Week 8: I attended the Biodynamics Conference in Portland, Oregon. This conference allowed me to explore Rudolf Steiner’s philosophies, which pertain to Waldorf education. As a reflection, I looked around me when I sat down at the keynote speaker. Something I did not see was very many young people, or people of color. Perhaps it was because it is Portland, one of the whitest cities in the US, or maybe because Biodynamics does not speak to those people? This year there was emphasis on social justice and inclusion but the solutions were vague. I found myself having a lot of questions about land access and economics. Can we create a food system that is within the system of capital? Many speakers at the conference seemed to answer these questions doubtfully. Many farmers are trying to make money for their families, and are already poor. It seems like we need to create a system where food access shouldn’t be about having enough money to do so, but it seemed like those concerned with Biodynamics did not see themselves able to create food access themselves. They seemed to be very concerned with connecting themselves and their customers to Biodynamic food, but where does that leave people who cannot afford it?
