance are the common names of the stellaria media. It is an annual and gives much more than it takes. Impossible to pull out the roots. A creeping plant, bright green, grows December through March, and a fast grower. Bears little white flowers like stars. Likes rich, well cultivated soil. High mineral content, especially potassium, which is ideal for growing in orchards when the fruit sets. Works well as a lay crop with raspberries also. Self-seeds prolifically. Grows well in the cold, wet portion of the year when most other plants are dormant. Has considerable medicinal properties: for cramps, palsy, and as a salve. Makes excellent compost, and as a living mulch. Chickens and other poultry love it as a food. The seed is an attractive feed for wild birds. Bees are attractive to the flowers when there is little other forage available. (14:42)

Part 15.2 The seed is potent, but the stellaria makes a profusion of leaf growth. Its value as a livestock food is very high. Nutrition is actually a process of transformation. We try to make the dynamics processes of nature into something static. Stellaria makes its growth out of season, that is in the typical dormancy period. Gardeners are always trying to extend the growing season. Some varieties of plants will do well out of season, and some will not. Anemones, for example, cannot be forced. Some tomatoes will grow on into December, but the gardeners must be careful to select the correct varieties. Jerusalem Artichokes will only form up their tubers in the fall. A tomato that will grow during the winter period. Pears that are early, others that ripen later in the year. This is an essential matter of the gardener's knowledge, to know which varieties perform at which part of the season. Likewise, some potatoes will do well in the winter, while most will not. The students must first learn the characteristics of the many varieties, and may then experiment further with new strains. (12:44)

Lecture 15, Plant Study: The Raspberry

Audio quality: Good

Part 15.3 The botanical name is derived from Mt. Ida, on Crete. The raspberry is adaptable to all sorts of soils, but above all, loves moisture. Grows in clumps, like lupines, and spreads by shoots that come up from the roots. Bees love raspberry flowers. Prefers lighter soils, but avoids heavy clay and gravel. Not a fussy plant, but loves coolness The black raspberry is a different matter; here we are discussing the red raspberry. Best to grow it in separate plantings, rather than to interplant it with other crops. Plants will live for up to fifteen years, if cared for properly. Propagates well from the shoots. Plant in long rows facing north to south. Beds three or four feet wide, with paths of the same size. A plant with shallow-roots, that will go fifteen feet from the crown. Stellaria is a good lay crop with raspberries. They love leaves and compost as fertilizer, also wood ashes but never animals manures. Plant them in the fall. Mulch with leaves: oak, beech, or pine, two to three inches in depth. Planted in double, staggered rows about three feet apart. Prune them down to about half their length. Two or three shoots should sprout in the first year. In summer build a training system of two wires to contain the growth, one at five feet high, and the other halfway up. Keep the canes inside the wires as they grow. To prepare the soil, dig it deeply and work a huge quantity of leaf mold into the soil. (16:44)

Part 15.4 Spread out the roots in a shallow trench when planting. Each year, loosen up the bed and path with a fork, and then apply a new mulch of leaves as before. Two types of raspberries, the single fruiting and the double fruiting. Both should be grown in order to have berries all spring, summer, and winter. The summer raspberry fruits on last year's cane. The cane must be pruned out immediately after fruiting. The other, which fruits in spring and fall. A new cane that comes up in the spring will fruit that fall. It will remain live and will fruit again in the following spring. Prune it out after the spring fruiting to provide space for new canes. On both types of raspberries the top most weak growth should be trimmed off in the early spring, but before the buds have broken. Prune back to a strong bud. Never allow more than six canes maximum in each bush. Take out the weakest each fall. The raspberry leaf is excellent for aiding in childbirth. Harvest the fruit as early as possible in the day, but never when there is moisture on the berries. (14:29)

Part 15.5 Raspberries make wonderful gifts. All the surplus can be made into preserves. The berries should be collected straight into punnets, never subject them to extra handling. The black raspberry does not send up canes from the roots, so use layering to propagate. Wood ash promotes excellent flavor in the fruits, and should be applied in the spring. But keep it dry until use. If cold winds blow through your raspberries during the winter, build hedge rows for windbreak protection. Sambucus makes a spray that will repel animals that try to eat the plants. Castor bean also serves this purpose. (13:06)

 

Lecture 17, Herb Study: Angelica Archangelica

Audio quality: Good

Part 17.1 Angelica is related to parsley. A biennial, triennial, or even perennial. Not fussy about soils but likes moisture. Mulch is very helpful. Grows more in the northern regions of Europe, but also in the southern latitudes. Propagation is not easy, because germination is elusive. Seed does not always remain fertile for more than one year. Best to sow immediately after the seed sets. Many people cannot propagate it. It has a wonderful aroma. All parts can be used medicinally. An antidote to fear. Traditionally the roots and seeds are the primary medicinals. The stalk can be fermented and candied, or grated and added to breads. (15:49)

Part 17.2 Standing next to the angelica archangelica plant, using the three stages of consciousness: concentro, meditato, contemplo, one becomes aware of the overwhelming force of the plant. Today we are capable of a wicked pretence, based ultimately on fear, that creates a barrier of thorns around us. Angelica can strengthen the human spirit and help conquer this fear. Questions and answers: When is the best time to dry the plant? At full development, but not waiting for yellowing, and before the blossoms break, possibly in April or May. The seed is ripe when it begins to flutter. Use the roots at the dormancy after the first year. Can be tricky to dry it. The protective power of bloom on fruits and herbs. Plants are never dried in direct sun. Potatoes left in the sun can turn them green, and this is poison to many people. The astrological configurations govern our personalities. Alan Chadwick is under the sun in Leo, and he is impossible. (19:13)

Lecture 17, Plant Study: Ribes, The Currant

Part 17.3 There are three different currants: the black, the red, and the white. Hybridization leads to weakness in varieties. The black currant is full of iron, and is used medicinally to heal any illnesses of the throat. Propagation of the currant. Fruits on last year's wood. Will overproduce new wands, so these must be removed. Pruning of the currant. Best to remove the centers. Will live for forty or fifty years. Strikes or cuttings from new wood are typically used to propagate, taken in the late fall. Does not require heat to produce roots. Currant is most often used in cooking, rarely fresh. Not finicky about soils, but must have good drainage. Slight shade is helpful because the direct sun can burn the fruit. Pruning of the black currant. (14:06)

Part 17.4 By the second or third year, half of the wands must be pruned down each year. The fruit is large, occasionally the size of a grape. The soil surface should be scarified, but only with a fork because the roots are thickly matted. Moisten the soil and then work from the outside inward. Dress with manure on the surface, along with compost and wood ash (only in the spring). Never use horse manure, as it burns. Makes excellent jam and jellies. (6:21)

Lecture 17, Plant Study: Rubus, The Blackberry

Part 17.5 Climbing vines produce much more crop per area of soil. All fences can be covered with berry plants and brambles. The Loganberry, produced in Santa Cruz, California, is hard to get hold of. Propagation of the brambles: strikes will root and make two or three new wands. Always prune to encourage new growth. Banks and raised beds are best for the blackberries. Cultivation and fertilization should be done each year. They all make good bee forage plants. Share with the birds as well. Early spring or late fall is best for making cuttings or strikes (which are best). Layering also is effective for rooting new plants, as well as crown division, but this is problematic. Mulch with manure, but out where the roots are growing, not only around the crowns. Escalating beds for brambles and tomatoes. The birds have a right to a share of the berries that we grow. (17:29)

Part 17.6 Deprivation of nature based on the fears of human beings. Local practice will inform pruning methods, depending on climate. Discussion of the use of wild fruits, which can cause stomach problems. Storm damage to the trees. Sources and suppliers of herbs. Mention of problems in the Virginia project, partly as a result of Chadwick's health, but also due to issues with the leadership, has had the effect that the practical studies have been neglected. Alan gives apologies for the weakness in the technical and practical side of the horticultural studies. He expresses confidence that in the near future his health will improve and that this can be rectified. He offers to provide more theoretical studies to balance the lacks in other areas, if desired. Mentions the problems with the land ownership at New Market, Virginia. Lack of infrastructure and difficult weather has limited what can be done in the garden. A proposal for a dramatic performance. (18:15)

Part 17.2a This is an excerpt from Part 17.2, above, that comprises Alan Chadwick speaking about his astrological horoscope and about how difficult he personally can be. (1:34)

 

Lecture 18, Herb Study: Borago

Audio quality: good

Part 18.1 Borago is treated as an annual. Its etymology is uncertain. Grows in any soil, but prefers dry rather than wet. Produces silica similar to horse tail. Related to anchusa. Medicinal uses: circulation of blood, compress, and it can induce a cheerful mood. Blooms early in the spring and late into the fall, and therefore acts as a leader to other plants. Life gives life, and death gives death. Flowers can be used in salads, the leaves in cool drinks. Birds like the seeds, and bees are attracted to the flowers. Easy to grow and self sows prolifically. Builds soil and compost. Can work very well as a lea crop. (13:59)

Lecture 18, Plant Study: Lea Crops

Part 18.2 Medicago Sativa, (Alfalfa). The modern hybrid only lives a few years. Must be weeded during the first year. The root can go down as far as 62 feet and so induces great worm activity. Some variation of the alfalfa exist, must be chosen depending on climate. Can be cut eight or nine times per year, but never the first year. Makes good compost and excellent fodder for livestock. Medicago Denticulata (burr clover). Roots are covered with bacterial nodules and so this plant builds soil and worm activity. Vicia, the vetches. Vicia sylvatica. Likes calcium soils. Excellent animal fodder. Vicia sativa, (ordinary vetch) an annual. Vicia sepium (bush vetch), a perennial. All vetches harbor bacterial nodules. (12:28)

Part 18.3 Alfalfa should be cut before it blooms unless you want to propagate seed. The more you cut, the more the medicagos and vicias will produce. Improves animal health as fodder. Healthy cattle will have hollow bones. Vicia Fava (fava bean) is the best lea crop of all. Melilotus (lady's slipper) an annual of three to five feet in height. Yellow blossoms. Mixed with hay, improves the quality of animal fodder, especially when aged for several years. Medicinal uses aids eyes. Exceptional bee flower. Famous as fodder for horses. Is added to Gruyere cheese as a flavoring. (11:37)

Part 18.4 Melilotus is a very good compost builder. Sainfoin is a perennial. Sow it in spring and keep weeded until established. Sainfoin will grow in poor soils, as opposed to alfalfa which needs a rich soil to begin with. A beautiful crimson flower. Root goes down ten to twenty feet deep, fostering great worm activity. Matures in three years, declines after seven or eight years. Like alfalfa, an excellent livestock fodder and can be cropped five to eight times per year. Sonchus (sow thistle) There are annuals and perennials. Rapid growing, and hardy. It is not a true thistle. Animals and birds love to eat it. Grows practically the whole year. The seed attracts the beneficial birds. (14:57)

Part 18.5 Sonchus is a very desirable animal fodder and is an excellent compost builder, like borago but with more moisture. Considered a weed by many. The young shoots can be eaten like spinach, but must be cooked. Questions and answers. Earth worms, alfalfa, sonchus, money, synthetics, atmosphere. The importance of deep rooted plants. (13:55)

Part 18.6 Discussion of problems at the Virginia project. Distinct possibility of losing the land. A recent topographic survey has been done of the area, and these maps can be used by the apprentices to study the land and its features. All development has been put on hold. Cannot begin to plant orchards, herb gardens, glasshouses, etc, because of the uncertainty of the future. Alan proposes a picnic lunch in combination with walking the land. Discussion of building codes and project approvals. A request for a story. (10:54)

 

Lecture 19, Herb Study: Melissa, Balm

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Part 19.1 Balm is a lavishly growing perennial that loves sun. The name is from meli, bees and honey. Beekeepers rub the herb on the inside of the hives to attract the bees. Medicinally, it lifts heaviness of the mind, sharpens understanding, and strengthens memory. It should be used before the plant begins to blossom. Propagate from seed or crown division. Any soil will do, but it requires moisture. Can be used to flavor soups and cool drinks, but collect at noon for drying purposes. Also used as a furniture polish. Lifts melancholia and is the source of the expression, "He's balmy." (9:56)

Lecture 19, Plant Study: Solanum Tuberosa, The Potato

Part 19.2 The potato is native to the Andes Mountains in South America. About 1600 it started to be grown in Europe. Originally it was propagated by seed. Many different varieties exist with a whole range of charactistics. How the potato is grown makes a huge difference in its quality. Both the use of manure, and the use of chemical fertilizers, has dimished the quality of the potato. Never use either in its culture. It is not tolerant of frost. How the high quality soil of Long Island was destroyed. Compost is the best fertilization for all potatoes. Comfrey and Stinging Nettle make the most suitable compost for the potato. Must rotate your crops and diversify from year to year. Never grow successive crops of potatoes in the same area. (15:35)

Part 19.3 With the early potatoes, harvest before the plant makes flowers. The middle crop must blossom and yellow, and then be lifted and used immediatley or within two months at the most. Late potatoes are the ones to use for storage, which is best done by clamping. It is best to chit the seed potatoes. Only buy seed that has not yet begun to sprout. Expose the seed to light before they sprout. Set them into a shallow seed flat with the joint downward. Keep them 6-8 weeks to chit with heat and full sunlight. The shoots will grow about one inch. The shoots reflect the color of the future tuber. Keep them at 55 to 58 degrees at night. Cultivate the soil deeply. Three weeks before the last frost you can begin to plant out. Spacing depends on the variety. Prepare the trenches in advance with compost. Plant 4" below the surface. Fertilize primarily between the rows. Space at 1 1/2' to 3' between plants in the row. Have a bucket of live lime and soot. Be careful not to damage the shoots. With a knife, slice a piece out of the potato seed. Dip the cut portion into a mixture of the lime and soot. Cover the seed with 3" of soil, and then with bracken fern. The recording of this lecture abruptly ends here. (19:26)

 

Lecture 20, Herb Study: Salvia, Sage

Audio quality: good

Part 20.1 All parts of the sage plant are usable. It likes full sun and thrives among rocks with good drainage and dry soil. In damp areas it will survive, but will not be potent in its juices. Propagated from seed, strikes, and root offsets. Garden sage is primarily culinary. Other species are better for medicine. Clary Sage is useful for eye problems. As a tea, sage helps with digestion, to quell unnatural desires, to restore normal virility, to balance fevers, as a vermifuge, and as a throat remedy. (12:12)

Part 20.2 Sage also works as a salve for wounds. In the kitchen, as a flavoring to soups, stews, and omletts. Sage leaves fried was a traditional chip. A combination of one third oil of sage with one third of rosemary oil, and the burnt ash of the oak apple or the ragged robin works as a hair restorer. The sage can also be used to repel insects, most especially as a companion plant. Questions and answers: Sage as a herb used by native peoples as a way to clear the spiritual atmosphere. But vervain is more effective, in Chadwick's opinion. Wild sage as contrasted to the garden variety. (12:26)

Lecture 20, Plant Study: The Alliums, The Onion Family

Part 20.3 The onion, the leek, the shalott, the chive, the Welsh onion, and the garlic. They are all lilies. Some medicinal benefits of the members of the onion family. The Onion: the plant grows nearly everywhere, but variations apply to differences in climate. Sow it in place, never transplant. Best sown at end of February through March. Prepare bed with well-rotted manure. Keep the bed free of weeds. Roll the soil before sowing the seed. Cover very lightly. Frost imporves germination.. Bend the tops over as they begin to ripen. Lift and leave on the ground for a day or two before putting in storage. As with many plants, there are early, mid season, and late onions, all with differeing qualities. (20:45)

Part 20.4 The Leek is much more gentle than the onion. Makes a delicious soup. Only requires four or five minutes of cooking, if grown well. Variations of the leek. When to sow the leek seed. Best to propagate in seed flats and then transplant, but be careful not to break the little roots. Fresh leeks can be had from September through the spring. Plant them close together in the bed. Use very well-rotted manure. Don't bury the stem, rather they should stand as they did in the seed flat. Keep the bed weeded. Top dress with manure periodically. You can blanche with leaf mold in order to avoid soil getting into the leek leaves around the stalks. Growing for seed should be done separately with a rather lean soil. Always do group plantings at the corners to fill in later. To harvest, lift with a fork and shake the soil out. Wash upside-down in a bucket of water to get the soil out between the leaves of the stem. The shalott. should be planted by bulblet on New Year's Day, or by February at the latest. Only use the exterior, large bulblets for propagation. Its flavor is the best of all the onion family. Beware because many bulbs sold as shalott are actually onions. How to tell the difference between the two. (19:33)

Part 20.5 More on the differences between the shalott and the onion. The uses as a companion plant. Do not plant over-deep, but close together. Bend the tops by June or so. Hang up in a net in a cool, dry place after leaving in the sun to dry for a few days outside. The Chive is a perennial. Grows better when cropped. Avoid allowing to blossom if solely used in the kitchen, but the flower is charming. Lift and divide the clumps every year. Sage and chive is a wonderful combination of flavors. Easy to grow, but sometimes hard to germinate. Chive makes lovely edgings around the garden beds. The Welsh Onion is a perennial, almost like a tree. Propagation methods. All alliums prefer a firm, compact soil, but a surface mulch can aleviate this. Garlic is propagated by the exterior bublets, as with the shalott. Elephant garlic is far less flavorful than the classic garlic. Plant in the fall. Bend the tops down so that they do not run to blossom. Questions and answers: Walnut oil to avoid the tears caused by onions. Also pumkin seeds can be used for that purpose. Consideration of other locations for gardening projects due to problems at Virginia. (22:00)

 

Lecture 21, Herb Study: Tansy

Audio quality: Good

Part 21.1 Tanacetum, a perennial. Propagation by seed or by division. Grows in any soil with full sun. Can attain six feet in height. The whole plant is used medicinally, but is best used fresh. Also used as a food flavoring. Ants dislike it intensely, therefore it can be used in the garden to repel insects. As with all perennials, the stalks must not be cut down until they have become completely decadent. Otherwise the vital juices will be robbed from next year's development. In some cases, it is best to wait until spring to remove the dead growth from the last year. Tansy also makes a beautiful green dye. (14:40)

Lecture 21, Plant Study: The Bean Family

Part 21.2 The lentils are actually part of the vicia family. Vicia fava, The Broad Bean. Native of Persia and eastward. A great producer of nitrogen bacteria in the soil, and works to reduce fungus. The dry beans can be ground into an excellent poultry feed. High in protein. If collected while the seed and its skin are still green, it is a delicious human food. The one and only winter bean; does not like growing during the summer. Varieties of the broad bean. They will support themselves if grown close together. Sow them in September or October, or else in February. The bush favas are highly productive. An anecdote about the Brussel Sprout growers of Santa Cruz. The Scarlet Runner Bean. Will not tolerate frost. Loves moisture, rich soil, and good drainage. Hummingbirds adore it. Excellent when eaten pod and all, but in that case must be harvested while the seed is still small and green. Should be trained up chicken wire or stakes. (20:24)

Part 21.3 The scarlet runner bean can be planted on both sides of the fence. It is highly productive and without strings if harvested at an early stage. Sow in April or May in slightly depressed trenches. It is a perennial which can be lifted and stored during severe winters, like the dahlia, but plants sown from seed are more productive. Preparation of the trench and fertilizations for the Scarlet Runner Bean should be done in stratifications. When growing for seed, cultivate separately in lean soil, and only allow the fourth, fifth and sixth bean to form. Allow them to ripen to the fullest extent possible. Dry them on wire screens, left in the pods unless there are signs of decay or moisture. Growing vicia fava for seed production. Trusting in the wisdom of nature and allowing a range of specimens for taking seed. Dwarf, Bush, and Climbing Beans. All are annuals with rapid development that can produce a crop within eight to ten weeks from sowing. (20:57)

Part 21.4 The timing of the harvesting is critical for best results and quality. The plants are adversely affected by temperatures below 50F, so sow accordingly. Cook lightly for best flavor. Use rich old soils. Intercropping with other vegetables, especially cos lettuce. The beans appreciate cultivation during growth. Top dress with good loam soil with manure or compost twice during the season. Likes plenty of water, except when the blossoms are forming. Cold water, especially at night, is disastrous to the growth of beans. Varieties are suitable for early, mid season, and late cultivation. Harvest carefully so not to damage the plants. Some of the best beans are the tough-podded varieties. Wait until the beans are full but still green, then pull up the whole plant and hang it up to dry. These make a delicious and very tender bean that only needs to soak in water for ten minutes before frying in oil. This tastes like a fresh green bean. Questions and answers. The scarlet runner bean should be harvested before the beans begin to appear as indentations on the smooth pods. (22:20)

 

Lecture 22, Herb Study: Ginger

Audio quality: Good

Part 22.1 Ginger is a member of the cana family. It does not tolerate frost and likes a rich moist soil. Grows up to 10 feet high. Propagation is by division of the tubers. It has both medicinal and culinary uses. The old rhizome is the source of ginger powder for culinary use. One effect of the root is to cause forgetfulness, but this is primarily a result of over use. (16:40)

Lecture 22, Plant Study: The Rose

Part 22.2 Uses of the rose in medicine, cosmetics, and culinary, but today this has largely fallen away. The history and genealogy of the roses. European roses, which were hardy, were crossed with tea roses from China, which were ever-blooming. Types of modern hybrid roses and pruning requirements. Rambler roses and their use on pergolas. (22:40)

Part 22.3 Rotundas and balconies of roses to complement the pergola system. Polyantha roses are mostly ever-blooming with a compact in form. Some varieties of climbing roses and their characteristics, which stand in stark contrast to the unsightly stands of hybrid teas. These have lovely habits that cascade over decks, walls, houses, pergolas, etc. with charming foliage and enchanting scents. The rose garden at Sydney, Australia, and its deficiencies. An example of a charming rose garden design with roses, lilies and delphiniums. The spiritual uplift such a rose garden can provide. Propagation of the rose by seed. Budding onto a two-year stock as the classic means of propagation of modern roses. The bud must be taken from new wood. Discussion of root stocks for roses. (24:13)

Part 22.4 The technical procedure for budding roses. The importance of good drainage. Heavy soils are better than light soils. Avoid compost and leaf molds. Each year, top dress with well composted manures. When planting the rose, place a large bone at the bottom of the hole. Interplanting with alliums is a good idea. A mixture of plaster and sand is also very helpful for rose growth and longevity of blooming if placed in the hole when planting. Protection from winds is advisable. The pruning of climbing roses. Take the old wands (four year old) out down to the base, and remove the weak tips. Apply manure dressing on scarified soil in the spring. The difference between modern commercial roses and plants grown according to classical procedures. Questions and answers: The watering of roses. One particular rose variety that grows in the shade. Ideal varieties for cutting. Be sure that the roses never run short of water, but do not saturate. The best varieties for taking rose hips. (23:21)

 

Lecture 23, Herb Study: Anthemis Nobilis, Chamomile

Audio quality: Good

Part 23.1 Chamomile is a creeping perennial adaptable to any soils. It spreads rapidly and roots as it creeps and can be propagated in that manner. Thrives on being walked upon. Blooms June to fall. It is one of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo-Saxons. Soluble in water and alcohol. Not to be mistaken for matricaria, as both are called chamomile. Likes to grow in a sunny position. Extract of the flower aids against nightmares. In former times, lawns were commonly made of chamomile, not grass. More medicinal and cosmetic uses. Insects are repelled by chamomile. (16:30)

Part 23.2 Chamomile used for insect control in the garden. Discussion of other members of the anthemis group. Matricaria (wild chamomile or feverfew) strongly repels insects, though the anthemis species are even stronger. The folly of thinking in terms of specific insect killers to deal with every pest problem. The better approach is to think of creating healthy soils, healthy atmospheres, and the majority of issues take care of themselves. A few more plants that can be used as insect balancers in the garden. (17:46)

 

Lecture 23, Garden Design Study: Escalations

Part 23.3 The culture of vineyards on stone terraces, and how this makes the best grapes. Flat lands are subject to stagnating air. The climatic variations encountered on a mountain slope and how this affects the growth of plants. Escalating garden beds can recreate these beneficial qualities of mountains. Techniques for constructing stone walls in the Roman method. French drains and Roman drains. Dikes. (18:06)

Part 23.4 Other methods for creating drainage in larger areas. The soil taken out of ditches can be thrown up into berms for hedgerows. Copses of trees that absorb moisture. Construction of hedges as fences which animals cannot get through. How children love hedgerows. Techniques for building rock walls. Opposition to Chadwick's stone wall construction at Santa Cruz. (15:52)

Part 23.5 The need for drainage through the stone walls. A butress is sometimes needed to retain the stonework. Amphitheatres. Plants that can hold against erosion. The use of concrete is never necessary in the garden; stone is the answer. Arches over streams and gates made of stone and the use of the keystone. Some community business. (18:32)

 

Lecture 24: The King of the Golden River

Audio quality: Fairly good despite some annoying distractions.

Part 24.1 Alan tells the story of "The King of the Golden River," by John Ruskin: Treasure Valley in the country of Styria; The three brothers and their characters; Arrival of West Wind, Esq.; The two older brothers return home; The nature of the hospitality that they offer; West Wind, Esq. returns at midnight as promised, and what he does; New vocations for the brothers; Gluck's first encounter with the King of the Golden River. (44:06)

Part 24.2 The story continues: The two older brothers seek for gold amid many perils; Gluck goes to look for his brothers when they do not return; The trials that he faces along the journey; Gluck meets the King of the Golden River once again; Return to Treasure Valley; A new life. (37:09)

Note: In addressing a group of new apprentices in Virginia, Alan here delivers a free rendering of the story completely from his memory. Ruskin's original text of this fable can be found elsewhere on this website.

 

Lecture 25, Herb Study: Hops

Audio quality: Fair to good

Part 25.1 The hop is perennial and somewhat fussy about its soil as it requires much humus. Needs plenty of moisture and suffers with north winds. Must be lifted and separated every few years. Medicinal uses as soporific and nervine. The fragrance of the hop in bloom is deliciously enchanting. Some varieties of hops and their characteristics are described. Often used by the Germans as flavoring in beers. English ales never contained hops. The young shoots can be used as a delicate vegetable. (17:09)

 

Lecture 25, Plant Study: The Begonia

Part 25.2 There are two types of begonias, those with corms and those with roots. Begonia Tausenshoen is one of the best bedding plants available, in Chadwick's opinion. Sow it in December and it will bloom in May. Propagation methods and fertilizations for this plant. Grows well with viola cornuta that is complementary in color. Begonia Rex only wants to be in the shade. Multiflora Begonia, on the other hand, will tolerate direct sun. Propagation by seed, by strikes, and by corm division. Exact watering needs, neither too much nor too little. Do not break off the shoots when lifting to store. (23:14)

 

Lecture 25, Plant Study: The Delphinium

Part 25.3 Varieties of the delphinium, some with hollow and some with solid stems. The true blue of the delphinium is unique. Propagation from seed. History of Frank Reinelt's development of cactus varieties. His development of the Pacific Giant delphinium strain. The harmony that the gardener creates with plants affects the inner life of those who experience the beauty of the garden, and this will endure for long after. Contrast with the utilitarian farming practices in use today, where destructive forms of agriculture are the norm. Means of keeping slugs and snails off the foliage. The blooming periods in spring and fall. Slight shade is advantageous. Crown division as the most effective method to insure that new plants are true to type. Details of propagation by seed, either in spring or fall. Divide crowns in early spring. The huge gift of nature's bounty. Questions and answers. The use of deep seed boxes and rich soil in propagation. Top dressings of manure-compost mulch during summer dormancy. Longevity of the delphinium as a cut-flower. Alan's impressions of farms in the nearby valley that he observed during an outing with Acacia Downs. (27:22)

 

Lecture 26, Herb Study: Basil

Audio quality: Good

Part 26.1 The basil species are originally from India, mostly perennials, but because they are sensitive to cold, are largely treated as annuals. Decrease water as the summer progresses, however, they must always have moisture. Propagation is by seed or strike. Basil has medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic uses. Some negative mythology and also traditional herbal uses of the basil. The serpent, Basilisk. (15:53)

Part 26.2 The Russian folk tale about Basilisk. The prince marries a king's daughter, but after the marriage the son-in-law is left in charge of the castle while his wife and her family leaves on a journey. The king leaves him with one hundred keys to the one hundred doors, but he is warned that he may open the first ninety-nine doors, but under no circumstances must he open the last door. His disobedience and later recovery. How this relates to the basil plant. Description of the herb and its culinary uses. May be used fresh or dry, but be careful not to overuse. (12:26)

Lecture 26, Clamping, Part 1

Part 26.3 Storage of fresh vegetables in outdoor clamps in imitation of the methods used by wild animals to store their food for the winter. Canned or frozen food is a paltry substitute for the bounty that nature provides, and largely unnecessary. Vegetables that are harvested and stored continue to ripen and change their chemical composition. Recollections of World War I and the food shortages at that time. How mangel-wurzels were stored in clamps for animal and human food. Nuts are far better stored in clamps than when dried. Cooking apples, all root crops (except Jerusalem artichokes), potatoes, etc., can be clamped. All items to be clamped must be clean and undamaged. (14:58)

Part 26.4 Keeping rodents out of the clamp through a dressing of live lime. Site the clamp in a well-drained place. The shape and height of clamps. A basis of brush in the form of a bower, covered by dry leaves, soil and straw. Construction of the chimney and placement of the crop to be stored. Formation of a door. Cover the vegetables with straw and earth. Another form of clamp for temporary storage of root crops, is a "quick clamp." It is not advisable to mix potato varieties because each begins to sprout at different times. Questions and answers. The undesirability of setting a roof over the clamp. Use of dis-relators within the clamp to repel insects and rodents. Methods of improving drainage under the clamp. (16:34)

 

Lecture 27, Herb Study: Hyssop

Audio quality: Good

Part 27.1 Propagation of hyssop is by seed, strike, or by crown division. Prefers dry, light, sandy soils, but with plenty of moisture. Sow in March, water liberally in the early stages, then taper off. Carries strong healing forces, especially in the flowers. Used as a culinary herb to flavor stews, but also liqueurs. Bees love it and make an exceptional honey from it. (13:48)

Lecture 27, Animal Study: Livestock

Part 27.2 Free range basis for pedigree stock. The finest poultry should hatch in February or March. Use ten hens to one unrelated cockerel. Hens become fertile after three weeks with the cockerel. Allow for a three or four month rest from mating each year. Feed them upon seeds and green matter, never pellets. Six trap nest boxes are necessary for the ten hens. Log books contain full information on each bird. Eggs incubate after fourteen to twenty days. Cull out for any defects. In this way you constantly improve your stock. (19:53)

Part 27.3 Differences between the heavy and the light breeds. Making crosses between the two types of birds, but this can be done only once. Keep everything perfectly clean inside the hen house. The process for breeding rabbits. Ten does will produce three hundred offspring per year. Rabbits must always be kept dry and have access to free range. Never feed with pellets. When mating, they must have complete privacy or they will kill their young. Rest them from mating during the summer. Rabbits make a very high quality manure. Geese should run in pairs. (20:43)

Part 27.4 Questions and answers: Breeds of Geese. Preventing rabbits from borrowing by placing wire down. Cleaning and preparing the rabbit and methods of cooking. Rabbit pie. Be careful of the bones. Breeds and characteristics of ducks. The turning of the egg twice per day to keep it fertile, and never stand it on end. Duck eggs must be kept moist. Slaughtering methods for different animals. The importance of pedigree in animal stock. (18:59)

 

Lecture 28, Herb Study: Crocus

Audio quality: Fair to Good

Part 28.1 Saffron is the culinary product extracted from the crocus plant. It grows from a corm and blooms from August to October.It prefers a sandy turf loam with plenty of moisture. It has dangerous narcotic properties. Mentioned in the Song of Songs, so its use goes back to the earliest periods of human history. Over-use causes blindness and heart problems. Can be grown from seed, but it is much faster to purchase corms. Produces approximately two pounds of saffron from one acre of cultivated plants. Sixty thousand stigma are required to produce one pound of saffron. Since ancient times saffron has been used as a yellow dye. (18:25)

Part 28.2 Buddhist monks of today use saffron as a dye for their robes. A related plant in the crocus family is widely used as a yellow and red dye. Some of the culinary uses of saffron. Alan's first twenty years of life as a vegetarian. An excellent dish of vegetable marrow that uses saffron. The storage of winter squashes, sealed at both ends with sealing wax. Cleaning out the vegetable marrow in preparation for stuffing. (21:06)

Part 28.3 Recipe for stuffed vegetable marrow seasoned with saffron (continued). Questions and answers. Saflower oil and its adulterations. The stigma of the crocus is used dried, never fresh. The danger of the narcotic effects of crocus. The use of saffron as a colorant in foods. Mention of a previous topic, that of pedigree livestock. The need to pass on quality stock to future generations. Reference to the experiment involving three groups of cats that were fed on three types of foods. The increase in quality throughout the garden and farm. Some additional lea crops that can be used effectively as livestock feed. (16:17)

Lecture 28, Plant Study: Chenopodium, Goose Foot

Part 28.4 Chenopodium is related to the beet (beta) family. Sonchus draws in all of the beneficial birds. Amaranthus bears a highly nutritious seed. Chickory is also good. High salt content in the chenopodium family. Characteristics of various members of the chenopodiums. Quinoa is a highly nutritious member of the chenopodium family that produces a great quantity of seeds. It was the principal food of the people who live in the area of the Andes Mountains. The imporance of exercise in the health of animals on the farm. Religion and nature are not separate things; they must be kept together. The importance of free range conditions for all livestock so that a whole range of plant influences are available to the animals. We cannot know all of the needs intellectually, so must trust in the diversity of nature. Mustard and paprika can be a helpful addition to the poultry feed. Never feed eggshells to poultry because this will induce them to begin eating their own eggs. (22:20)

 

Lecture 29, Herb Study: Rosemary

Audio quality: Poor to fair

Part 29.1 Growing conditions favored by rosemary. Propagation methods. Protection of the plant in harsh winters. Use as a border plant in the garden. Pruning of rosemary. Medicinal uses of rosemary. Promotes fidelity among lovers. Synergists. Oil made from the flowers. Use as a hair tonic. Culinary uses. Its use in the garden to repel insects. Attraction to bees. A folktale about rosemary involving a witch living in the volcano of Mt. Etna. Questions and answers. (22:52)

Lecture 29, Insect Study: Bees

Part 29.2 For at least five million years the honey bee has existed in the same form that we know it now. The attitude of the bees to the beekeeper. Observations of ancient writers on the subject of bees. The process of opening a bee hive. The queen, the drones, and the workers. The cleanliness of the hive. Perception among the bees. The structure of the hive with brood chamber below, super above, and queen excluder between. Different forms of development and birth of the three types of bee and their relation to the period of rotation of the sun. Activity in the hive at the beginning of spring. Protection against intruders.(29:46)

Part 29.3 Corresponding activity amongst the world of spiders. Foraging habits of bees. Systems for cleaning the hive. The reproductive cycle. and its relation to the honey flow of the flowers. The innate knowledge of the newly hatching workers. Swarms and building a new hive from scratch. The death of the worker bees. (23:05)

Part 29.4 The nurturing of the princess cells. Preparation for the swarm. Migration of the new colony. Hatching of the new queen. Her mating cycle. The nuptial flight. The queen's return to the hive and beginning to lay eggs. The destruction of the drones. Foraging begins anew. This segment ends abruptly here. (24:32)

 

Lecture 30, Herb Study: Verbascum, Mullein

Audio quality: Good

Part 30.1 A biennial and triennial that grows in any type of soil, but absolutely needs good drainage. Propagation is principally by seed, or else by root division. There is one annual verbascum that has a red/purple colored flower. The biennial can grow up to six or eight feet tall. The flower produces a nectar that is very attractive to bees. Medicinal uses of verbascum. The leaves are covered in a grey-white woolly fur and in ancient times these were used as candle wicks. The capacity for knowing a plant directly, rather than intellectually, was more common in former times, but that must be revived. (12:28)

Part 30.2 Never try to water the verbascum under the leaves, for this will kill it. Water normally overhead and all will be well. Slugs and snails will often take refuge under the leaves, and can be trapped there. Tea made from verbascum should be strained so as to remove the little hairs. The dried leaves can be used to store begonia corms or other items that need dry conditions. Some herbal uses of the plant in former times. Mullein is the "moly" of Homer's Oddessy that provided protection against the black magic of the witch, Circe. Problems in transplanting verbascum. (14:10)

Lecture 30, Plant Study: Shrubbery

Part 30.3 Alan mentions the need to part ways with his apprentices in the coming week. Hedges made of shrubbery and the archways through them create distinct areas in the garden. Some plants that fulfill this requirement: hornbeam, cork elm, holly, yew, wild rhododendron, pyracantha, oleander, laurel, may, blackthorn, damson, ficus, pomegranate, cypress macrocarpus, rose, privett (its seed is poisonous), honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria, jasmine. Questions and answers. The use of Jasmine in the arches of the hedge row. A hedge made from annual plants could utilize castor bean, sunflower, jerusalem artichoke, peas, scarlet runner beans, michaelmas daisies, and others. An example in the use of windbreaks. (15:44)

Part 30.4 A method for straightening flower stems that are naturally crooked. Flowering plants used in hedges. Never prune rhododendrons after blosoming, as it will cause die-back. Lilacs, on the other hand, must be pruned as the flowers are going over. Mock orange makes a lovely flower in the hedge row, but the single has much more fragrance than the double. Never use lime with rhododendrons, azaleas, camelias, or magnolias. Broom, genista, gorse and magnolias. Flowering crab apples and japanese cherries. Daphne, and its highly poisonous seed. Budlea must be pruned down the the ground each year, and is beloved by bees and butterflies. Questions and answers. Pruning of the hedge rows. (19:44)

 

 

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