There is nothing surprising in the recent raft of studies reaching the same conclusion: Education in the outdoors (time in nature, green space, green bathing) improves educational, physical and mental health outcomes for children of all ages. What is surprising is that we have policy and practices that actively reduce the availability of and access to these methods of education. (Thursday February 16th, 2023 — The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington USA)

“It’s part methodology, part philosophy,” says Maggie Hyde, co-owner of Wisconsin’s Petal Back Farm, which incorporates biodynamic practices in growing its floral crops. “The biodynamic garden should be thought of as an organism. The idea is to create a diverse ecosystem, which creates resilience, and to give back more to the ecosystem than you take out.” (Wednesday February 15th, 2023 — Washington Post - Washington DC USA)

The discovery of these mycorrhizal connections yielded a booming new body of research on what the academic journal Nature once called “the Wood Wide Web.” Studies from British Columbia, Switzerland and elsewhere have suggested that trees use mycorrhizal networks to exchange messages and share resources with struggling seedlings. (Tuesday February 14th, 2023 — Washington Post - Washington DC USA)

The report states that biodynamic wines are very similar to organic in that they both require sustainable farming practices, but biodynamic is allowed to have a higher level of sulfites than an organic wine. Grapes used in biodynamic wines are also not allowed to contain any roundup, a common herbicide. (Saturday February 11th, 2023 — Eat This, Not That )

Sudarshan Chaudhary notes that in Nepal, soil degradation is caused by practices such as intensive cropping, heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and mechanized farming. Sudarshan Chaudhary of Spiral Farm House in Saptari district proudly displays his harvest of cauliflowers. Sudarshan Chaudhary of Spiral Farm House in Saptari district proudly displays his harvest of cauliflower. Image via Nepali Times. Used with permission. The compost at Spiral Farm House has been doing wonders for the farm. ... The need of the moment is to broaden the adoption of biodynamic farming in Nepal and make its products more accessible. And Nepal’s pioneering “agripreneurs” like Chaudhary, Shrestha and Gurung are at the frontlines of this transformation. (Friday February 10th, 2023 — Global Voices, Stichting Global Voices, Amsterdam, The Netherlands )

Known as “ostraca,” the inscribed pottery shards document everyday life in the city of Athribis (Thursday February 9th, 2023 — Smithsonian Magazine - Washington DC USA)

Young people and families from Aberdeen have highlighted the growing crisis in residential care by calling on the Scottish Government and Cosla to deliver on one of their key pledges. Both hope that by next year, no one with a learning disability in Scotland will be kept needlessly in hospital or forced to live away from their communities and Camphill School (CSA) in Aberdeen hope to be part of the solution. (Thursday February 9th, 2023 — Press and Journal - UK)

Waldorf schools do not teach students Anthroposophy, but Waldorf teachers study it in order to understand the teaching philosophy of Waldorf better. Waldorf education is spiritual. However, it just doesn’t teach a specific religion and belief system. Families from various religious and non-religious backgrounds send their children to Waldorf schools. (Tuesday February 7th, 2023 — Parentology )

Soon every parking lot in France that greater than about 16000 square feet will be required to install solar panel canopies over at least half of the parking area. (Tuesday February 7th, 2023 — Daily Kos)

“I started this farm ten years ago for sustainable farming and conservation of soil and microorganisms,” explains Sudarshan Chaudhary of Spiral Farm House (pictured, right). “We make eight different types of biodynamic composts which not only help revive the soil but also give us wholesome food that helps maintain good health.” (Saturday February 4th, 2023 — Nepali Times - Nepal)

A rat invasion on isolated islands in the Indian Ocean has led to a remarkable ecological cascade that is upending life not just for the tiny fish, but for species across the coral reefs where it lives. (Thursday February 2nd, 2023 — Washington Post - Washington DC USA)

...an unexpected ecological benefit of the otter's return started to emerge: their impact on kelp. (Wednesday February 1st, 2023 — BBC online)

Our soil can become an underground storage facility with the capability of storing water equivalent to a small lake. (Tuesday January 31st, 2023 — Daily Kos)

A new federal rule restricts road construction and logging in the country’s largest national forest (Tuesday January 31st, 2023 — Smithsonian Magazine - Washington DC USA)

Landowners and farmers will be paid money for environmental work and sustainable ways of food production. The environmental land management schemes (Elms) will pay farmers public money for actions like managing crop pests without chemicals and working towards net zero. (Thursday January 26th, 2023 — BBC online)

Starting at a new school this year, 15-year-old Sergio Peralta had all the typical teenage reasons to be nervous. He was also trying to keep a secret: a hand that was not fully formed. (Thursday January 26th, 2023 — BBC online)

Reiki practitioner Virginia Samsel walks through a small California vineyard in silence, circulating her hands through the brisk winter air as if casting a spell. (Thursday January 26th, 2023 — San Francisco Chronicle - California USA)

A benchmark example of a region adopting sustainable viticultural practices is the Margaret River, 270 kilometres south of Perth and home to some iconic biodynamic and organic wineries. (Thursday January 26th, 2023 — Gourmet Traveller)

More than 70 people with learning disabilities call Camphill Milton Keynes home. The aim at Camphill is to give its residents a safe and fulfilling place to live and work which is integrated with the wider community. (Wednesday January 25th, 2023 — BBC online)

Environmentally Friendly Foods: People are more considerate of the planet. It is why they are reading labels and like supporting companies that are environmentally friendly and focus on sustainability. This also means that plant-based foods’ popularity will continue to rise. Expect, biodynamic food systems, indigenous farming practices, soil fertility, and seed diversity, Jonathan Deutsch says. (Wednesday January 25th, 2023 — The Citizen)