It was recently International women’s day on March 8th; and this year we wanted to celebrate by spotlighting a few of the fabulous women we have practicing Biodynamics here in Aotearoa. 

From home gardeners, to keen writers and educators, to biodynamic based businesses; these women are out in their communities and are sharing their knowledge and passion for biodynamics and we think that deserves to be celebrated this International Women’s Day.

Of course there are many women out there in our communities doing incredible work to bring Biodynamics to their family, friends and communities (we would have loved to have shone a spotlight on you all) ….we applaud each and every one of you!

Please read on to learn more about each of the women we were  able to feature in our “Women in Biodynamics” social media posts, for International Women’s Day and be sure to check out the links they have shared, so that you can further learn from them and support the work they do.

Katrina Wolff:

Katrina has been mesmerised by biodynamic gardening since discovering it in 2009 when her two children were at the Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School. She blended her hobby of gardening with other anthroposophical studies until she started Blue Borage in 2018 with the hopes of helping bring biodynamic methods (especially composting) into mainstream gardening and urban waste management practices. 

She’s in the 2025 ‘top 50 women in food and drink’ with Cuisine Magazine, and in the ‘Next 95’ with the Sustainable Business Network. Her current focus is exploring how the plants used in the biodynamic compost preparations can be used to make a simple floral compost activator, following the work of Maye Bruce (1879-1964), you can listen to her talk about this with Kate Heming Panchal from the JPI Institute on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/bxxMrsqvry4?si=jeTNbd2XGroFP7bQ

If you’d like to learn more about this research, then there are links in this blog post: https://blueborage.podia.com/blog/floral-compost-activator

Katrina’s often out in the community teaching composting workshops, and is the garden coach for Ceres Organics in Auckland. Her wide range of online courses are designed to help beginners find ways for biodynamics to make sense in their home, workplace, school and community. Look out for a new series soon on ‘Closing the Loop: the Art of Composting’

Please follow on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube for updates, or sign up for her weekly emails to see the latest offerings from Blue Borage. 

www.blueborage.co.nz

Gita Krenek:

Gita shares: “My biodynamic journey began in 1979 when my husband and I took over a sheep farm in North Canterbury and converted it to biodynamics. Over a few years, we introduced cattle and grain growing into the mix, and built a millhouse so we could start milling our grain and selling to private customers and shops. Twenty five years later it was time to hand over to our son, and I retired to Golden Bay (Top of the South) where I take care of a large vegetable garden, some fruit trees, and a couple of livestock. I also give occasional workshops on biodynamics, and have written a small book on the biodynamic preparations.”

Please keep an eye on the BDNZ web shop for Gitas booklets.

Joanne Turner:

Joanne shares this about her biodynamic journey, “Twenty something years ago, Greg and I moved to our little property and we wanted it to be run organically from the day we arrived.  Greg was interested in biodynamics and I was happy with organics, so it seemed a good fit to be certified with Demeter.  During the first few years Greg did all the preparation work and I did all the paperwork.   As I was working fulltime on the property I would be making compost heaps during the week, but Greg wouldn’t get round to adding the preparations until the weekend.  I decided it was time I took over that task.  I also used to help with the stirring of preparation 500 and 501 but not the application.  My thinking of this also changed and I now help with the application.  I felt that I was not fully being a part of the farm and needed to be involved with the preparation work.  It’s a wonderful feeling to be using the preparations and to feel connected to the organism that is Woodhouse Farm Organics.  I still do all the paperwork.”

Please check out Woodhouse Farm Organics here https://woodhousefarmorganics.co.nz/

Su Hoskin:

Su Hoskin has spent two decades practicing biodynamic farming principles on a mixed farm, vineyards and on her home gardens and allotment. She is a trustee and active member of The Hawea Food Forest and community gardens and Co-hosts the Wanaka Death Café where her affinity is advocating for environmentally sound burial practices and a more holistic approach to end of life matters.

Her training at Taruna, in 2005 gained her a certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics. She later went on to help facilitate the same course in her own region, Central Otago in the South Island.

Between 2015 and 2018, She completed a term on the New Zealand Biodynamic Associations Council, Education Coordinator and was a trustee on the Kete Ora Trust for many years.

For those interested in learning more about Su Hoskin,  please check out Biodynamic Community Aotearoa,https://www.facebook.com/groups/768457823177333

Hawea Food Forest https://www.facebook.com/groups/3051328904899592

and Wanaka Death Cafe https://www.facebook.com/groups/1170353396645132

Jan Koberstein:

Jan has this to share about her journey into biodynamics, “I was introduced to biodynamics 25 years ago when our children joined the Tauranga Rudolf Steiner kindergarten.   Biodynamics so resonated with me and my learning journey with biodynamics began.  I practiced biodynamics developing big gardens with lots of fruit trees as we moved properties a few times.  I completed the Taruna Certificate of Applied Organics & Biodynamics in 2009 with intentions of bigger things.  Wherever I have resided, I have enjoyed connecting with local BD groups and I enjoy organising local get togethers for a BD 500 stir or CPP making etc. I am a co-opted member of the BD Council learning in the ins out outs of keeping the BD Association thriving.    I have recently taken on the Biodynamic Preparation Dispatch Role and library service, so If you are in the Kapiti Coast or Horowhenua area, keep an eye out in the footnote for a get together at my place to open a few library books.”

Monique Macfarlane:

As a holistic food systems facilitator, Monique Macfarlane of Natural Wisdom teaches a variety of workshops within biodynamics, spiritual gardening and planting by the moon. She has spent time growing in many different climatic regions throughout New Zealand, and produces an accessible monthly biodynamic calendar with Soil & Health and Biodynamics NZ. Her heartfelt passion for food, localisation, and thriving nature is the foundation of her incredible offerings – and finds her greatest joy in helping people back to the land, and themselves. 

Monique has also just recently returned from the Goetheanum in Switzerland, where she presented a keynote lecture ‘Feeling the Earth as a Living Being’ with Agriculture Section co-leader Eduardo Rincon at Agriculture Conference 2025. Weaving anthroposophy and biodynamics closer together is her current passion, breathing a deeper life into our lands and our practice. 

https://www.natural-wisdom.net/  or https://www.instagram.com/_natural_wisdom_/

Jan Johns: 

Jan on how she came to biodynamics, “A chance meeting and visit( 20 something years ago) from Peter Proctor and Rachel Pomeroy “opened my eyes” to biodynamics.

 Peter said “Don’t let the perfect get in the way, just do it!” It took a little more time!

I completed the Certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics through Taruna and then with the enthusiasm of our vigneron, Jeremy Hyland, have been using biodynamic principles in the vineyard since 2018.

We now make all our own preps (often with other members of the local biodynamic community) and our vineyard and wines are showing the benefits.

Peter was right!!”

Bridget Henderson:

Bridget learnt all about Biodynamics while living and working on Shelly Beach Farm, mentored by John Pearce. She continues to practice and promote BD and is currently a BDNZ Councillor.  Bridget is also actively involved with Organic Farm NZ, as regional chair and auditor, as well asTutor of NZ Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production.  Bridget believes in taking every chance to share the BD magic!

Christine Moginie:

Christine Moginie’s love of Nature, Colour and Form, has lead her on a long destiny journey through urban organic gardening and rural lifestyle life in NZ and Australia.

Art, artistic therapy, storytelling, biography counselling, teaching adults and children, meditation, and biodynamics all melded together through studies in Anthroposophy since 1983.

Christine’s businesses “Conversations in Colour Artistic Psychotherapy” and Vortex Biodynamic Gardening Workshops and Consultation, combined with motherhood, and a love of learning, led her to join the BDNZ Council in 2020, and the role of Chair since 2023. Biodynamic preparations as medicines for the Earth .If you would like to connect with Christine and her work we encourage you to follow her @vortexbiodynamics 

Jane Cumberworth:

Jane is active stirring 500 twice a year since being involved in Beehive gardens Hastings 1980s .  She introduced children to 500 stirring at schools too: Hastings 1986, Welcome Bay Waldorf school, 1990s and Motueka Steiner School,2004 to 2016.  Now Jane is involved with groups who organise stirs for the school’s land care group in Robinson Road, Motueka, as well as a group who do 500 stirring and 501 for home gardens.