My guess was definitly in the south of France, with “Vin de Pays des côtes Catalanes” in Roussillon, “Côtes du Rhône village” in the Rhône Valley, and Bandol in Provence. I was not so far away as all these appellations can use the same grape varieties as“Costières de Nîmes” with grenache, carignan, syrah and mourvèdre.

Like traveling, it is not the final destination which is so important in a blind tasting but everything  on the path along the way.

I am just waiting the right moment to open them and taste them. Only few days left, just enough to take the time and guess what the wine could be.  In my opinion, a blind tasting is THE way to taste wine and it should be mandatory for each bottle of wine to be tasted by a panel of wine lover before being released on the market. From my point of view, some “Château” or other “Grand cru” could have some unexpected surprise after a blind tasting. Fame, name, and labels are not anymore here. Integrity and objectivity that’s it!

Elegant bottle for an original tasting dedicated to wine bloggers

Wine is the reflection of the fruit, so to understand wine, one has to understand the vine plant behind

Travelling and going from one place to an other, has always been a need for the human race in order to find food and shelter. Since the beginning of agriculture, more than 10 000 years ago, it seems that this tendency shifted. In other words with agriculture, in a simplistic description, two distinct currents appeared: the nomadic and the sedentary way of leading one own’s

As a true craftman, the farmer has to work the same way an artisan does, in order to elaborate real pieces of art in his fields

life. With these two currents, we saw those people who travelled a fair amount of time in a year in order to feel good and secure, and those who needed to remain always at the same place in order to feel good and secure. Usually, one category can’t understand the other and how it is possible not to adopt the opposite tendency.

This tendency remains the same today at the beginning of the 21^st century. We find those one who always remain in the same area all their life and those one who feel the need for new horizon and culture. It is almost vital for them to remain in one or the other current all their life. The nomadic mood applies

L'Aventure vineyards in Paso Robles

to me better these days. Though I always have the longing for my farm in the Loire Valley which requires much more of a sedentary mind set. How to mix travelling and farming together? I wonder. It will be the challenge to meet in the future. Though, I am sure to find a solution as farming is not as it used to be and farmers who wish to do so can leave their farms for weeks and have their work done if properly organised . Organisation and management are the key.

I couldn’t update Holy Terroir blog as much as I wanted to while on the west coast. I had the choice between  visiting the maximum of people in a day or staying quieter and spending more time in front of the screen  to update Holy Terroir blog. I’ve chosen the first option as you have noticed. My time on the west coast was limited whereas my time in front of the computer is flexible and less restrictive. At the beginning of the journey in USA, I tried to write something about each and every visit I was doing. That means in practice that to do something reasonable, I used to visit one or maximum two places in a single day in order to then write about it later on that same day.

Missions have been built by Franciscan monks when they came with the Spaniards. San Miguel Mission, north of Paso Robles, has been built in1792 ans is the oldest mission remained untouched as it was originally. The other ones have been either rebuilt or restored.

A single visit should be no less than two hours. It always takes time to get a glimpse of the place we are visiting. Ideally, the perfect rhythm when moving around and writing at the same time, would be to visit one place in the morning and then to write about it in the blog the afternoon on the same day. Well… In theory, this would be the perfect balance between travelling, investigating and reporting. In practice, this is obviously an other story.

The nettle preparation #504 used in the biodynamic compost, is burried underground one year in these clay vessels. Here at Frey vineyards in Mendocino county.

Why? This is very simple. Farmers, winemakers, and everyone you included, have their own schedule. Most of visits were planned in advance but sometimes it was easier for instance to do 3 visits during the day because the people we wanted to meet were not available during an other time or day. This is why at some point it became almost impossible to report each and every story inspired by the places and the people I was encountering. From one visit a day, we moved sometimes to 5 vineyards in one day. At this pace, it is impossible to keep track with the blog and report each visit. Nevermind.

By saying so, I want to apologize to those one who gave me their time and knowledge on the west coast in order to share with me a tiny bit of their

During a seminar about bio-dynamics at Montinore Estate in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

story. They will know who I want to talk about. I would have loved to introduce them to you in Holy Terroir blog, but unfortunately, it would have taken a whole book lenght to fit these stories in the blog. So what to do in order to honour them? Talking about them? Mentioning their names in the blog? Going back there to spend more time beside them? Working with them in the future in one way or an other?, etc…Possibilities are endless. In fact, the most realistic way to fulfil my objectives, will certainly be to mention their names at some point in Holy Terroir blog, in this post, or in a later one.

The warm welcome at Cayuse vineyards in Walla Walla area in Washington will beautifully end my american tour. Here in the wine studio, from left to right: assistant vigneronnes Laura Pursley and Elizabeth Bourcier with owner Christophe Baron. Amazing wines made by great characters!

And least but not last, there is certainly one person towards which I want to express my gratitude through Holy Terroir blog. Without him, I couldn’t have done one third of what I have accomplished while on the west coast and

Observation of a vine leaf with Philippe Armenier

in the whole United States. Philippe Armenier, bio-dynamic consultant based in Santa Rosa, has been with his family, of a precious help and support. I am taking the opportunity here to thank all of them for letting me stay with them in order to go deeper in understanding bio-dynamics . Even if I am far away from them , I can affirm today that  I have moved a considerable step further on the long path of bio-dynamics.

So, more than words, pictures speak for themselves and give you an overview of my time on the west coast. In the French version of Holy Terroir, you have been able to see already some pictures taken in California. I hope you enjoyed them, and if you didn’t watch them all, go and click on the link “HOLY TERROIR en français” in the right column.

The uniqueness of the soil with these round stones, at Cayuse vineyards, Walla Walla area, Washington

In Wisconsin, 80 miles north west of Chicago

Last fall at Emerson College, attending the bio-dynamic agriculture training, I remember having come across Christopher Mann, an energetic and elegant senior, right at the entrance of the campus. “Come and visit our centre in

Christopher Mann and Karen his assistant

Wisconsin USA” was one of the few words we exchanged that day on a cloudy and cold morning. I remember his talkative mood and enthusiasm for this centre he was talking about: Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, north west of Chicago at the border with the state of Illinois. A centre he is the co-founder of.

The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

“The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) is an independent

Walter Goldstein is doing some research on maïs

educational and research organization that received its non profit status in 1984. Michael Fields was founded based on the ideals of ecologically-sound farming, bio-dynamic and resilient agriculture and food systems, enlivened cultural values, and the creation of opportunities for young people in applied agricultural sciences and food systems. Today MFAI has more than a dozen

Janet manages a 2 acres CSA which supplies vegetables for 75 families

experienced staff programming in an array of initiatives including farm and food education, public policy critique and development, farming and urban agricultural systems, and crop and soil applied research. Work is conducted on-site at several farms and at the office/laboratory/meeting facilities as well as off-site at urban and agricultural settings. MFAI is strategically located in East Troy, WI, a rich

Spacious and bright, inside the building we feel comfortable

agricultural and urban region bridging Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago cultural and economic centres. The Mission of MFAI is to cultivate the ecological, social, economic, and spiritual vitality of food and farming systems through education, research, public policy and market development.”

Yellow lillies give beauty to the garden

The blue ridge parkway gives view to dramatic sceneries

In the state of Virginia for some days, our road crossed one more aspect of bio-dynamic farming. Bee-keeping is a vital branch of the close organism we are looking for on a farm. We tend to forget about these little insects which

Colourful beehives

endlessly work from dawn till dusk with a sense of community and mutual support never seen anywhere else in nature. I want to stress here how important the bees are in nature. They are essentials to us.

We didn’t know until the last minute if we were going to meet up with Gunther Hauk, a bio-dynamic bee-keeper and co-founder of Spikenard farm, based originally in Illinois. At the beginning we couldn’t get an appointment with Gunther, being only for the last 6 months near Floyd in Virginia, he does have much to do to restart the farm in this part of the U.S.

With perseverance and a few more calls, we could at last arrange an appointment. We offered him some help in the garden, and while working, we could discuss more deeply about his involvement in Spikenard farm. So right after the Josephine Porter Institute, we stopped in this remote valley 12 miles east of Floyd, peaceful and so quiet, where the bees can have all the space they need to buzz around. Gunther has been practising bio-dynamic bee-keeping for the past thirty years and also has written a book: “Towards saving the honey bee”.

Gunther Hauk and the making of the silica preparation #501 in the back ground

“Honeybees are so much more than pollinators or honey producers! They are part of the complex living organism of the earth and are integral to our development as human beings. For this reason, they were considered sacred

Some of the beehives are kept in a bear-proof hut

in ancient times and honey was part of the most ancient folklore and medicine. Nearly 90 years ago, the multifaceted genius, scholar, philosopher and scientist Rudolf Steiner spoke of the problems we would see from the industrial and mechanical approach to beekeeping that was starting to take hold. He warned that we might lose the honeybee by the end of the 20th century unless a deeper understanding gave rise to sustainable methods. We took a long time to really listen!

Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary was founded in the certainty and hope that there can be a better future for this insect. They are committed to

With view over the valley

continuous research and collaboration with national and international organizations seeking new answers to the many questions the plight of the honeybee raises.

Their sanctuary aims to create an oasis of harmony, in which the human beings, plants, animals, and a biodynamically invigorated landscape create the necessary sheaths of protection, care and healing. Their focus is to respect the innate needs of the honeybee, and

Each beehive has a name

develop practical beekeeping methods with that in mind. These are taught in workshops, lectures and articles. Through their work they seek to promote in young and old not only interest, joy and love, but also a new understanding and awareness for the importance of the honeybee. A newly awakened awe and reverence for all beings of nature in their amazing interconnectedness opens the door for the necessary healing impulse to gain strength, now and in generations to come.

The standards reflect the highest care for these special creatures. The management of breeding and maintenance of bio-diversity is a particular concern. Natural development of the comb, including in the brood area, strict guidelines about feeding for overwintering and in emergencies are also part of the Spikenard and bio-dynamic approach.”

Different forms...

Different individuals...

Different shape...

Each one is unique

Howdy cowdy! I thought it would have been easier to write while on the road to the west but in fact it hasn’t been so. Well, well, well…After more than 4000 miles driven since the last post in Holy Terroir english version, we are arrived on the other side of the american continent on the west coast. California dreamin’ with its temperature above 100°F (more than 40°C). Here

it is! On this side of the continent, no more Amishs to take me away from writing and no more so long distance driving until the beginning of September when I’ll be back to Toronto. Then, I’ll have to cross the american continent once again from west to east, but in Canada this time.

While on the route 66 for 10 days from Chicago to Los Angeles, I didn’t write as much as I wanted to on Holy Terroir. It’s quite something to cross the whole country overland. I believe strongly that it is the way to do it when we want to discover a new land: ride overland and immerse yourself with the

culture and the belief systems of the people you are going to meet. Many more stories to come about this famous route 66 which kept us Claire and I busy for the last ten days. I will talk about it in the appropriate post dedicated entirely to the route 66: the Mother Road as they say. Claire is now in Los Angeles doing some volunteer work in a permaculture garden very close to Hollywood. Our roads split here after 5 weeks of travelling together, while I’m heading myself towards San Francisco.

So where did we leave you? Since the last post about the Finger Lakes in New York, we went south in Pennsylvania to visit the Kimberton Hills Camphill Village where amongst many other things you’ll be able to find there, the “Stella Natura” moon calendar for North America is being published.

Actually, an old student from Emerson college in the name of Sherry Wildfeur is publishing it now for more than 30 years. Kimberton Camphill is an other vibrant and energetic place to visit if you happen to pass in the region in the future. You’ll find pictures in Holy Terroir french version. This region drains many other project concerning sustainability, organic and biodynamic farming, Steiner schools, CSA(Community Supported Agriculture), etc…

When I talked on the phone with Philippe Armenier, a biodynamic consultant in California about my wish to meet with him this summer, he recommended vividly some places of interest where I should go in the United-States beforehand. The Josephine Porter Institute (JPI) is one of them. In Virginia in the lush and green Appalachian mountains range, the JPI sits few miles away from the scenic Blue ridge parkway which runs north-south on the edge

of the mountains. Hugh Courtney was expecting us for two days, just enough time for Claire and I to help prepare the silica preparation #501 and the yarrow preparation #502. Jeremiah, his grandson , shown us around. The JPI focus is to make the Biodynamic preparations. To give you an idea, each year they bury no less than 8000 cow horns for the horn manure preparation #500 and stuff 70 stag bladers for the yarrow preparation #502.

“The Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics (JPI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the memory of Josephine Porter. With single-minded determination, Josephine Porter carried on the work of making biodynamic agricultural preparations in the United States for nearly 30 years. Many farmers and future farmers came to her Cherry Valley, Pennsylvania farm to learn about biodynamic agriculture and

preparation making. Hugh Courtney apprenticed with “Josie” each spring and fall season for over seven years. When she died in 1984, Hugh decided to carry on her work by creating JPI. In 1985 the Institute was established in Woolwine, Virginia and is dedicated to making biodynamic preparations, and conducting biodynamic agricultural research and education. JPI’s efforts are concentrated in the areas of biodynamic agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

As taught by Josephine Porter, the making of quality biodynamic preparations can only be accomplished by emphasizing the spiritual, as well as the practical, aspects of their production. Those who are new to biodynamic agriculture require a source of quality biodynamic preparations

if they are to do their own research and educate themselves about biodynamic agriculture. JPI’s mission is to serve as a reliable source for biodynamic preparations for the beginning or seasoned practitioner; as an education center for all biodynamic practitioners as they begin to make their own preparations; and as a research venue which focuses specifically on the BD preparations.

Biodynamic agriculture originated out of the spiritual scientific research of the Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposphy and Waldorf education. In 1920s Europe, the use of chemicals

in agriculture was causing great concern for a number of farmers and soil scientists; especially with regard to its effects on seed viability, deterioration of food quality, and health related problems in both livestock and crops. In 1924, Steiner presented a series of eight lectures on these issues, which are now published as Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture. During this lecture series, Steiner gave indications for producing several different preparations to be used in agriculture which are now referred to as Biodynamic Preparations (BD preparations).

A different viewpoint is required when approaching agriculture from the biodynamic perspective. In our “conventional chemical” or “organic” approach to agriculture, we tend to think in terms of substances (or more specifically, chemical requirements that can be met by this or that substance). In chemical-based agriculture, we bring nitrogen to the soil via

ammonia or urea, and in organic-based agriculture we bring nitrogen via manure. For phosphorous the substance of choice is super-phosphate or rock phosphate. We are thinking in terms of chemical substances or NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil. With biodynamic agriculture and biodynamic preparations, we learn to think in terms of forces in addition to substances. This does not mean discarding all knowledge of soil chemistry; it means we need to go beyond solely the chemical point of view. Just as the effects of the force of gravity or the force of magnetism can be observed without actually being able to see these forces, so too can we recognize the forces that are released though biodynamic preparations.”



A pleasant discovery in the Finger Lakes wine region

When visiting foreign countries, what I am interested in is not monuments, sight-seeing tours or casinos. When I visit foreign countries, what I am interested in is more an in depth approach to the land and to the people I am going to meet. Our time is always limited when going abroad. The clock is

Schist is one of the main soil component here

ticking as soon as we get our passport stamped with the visa, leaving us a precise amount of time to go around and search for what makes this country unique. By unique, obviously, I’m not talking about fast food culture, which unfortunately we see in every corner of the world nowadays with the same brands, the same taste. By uniqueness, I want to look for character and originality. ‘Every country has its own beauty’ I was told by a friend’s grandma who travelled a lot when she was younger. The sense of beauty I’m looking for is definitely in the uniqueness of people, places and agricultural produces.

Fred showing us the 'Pandelboger' vine training from Germany

The French name terroir stands for this uniqueness and originality. We cannot translate it into another language. It is a mixture of the earth, of the climate, of Man living on the land and of all the micro-organisms which are below the soil and who are inherent to the soil. A limited amount of time in

By Seneca Lake

the USA means getting the maximum out of this visit by going straight to the essentials. The effort of asking, being misled sometimes, and rewarded often, is worth a shot. The word intensity could summarise this experience in North America: waking up at sunrise, spending an active day by driving around to different places, making the right contacts, and making research are the day-to-day routine. In what should have been a gap in activity between my work at Saugeen River CSA biodynamic farm in Ontario (Canada) and my work with biodynamic consultant Philippe Armenier in California, has been in fact filled with a road trip focussed on sustainable, organic and biodynamic farms, vineyards, and institutes linked with anthroposophy (except for the Amishs I was with this past week, that’s why I couldn’t update the blog as I wanted too).

The cellar where we feel like in a cathedral

When arriving in a region, the first thing we need are the basics: eat and sleep. Then, the reason why we are in this region has to be fulfilled. In that case, for the Finger lakes: sustainable, organic, and biodynamic vineyards. Usually, we took the decision with Claire to visit only one winery a day and

'Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard' is also a nursery

then take the rest of time for driving, writing, researching and resting. It is a constant search for balance between these activities. We are like jugglers playing with balls and sending one in the air. In this particular day before we leave for Pennsylvania, we wanted to visit Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, a winery reknowned for its riesling and the quality of its nursery, which is also a speciality of Hermann J. Wiemer. On a simple visit which was our intention at the beginning, arriving at 4.30 pm at the winery, we ended up spending 3 hours of lively, passionate and invigorating talks about wine with Frederick T. Merwarth the winemaker taking over Hermann.

Starting the tasting with the sparkling 'cuvée brut' 06

Fred is a student of the sought-after Master Of Wine diploma which I already talked about in Holy Terroir. The first Master Of Wine student we met was James Christopher Tracy of Channing Daughters Winery in Long Island whom we met 4 weeks ago. With Fred, as with Christopher, I appreciated the

Cross filtration enables only one filtration

deep knowledge and the broad vision of the wine world. Fred has taken overthe vineyard after Hermann J. Wiemer who “retired” a few years ago. Fred warmly greeted us when we arrived at the winery

and he spent 3 hours with us explaining every aspect of the process. The winery has been built in an old barn and brings rusticity and down-to-earth elements to the winery. Very precise with the words he uses, and in the technical terms he employs, Fred could give us tasting comments very accurately with the wine we tasted. My only regret in this meeting with him is not to have been able to spend more time tasting the tanks and barrels of the previous 2009 vintage.

Frederick T. Merwarth in the barrel cellar

Fred and Hermann got their inspiration in the wine-making from Germany as Hermann is originally from this country. Fred, who worked as a business consultant, changed his life radically when he switched to wine-making 10 years ago and went to work with Hermann learning about the wine-making alchemy. Very honest with the methods he uses in the field, I appreciated the

A true love-story links Fred and his wines

transparency when Fred talked with us about the only one synthetic chemical spray he uses in the field at the early season of the powdery mildew stage. They till the soil, (Fred goes himself working in the vineyards – he was putting up wires to train the vines when we arrived), they have minimal intervention in the cellar – only one filtration, low sulphur.

The renovated barn is hiding its secrets inside

About all the wines we tried, I prefered the chardonnay 07 stainless fermented, aged in barrels for 8 months. It is floral with linden flowers aromas, very mineral in the mouth, delicate, sharp, straightforward, and has an incredible length. Good ageing potential. To be honest, I’ve been seduced

From inside the barn

by almost all the wines we tried this day with Fred. The dry riesling 2008 also retained my attention too with its zesty, lemony, passion fruit, golden green apple and green pear character. Definitely, this is a domain to watch out in the coming years for its purity of style and definite expression.

I would still be there tasting, exchanging and getting inspiration from a meeting like we had with Fred if it wasn’t so late that Saturday. Two visits in a day (the first one was at Anthony Road Winery) seems not a lot when you are just touring and seeing only with your eyes. But two wineries are really a lot if you came across such characters like Fred filled with passion, energy and will to share the knowledge he has. The tour of the four wineries (the first two were Silver Thread Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyard) in the Finger lakes ended up by a night camping in the middle of the vineyard by a warm night and under a starry sky. The day to follow will be a long drive from upstate New York to south east Pennsylvania state: the Amish country near where we’ll be spending a few days in another Camphill community (Kimberton Hills) – which we will be talking about in the French version of Holy Terroir.

Wine: between sky and earth

When a sunset over Seneca lake speaks for itself

Nothing will ever replace the direct contact with the places, the people, and landscapes that we get when we make the effort to

Standing Stone Vineyards

consciously investigate. In fact, when we meet in person the people who work the land and who produce food or wine, we get much more than the product itself. We get something else that goes beyond the physical and the sense organs – we get a glimpse of the reality itself.

In Holy Terroir, I am trying to re-transcribe all the visits I’m doing during this tour in North America. I’ve been talking about a

Bradley showing us the Riesling planted back in the 70's

biodynamic farm called Hawthorn Valley in mid upstate New York and Silver Thread Vineyard in the Finger Lakes region in the French version of the blog. You will be able to see some of the pictures of these places if you click on the link to the French version.

Once again, we followed the recommendations of the people we have met on the way in order to visit the wineries in the Finger Lakes region in this part of upstate New York. Millennia ago, glaciers retreated in this region and gave shape to a dozen

A "wine-thief" is needed to sample out the new vintage from the barrels

elongated lakes shaped as fingers – Finger Lakes. Native Americans were known in this area as the Iroquois confederation of tribes. In this lush, green, hilly environment, settlers came to buy the land to plant the first vines at the end of the 19th century. A lot of wineries went bankrupt during the prohibition era which lasted a decade between the 1920s and 1930s. At that time in this area, a couple of wineries survived due to sacramental wine for religious ceremonies.

A pannel of the 42 acres of vines under production

We didn’t know what to expect Claire and I before coming to Standing Stone Vineyard. Once again, Pascaline Lepeltier from Rouge Tomate in NYC was giving us the name. The drive was pleasant and arriving in the region under thunderstorms and pouring rain, I had the feeling to be in the monsoon season. But in that case, not like in India in2007, no leeches were coming into my pants from walking in flip-flops in the rain and sucking my blood

Japanese carps are to be seen in the pond

from my feet. Here in the Finger Lakes, I didn’t come across a scorpion yet. The morning we arrived at Standing Stone, the heavy, warm sunny weather inspired us to go straight to see the vines first with Bradley Bogdan, an employee who got involved in the wine trade fairly recently, with the eagerness for learning and knowledge in this field.

The vine plant produces much more than simply wine

As a student in psychology who worked also in the catering industry (psychology is much needed when dealing with customers), Bradley showed us around after we met the owner Marti Macinski who was on her way to a wine event this morning when we came. Standing

In the tank room

Stone Vineyard, before being a vineyard, saw chickens running around, as thousands of them were being raised on the premises. The domain has a lovely open space towards Seneca Lake with a slope facing west. Here practices are sustainable with low chemical input.

The wines reflect the climate and by tasting all the 15 wines in the ‘flight’ (an American term for a range of wines to taste), we taste the freshness of the milder climate in this part of the United States.

The common thread in the tasting is the freshness found in most of the wines we’ve tried. From prices ranging from 10$ to 19$, we get a reasonable bottle of wine. I’ve appreciated the gewürztraminer 08 which shows complexity on the nose, mouth-filling, the skin maceration brings body and flesh, and aromas of very mature apricots and rose petals reveal its temperament.

The tasting room opened to visitors

Crafts such as stained glass are made in the Village

From Long Island to Hudson Valley, we still remain in New York state. Hudson Valley is also a wine production region but the reason we wanted to stop here wasn’t for visiting wineries at all, even if with more time I would

Even with a map, 'Camphill Village' still hides a lot of jewels

have loved to stop by and taste the wine from the region. It was something else which attracted us here, Claire and I. Before arriving here at Copake in this lush and green environment, we stopped on the way at The Pfeiffer Center in Spring Valley. And then we made our way to Camphill Village, Copake, at the border with Connecticut and Massachussetts.

As we arrived on a Monday morning at the reception of the Village, it was just the time for us to join a tour organised for a small summer camp nearby the Village. Linda, a villager from Copake, leaded the tour and took us around the Village in what is a beautiful place dedicated to the teaching of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Our visit on a cloudy, warm and humid Monday, will pass the woodwork-shop, the village green, the fountain hall, the weavery, the stain glass workshop, the farm, and all the places of interest in the Village.

Linda (with a pink shirt) will lead the tour before a summer camp group staying for few weeks nearby

“Camphill Village is a unique therapeutic residential farm community in Copake, New York, where dedicated volunteers and people with disabilities share a full life together. Located in rural Columbia County 100 miles north of New York City, the Village comprises 600 acres of wooded hills, gardens and pastures. Villagers(adults with disabilities), co-workers and co-workers with children live together in extended family households and work together in a variety of craft shops and work areas.

Working manually in the Woodworkshop as an healing therapy

Crafts include candle making, stained glass, bookbinding, weaving, and woodworking. Land work includes a biodynamic dairy farm , vegetable, gardens, the Healing Plant Garden and Workshop and Turtle Tree Seed business. The Village also has a medical care centre, culture and arts centre, bakery, café, and gift shop.

Rudolf Steiner: "Colour is the soul element of Nature and the whole Cosmos"

Founded in 1961, Camphill Village is the oldest of eight independent Communities in North America. It draws on the 60 year experience of the international Camphill movement – over 100 communities, schools, and centres in 22 countries dedicated to building a full life with and for children,

Nothing more fulfilling for a human being than to feel useful, be productive and be creative.

youth, and young adults with social, emotional, and mental disabilities. The mission of Camphill is to uphold the true image of the human being, particularly where the unfolding of the individual is challenged by developmental disability. The Camphill philosophy was developed by Karl Konig in Scotland in 1940, a Viennese born doctor influenced by the work of Rudolf Steiner.

Over one hundred villagers with moderate to mild developmental disabilities have chosen Camphill Village as their home. They range in age from 24 to 94, over half are over 50. While the community accepts people from any geographical location, the majority come from the metropolitan north-east.

At any given time about 110 long- term resident co-workers and their children live and work in the village. They share responsibility for villager care, home making, workshop training, the farm, administration and finance, community outreach and the cultural, artistic and spiritual life of the community.

In the weavery, patience and perseverance find their meanings

Co-workers are volunteers who work out of commitment to the mission of Camphill and do not receive a salary as such. They establish a community

Where every material becomes art

budget to meet basic expenses(food, clothing, vacations, medical insurance, education, and training). They have credentials or training in curative education, social therapy, social sciences, the arts and humanities. Many have extensive experience in agriculture or crafts, and many lived and worked in other camphill centres.

Camphill Village is an important option among many fine services in New York State for adults with developmental disabilities. With its emphasis on family-centred care, the development of individual potential and inclusions, Camphill is a forerunner and model in the disabilities field, where these ideals are now the basis for public policy nationwide.

The biodynamic preparations are kept in a pentagonal hut insulated with peat, to be electro-magnetic waves proof

Camphill Village depends on charitable contributions for 47 percent of its operating needs. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the

The oven from where all these delicious pastries and breads are being made

law. Government funding through the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities(OMRDD), historically unpredictable and variable, now meets 53 percent of operating costs. Fiscal responsibility is ensured through careful monitoring of expenses, quarterly budget reports to the Board and an annual audit.”

A sense of beauty in the craftmanship