Extraordinary Plant Qualities for Biodynamics

Jochen Bockemühl and Kari Järvinen

Softbound

$30.00

Plants have many qualities that can be harnessed for use in health and beauty products. In the case of biodynamic gardening and agriculture, one of the most important uses of plants is to make spray preparations and compost mixtures in which the various plants can each provide unique benefits.

This beautifully illustrated book considers the qualities of seven plants, showing how their nature and habits relate to the positive characteristics they bring to biodynamic methods. For example, the authors look at how the nettle—with its almost geometrically precise leaf growth and extensive desiccating root system—can bring order to otherwise chaotic soil decay.

In addition to the nettle, the authors also look at the qualities of six other everyday plants - yarrow, chamomile, valerian, oak, dandelion and horsetail - and show how their nature and habits relate to the positive characteristics they can bring to biodynamics.

Fascinating reading, with much to inspire your work in the garden and your appreciation for the unique gift of each plant.

About Formative Forces in the Plant World

Dick van Romunde

Original Drawings by Elly van Hardeveld

Translated by James Lee and Jannebeth Röell

Hardbound, Dust Jacketed, Beautifully illustrated on semi-gloss paper

$28.00

This is one of the most unusual and beautiful books we have ever carried -- one of those rare books that is so filled with wonderful things to discover, and so well conceived, and so very, very well printed and bound that just holding it in your hand is enough to convince you that it is a treasure, in fact, something to be treasured for years and generations to come. It's as though what is inside the covers is so powerful and true that it reaches out to you before you lay eyes on the first words.

Dick van Romunde was a Waldorf science teacher who felt that part of his task on earth was to show his readers the natural world, seen through eyes trained by Goethe and Steiner. And what a warm and fascinating journey he takes us on! Plant by plant, we look with him and listen as he tells us what he has found to be most significant, most at the heart of that form of life. It's as though we were invited on a field trip with a naturalist who is as wise as he is learned, and who just loves to share what he knows.

This is a book that is lavishly illustrated -- in general, you'll find tasteful, elegant color drawings on every other page; yet, it is the text that keeps pulling my eyes away from the truly beautiful drawings. Yes, I know. I can hardly believe it either; in fact, I can't think of another instance where something this has happened. But van Romunde's insights and observations are so very engaging that I simply can't take my eyes off them, even when I want to.

This is a book to cherish and return to over and over.

And by the way, the translation is as elegant as van Romunde's work deserves -- clear, clean English that flows like a river across the author's thoughts.

Perceiving Plants: Experiencing Elemental Beings
The Influence of Gnomes, Nymphs, Sylphs and Fire Spirits upon the Life of Plants

Dick van Romunde

Translated by James Lee and Jannebeth Röell

Softbound

$14.95

Perceiving Plants was originally written as an introduction to Rudolf Steiner's Man as Symphony of the Creative Word (newly titled in English as Harmony of the Creative Word). From there, van Romunde expanded it and the result is this amazing little book in which the author teaches us how to become sensitive to the nature beings that sustain and effect plant life.

Whether you begin next to a favorite potted plant or out in a beautiful meadow, you'll find van Romunde teaching you things that will forever change the way you look at the natural world -- and will probably forever change your life. For, once we become truly awake to the helpful nature spirits, it is very difficult to go on as though they didn't exist, as if what we did really didn't matter.

Perceiving Plants offers us a uniquely joyous awakening to both the nature spirits and our own responsibility. A lovesong to both plants and the beings who create within them.

The Living World of the Plants
A Book for Children and Students of Nature

Dr. Gerbert Grohmann

Softbound

$16.00

This book can be thought of as a distillation of Grohmann's extensive two-volume study, The Plant (below). Here, the material is presented in a way that will engage both younger students and the adults who teach them. I find that in many ways, The Living World of Plants, is much more powerful in its capacity to evoke awe at the truly amazing world of plants than his more detailed presentation in The Plant. If you are not conversant with the plant world, but would like to be, this is the book for you. An excellent source book for teachers of all grade levels, whether in school or at home. Can be useful as a reader for children grades 5 and up.

New Eyes for Plants
A Workbook for Observing and Drawing Plants

Margaret Colquhoun
and Axel Ewald

$30.00

Back in Print!

This gorgeous book presents one of the finest was to get to know and understand the life of plants and their relationship to the world and to us. Approached with a sensitive artistry, the reader is guided through exercises and examples that unveil the vibrancy of plantlife as they refine one's artistic skills. If you have ever longed to really "see" plants in their fullness, this book will guide your way.

The Sun Seed

Written and Illustrated by Jan Schubert

Hardbound

$17.95

“Early one spring morning, a little seed woke up after her long winter sleep. She yawned and stretched. With a loud CRACK her hard brown jacket fell away. 'Oh!' said the surprised seed. The earth above felt warm.”

... this was just the beginning of big changes to come.

The radiant illustrations in this book are made from dyed wool fibers needlefelted by the author. Jan describes the experience as “painting with a needle.”

(Ages 3–5).

Big Tree

Mary & Conrad Buff

Softbound - charming illustrations throughout

$12.95

Out of Print

What a wonderful way to allow children to discover (and to renew your own discovery!) the vastness of time, the potentials of life and the beauty of creation! This is the story of a Sequoia tree named Wawona which extends from the time before recorded history, when he was a little seed packed tightly in a cone with two hundred others. The story takes us to the recent past when, over three hundred feet tall and having survived magnificently the widely varied attacks of insects, fires, drought and more throughout the twenty-five centuries of his life, Wawona almost falls prey to the greediest and most clever of them all - human beings.

Wawona's history, his life, forms the main body of the text which is highlighted by insertions that tell of the significant events that were happening across the ocean as Wawona grew and thrived. This juxtaposition offers a wonderful vastness and perspective while it highlights both the exceptional longevity of the Sequoias and the key events of of Western history.

When children is ready to learn about the life of plants (in Waldorf schools, this is begun in 5th grade), this is the book to hand them. Big Tree will have a treasured place in either the classroom or home - this is a wonderful book!

Sacred Flora
World Botany in the Light of Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Science

Alan Whitehead

Softbound

$22.95

Alan takes us on a fascinating exploration of the plant world, the spiritual realms within and without, medicinal, nutritional and sacred signatures of flora, and much more. Along the way, he delves into the mysteries of death and enlightenment, substances therapeutic and delightful, planetary influences upon plants, the distribution of plant species worldwide and gardening.

Sacred Flora is the sort of book to nibble at and contemplate; or, if you prefer, to dive into and not stop until you emerged drenched in a sparkling new world view. Great as background inspiration for teachers or gardeners. A collection of insight, musing and facts that will have you pondering them over and over again.

Contents:

• Sign of Flame, Sign of Smoke: The Pneumical Wedding of Christian Esotericism
• The Medicine Woman - Sacred Floral Therapy
• The Medicine Land - Seven Sacred Plant Substances
• The Medicine Plants - Seven Sacred Spices
• I Think Speech - I Eat - Five Sacred Floral Foods
• Fire, Air, Water, Earth - The Cryptic Cryptogamae
• The World Garden - Seven Planet Plant Influences
• Annunciation to Ascension - Spectrum Plant Signatures
• The 4 Elements - A Spiritual & Natural Science Exposition
• I Had a Good Teacher - Seven Geographic Plant Mansions
• 12 Days of Community Service - An Esoteric Plant Classification
• A Botanical Garden? - Every Town Should Have One

Keepers of Life
Discovering Plants through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children

Combines the contents of Native Plant Stories and Native American Gardening

Michael J Caduto and Joseph Bruchac

Softbound

$21.95

Keepers of Life includes both the stories from Native Plant Stories as well as the practical activities from Native American Gardening. It is a treasure, for young and old.

NOTE: I completely agree with Donna Simmons (Christopherus Homeschool Resources) that as rich as the stories are, parental guidance is advised. Within many of them is a tone of bitterness at those who came after the Native populations and were not as respectful of the Earth as the keepers of these stories. While that may (or may not) have been true, it is inappropriate for an adult to pass that attitude along to young children. Therefore, I advise along with Donna that you read the stories yourself and then bawdlerize as necessary before sharing them with your class or children. They are truly great stories and legends, but not everything in them is appropriate for children.

The Book of Herbal Wisdom

Matthew Wood

$20.00

This book is a real find for anyone interested in plants, the nature of healing, or herbal remedies and applications. You will learn more by reading just one chapter of Herbal Wisdom than by reading ten other books on herbs and healing. The Book of Herbal Wisdom offers the reader centuries of indigenous knowledge about healing, integrates these viewpoints both generally and for each plant, and demonstrates in depth how over 40 specific plants act as healing agents. Wood's depth of both knowledge and experience is unparalled and his work is among the most important of our day. Recommended without reservation!

The Metamorphosis of Plants

Johann Wolfgang v. Goethe

Translation revised by Anne E. Marshall and Heinz Grotzke from the British Journal of Botany (1863)

Softbound

$5.95

In a way, this little book is responsible for giving modern agriculture, botany, biology - science in general - a method of observation and understanding which includes living relationships of phenomena.

If you are looking for a way to get to know the plant world more intimately, you couldn't begin with a better guide. Goethe's presentation is really a collection of short observations, insights, thoughts - collected as he observed various aspects of plant life. Each one can be used for your own meditation and observation - a doorway to greater understanding. There is a lifetime's exploration here - one which will leave you richer every time you visit it.

Goethe & Palladio
Goethe's study of the relationship between art and nature, leading through architecture to the discovery of the metamorphosis of plants

David Lowe/Simon Sharp

Softbound

$15.00

The poet, dramatist, novelist, and scientist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had to wait many years before he was able to travel south to Italy, "the land where the lemon trees bloom." He had gained success in several fields, but he had a sense of being trapped and confined and felt a need for light. Italy would give this to him in a number of ways.

Taking as their basis Goethe’s Italian Journey, the authors of this fascinating and unusual study explore how Goethe’s experience of Palladio’s architecture influenced his view of the relationship between art and nature in general and, in particular, helped him form his understanding of metamorphosis, leading to his discovery of the “archetypal plant.”

In his carefully written account of his travels, Goethe seems to oscillate between experiences of architecture and experiences of nature. In nature, he searched for the "archetypal plant," the essential form whose metamorphosis through time would produce the plant we see in its cycle from seed to fruit. In the art and architecture of antiquity and in Palladio’s classical reformulation of it, he tried to understand the purpose and function of artistic creation.

Until now, no one has put these two together. David Lowe and Simon Sharp show for the first time how these seemingly unrelated subjects are related—how the living geometries and volumes of harmoniously proportioned buildings, the “great idea” of architecture, can lead to the intuition of similar principles in nature.

David Lowe and Simon Sharp have worked together for twenty-one years. One of their first projects was the recreation of Goethe’s Italian Journey. They have given numerous workshops and presentations on the subject in the U.S. and U.K., including The British Museum, the German Embassy, and the Edinburgh Festival.

This is must-reading for anyone interested in Goethe's ideas on plants and metamorphosis.

The Plant, Volume 1

Gerbert Grohmann

$12.75

The Plant, in two volumes, is a classic, loving study of the plant world, the fruit of a lifetime of patient and detailed observation of nature. Volume 1 begins with the flowering plant, then turns to the living face of the earth before moving on to consider the threefoldness of the plant and the image of the human being.

I think you'll enjoy these books - whether or not you garden or farm. I have found that they offer enormous food for thought and gave me a basis for a renewed and expanded appreciation of the miracle of the natural world.

The Plant, Volume 2

Gerbert Grohmann

Softbound

$12.75

In The Plant, Volume 2, Grohmann adds further plant descriptions and extends the cosmological viewpoint presented in Volume 1.

Weeds and What They Tell

Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer

Softbound

$9.95

One of the most useful books for gardeners, Weeds and What They Tell has taught me again and again not only what my garden needs, but also how very wise nature herself is.

Pfeiffer's approach begins with the premise that nature really does know what she is doing, and that weeds grow where they are needed. By learning what each weed is offering to the soil, the discerning gardener or farmer can use organic matter and minerals to effect that same balance. The weed, no longer needed, will soon disappear from the cultivated area.

The added bonus of this little book is what you can learn about the nature of plantlife and the wonders of the world.