Lucca Biodinamica brings sustainable energy to Tuscany’s wine scene Whilst Tuscany has long been known as a key wine-producing region in Italy, the wines of the Lucca province have largely been overshadowed by household names like Chianti and the Super Tuscans of Bolgheri. One group of producers is working to change that: using biodynamic techniques, they’re producing exciting wines that are quickly becoming the talk of wine importers and restaurants in places like London, Copenhagen and New York. (Wednesday November 23rd, 2016 — The Florentine - Florence ITALY)

Organic wine grapes profitable on North Coast? UC study looks specifically at biodynamic farm standards. Researchers say growers are having success under the system. Report assumes 40 acres of red and white varieties. (Tuesday November 22nd, 2016 — Western Farm Press )

Why Loire Valley Wines Will Ramp Up In Popularity Recent changes include producers more fearlessly marketing wines that include lesser-known grape varieties (providing 'width' to the wine scene), while focusing on increasing quality in wines previously considered pedestrian (providing 'depth' to the drinking experience), especially Muscadet (including several biodynamic versions). Some of these wines now sizzle with surprise. (Monday November 21st, 2016 — Forbes - USA)

2 Rockland Private Schools Make New List of NY's Best Rockland Country Day School and Green Meadow Waldorf School are among 23 Hudson Valley schools that made Niche.com's list of New York’s top 100 private schools. (Saturday November 19th, 2016 — Patch.com )

WA wine producer upholds Rudolf Steiner principles of planting to the moon and planets An award-winning Western Australian winemaker says farming in step with the moon's lunar cycle is not only good practice, it also has a direct impact on the "character" of the end product. Vanya Cullen said she had adopted principles set out by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, credited as having introduced the concept of organic agriculture during a series of lectures in Germany in 1924. (Monday November 14th, 2016 — ABC Online - Australia)

Waldorf students receive letter from President Obama On September 15, 2016 President Obama designated the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, approximately 150 miles offshore of Cape Cod as the first national monument in the Atlantic. ... Recently, the sixth grade students sent postcards with their watercolor paintings of ocean life to President Obama in support of this marine monument and the protection of the great diversity of ocean life in this area, including deep-sea coral, sperm whales, and Kemp’s ridley turtles. President Obama replied to the students in a letter commending the students for their interest in these environmental concerns. (Monday November 14th, 2016 — Cape Cod Today - )

Why Biodynamic Wine Is The Future �Biodynamics was at first a challenge, but it respects vines and biodiversity. Yet it�s also simple and we add nothing to the wines,� explained the owners� son, winemaker Guillaume Hubert. (Monday November 14th, 2016 — Forbes - USA)

Paper made at WMU to provide clean water for impoverished countries The new creation costs users just pennies each day to use. �There will be a booklet which will contain 100 or so sheets, where they can tear one sheet out and filter 100 liters of water, and have clean water for weeks at a time off of a single filter,� Pschigoda explained. (Friday November 11th, 2016 — woodTV8 - Grand Rapids, Michigan USA)

Organic Farming in the U.S. Is Now Bigger Than Ever The number of certified organic acres in the country rose by more than 10 percent over the past two years. (Thursday November 10th, 2016 — TakePart.com)

New owner at one of the largest persimmons farms in Australia The new owners, Mick and Kylie Carr, are committed to continue to grow biological, biodynamic, nutrient dense quality persimmons and stone fruit. (Wednesday November 9th, 2016 — FreshPlaza )

What Are Biodynamic Foods and Why Should You Be Eating Them? Long story short: Biodynamic is the new organic, and you need to get behind it, like, yesterday. (Friday October 28th, 2016 — Shape Magazine - shape.com)

The electric car market is growing 10 times faster than its dirty gasoline equivalent ... though EVs are a fraction of the global vehicle stock � less than 1 percent� the industry is growing about 10 times faster than the traditional vehicle market. (Monday October 17th, 2016 — Think Progress - USA)

UK Government Finds Link Between Insecticides and Bee Decline A government-backed review of bee decline in the UK has found that the country�s pollinator loss appears connected to the growing popularity of neonicotinoid-based insecticides. Will this change the government�s stance on these controversial pest control products? (Monday October 17th, 2016 — Care2.com - USA)

Cristal 2009 Champagne taps into spirit of the 60s ... it�s impossible to speak wine with L�caillon without mentioning biodynamics,. And he believes efforts to convert the grand cru vineyards feeding Cristal have helped the wine to open up. (Wednesday October 12th, 2016 — decanter.com)

The Waldorf Way of creative discipline Waldorf schools aim to graduate students who are self-confident, self-sufficient and self-directed, with the ability to know and ask for what they want. We also strive to instill integrity, compassion, respect, and a sense of responsibility and love for the world. Crucial to all these traits is the ability to discern appropriate boundaries. The Waldorf approach to discipline is multi-faceted, holistic, and sometimes subtle, with many overlapping strategies. (Tuesday October 11th, 2016 — Ukiah Daily Journal - Ukiah, California USA)

Steamboat couple hoping to establish cacao groves in Costa Rica The couple�s bigger goal is to acquire approximately 35 acres in La Tigra (literally, The Tiger), Costa Rica, where they hope to engage in an �agri-forestry� project by planting cacao trees, which are very efficient at sequestering carbon dioxide. The goal of the Marxuachses, who maintain a 1,500-square-foot greenhouse at their home on Fourth Street, is consistent with their commitment to regenerative agriculture � farming organically in a manner that improves the land while producing a crop. ... The Marxuachses also subscribe to the biodynamic approach to farming. (Friday October 7th, 2016 — Steamboat Pilot & Today - Steamboat Springs, Colorado USA)

Steiner schools rising in popularity Australia-wide Steiner schools are rising in popularity across Australia with three new schools built in as many years, lengthy waiting lists, and the introduction of a degree in Steiner education at a Queensland university. (Friday October 7th, 2016 — ABC Local - Australia)

Trees Can Form Bonds Like an Old Couple and Look After Each Other Trees have feelings. They can feel pain, but can also have emotions, such as fear. Trees like to stand close together and cuddle. There is in fact friendship among trees. (Friday October 7th, 2016 — Care2.com - USA)

World moves to offset airplane emissions in landmark deal Under CORSIA � short for Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation � the industry will voluntarily (at first) offset its emissions through the purchase of credits, or the funding of still unspecified projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere. (Friday October 7th, 2016 — Think Progress - USA)

"Extinct" Variety of Tree Rediscovered at Queen's Palace in Scotland Two Wentworth elms identified at Holyroodhouse escaped Dutch elm disease, which destroyed millions of other trees (Thursday October 6th, 2016 — Smithsonian online -USA)