Peter Proctor

Biodynamic Agriculture – New Zealand, India

Peter Proctor (1928-2018) was one of the most respected and influential figures in contemporary Biodynamics. He was born in 1928 in New Zealand. His passions took him to India, where he found a much more receptive, fertile ground, as mentioned in the recent Biodynamics journal. His work there was essential in establishing what has become a very vibrant biodynamic community. The connections he saw between Biodynamic gardening and food, therapy, spirituality, education and improved physical and spiritual human health was clear and, in his words “that was that for me. 

Peter worked at the botanic gardens in Wellington, under the expert supervision of horticulturists trained at Kew Gardens. This is where his passion for gardening, compost making and practical excellence began. He worked for the Parks and Reserves in Rotorua on the North Island “as a practicing farmer and horticulturist.” This is when he first became interested in the work of Rudolf Steiner, having found one of Steiner’s books on a neighbour’s bookshelf.

In 1993 he made his first vist to India, having been invited there by Mr T.G.K. Menon of the Indore Agriculture College. From 1996-7 he began leading Seminars on Biodynamic Agriculture in India, “introducing Biodynamic concepts to Indian farmers and tea and coffee estates.” This lead to the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic farms in India, such as the Ambootia Tea Farm Estate in Darjeeling, Peter Proctor developed a profound connection with cows during his working life, and created his Cow Pat Pit or Brick Pit Prep (used as a soil spray) as an alternative to Maria Thun’s Barrel Compost. The nature of the Biodynamic preparations is to have a softening effect on the land.Peter summed up his understanding of Biodynamic agriculture as being “a management system actually makes organic farming work. 

 You learn most by observing, seeing. I did this in NZ, and now I can do it around the world… What a wonderful world we live in: Beautiful geometry, spirals, a world of magic. So if one has that attitude to farming, one starts to look at a farm in a different way. You look at your crops, you look at your animals, and you look at the weather. You don’t worry if it’s raining. You really become part of the whole environment. With enthusiasm and a love of your environment, you can then move mountains.

Books: Grasp the Nettle, Biodynamics for the Whole Garden

Website: Memorial

Film: One man, One Cow, One Planet – How to Save the World – Biodynamic Agriculture & Farming.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33M5UB-OUW0