The health, development, and evolution of the earth and human beings are deeply intertwined.
A deeper connection with the earth can be a path to healing ourselves and each other.
A deeper connection with ourselves and each other can be a path to healing the earth.
The earth, the natural world, minerals, soil, plants, and animals all unceasingly give of themselves, in sacrifice.
Many unseen beings all unceasingly give of themselves, in sacrifice.
Human beings have a free choice. How will we participate?
Agriculture as Sacred Communion
March to December 2026 at Sun Heart Farm in Stephentown, NY
Developing Relationships Between Nature, Human Beings and the Spirit
Agriculture as Sacred Communion is a 9-month on-farm cohort-based program exploring the sacred relationship of agriculture to both the human being and the spirit. From late March through December a cohort of students and teachers will gather on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm to work and learn together through a combination of morning classroom experiences and hands-on work on the land as a group, and through independent projects and mentorship.
Based at Sun Heart Farm in Stephentown, New York and the surrounding community in the Hudson Valley of NY. Our foundation is working with a place, a landscape filled with fields, forest, a pond and stream, plants, animals and a growing community.
Spiritual Ecology
Biodynamics
Sharing Abundance
Holistic Science
Artistic Work
Medicinal Plants
Farm Education
Nutrition
mentorship
Inner Development
Therapeutic Care
Astronomy
independent projects
Seasonal Festivals
Morning sessions: deepening how we learn and relate
How can we openly inquire, question, and converse, with each other and the natural world so that our deeper, truer beings can be revealed? We will spend three mornings a week working with Goethean science, artistic experiences, and exploring the backgrounds of spiritual ecology and biodynamic agriculture. We’ll strive towards understanding soils, plants, animals, and social and economic health. Basics of astronomy, working with medicinal plants, nutrition, farm education, and seasonal festivals will bring the ideas into living action. Underpinnings of inner development and therapeutic care for ourselves and each other will run throughout, as well as have times for deeper focus.
Afternoon sessions: deepening how we serve and give
How can we help nature and the spirit work together more harmoniously and creatively, in us and in the outer world? We will spend three afternoons a week working on the farm in a structured learning environment. Production will happen; our focus will be on learning, serving and giving. A large, diverse vegetable, flower, and herb garden will host a place for seeds to be sown, nourished and cared for. A variety of animals including cows, chickens, pigs, and goats will be guided across the fields and pastures to graze while offering their unique gifts. We’ll harvest food for ourselves, and others, sharing the abundance that we create together. Integrating care for the pond, stream, forest, and other wild land will weave throughout. The opportunity to visit and learn from other area farms will be a regular feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Anyone interested in the intersection of inner work and outer work, holistic thinking, feeling and doing; agriculture, and healing and caring for the earth and the human being.
Those new to biodynamic agriculture and those looking to deepen and further their existing work and understandings are welcome to apply.
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Full tuition is set at $12,960 for the 9 month program. However, financial aid is available at up to 75% of full tuition on a needs-basis. Financial aid decisions are based on conversation with the applicant - we strive to be fully inclusive while meeting program needs.
Please contact us for details.
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We have limited on-farm housing for rent as well as community connections to other nearby affordable housing opportunities. Contact us for more details.
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Schedule an exploratory call with the program director to find out more about joining the March 2026 cohort.
Program director and lead instructor
Anthony has been farming for 20 years. Anthony is currently a mentor and adult educator, and offers farmer training, education, and programs for the Biodynamic Association (BDA) where he serves as Co-Director of the organization. He is a teacher and author on the themes of biodynamic agriculture, developing new faculties of perception, the nature of substance, and an understanding of nutrition based on Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course to support soil, plant, animal, and human health. Anthony also consults and offers mentorship in biodynamic agriculture for all ages, and is the author of the EduCareDo year-long distance learning subject course Biodynamic Agriculture and Nutrition. He also holds workshops and conferences on the themes of biodynamic agriculture and nutrition at Sun Heart Farm where he live and works with his partner and child.
Previously, Anthony founded Great Song Farm, the community-supported-agriculture farm he started in 2010 and ran for 8 seasons, working with biodynamic practices and principles, growing a diversity of vegetables and caring for a small cow herd and two draft horses. He has also worked in market gardening, small grains, and perennial crops including berries and tree fruit.
apply
Space is limited. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.