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The Madrone Trail Initiative is a non-profit tax-exempt organization based in Southern Oregon. The mission of this organization is to support the following types of endeavors:
- Waldorf education (also called Steiner education) is based upon the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. It emphasizes a holistic approach to education to further the balanced integration of thought, feeling, action and spirit within each individual.
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During early childhood, learning (language and skill acquisition) is largely experiential, imitative and sensory-based.
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In the elementary school years, learning naturally occurs through appealing to the imagination, especially through artistic activity.
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Finally, during adolescence, the capacity for abstract thought and conceptual judgment develops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_education
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| - Biodynamic agriculture, or biodynamics comprises an ecological and sustainable farming system, that includes many of the ideas of organic farming (but predates the term). It is based on the anthroposophical teachings of Rudolf Steiner, particularly on the eight lectures given by him in Schloss Koberwitz in Silesia, Germany in 1924 (nowadays close to Wrocław, Poland), shortly before his death. At the time Steiner believed that the introduction of chemical farming was a major problem. Steiner was convinced that the quality of food in his time was degraded, and he believed the source of the problem were artificial fertilizers and pesticides, however he did not believe this was only because of the chemical or biological properties relating to the substances involved, but also due to spiritual shortcomings in the whole chemical approach to farming. The name "biologically dynamic" or "biodynamic" was coined by Steiner's adherents. A central aspect of biodynamics is that the farm as a whole is seen as an organism, and therefore should be a closed self-nourishing system, which the preparations nourish. Disease of organisms is not to be tackled in isolation but is a symptom of problems in the whole organism. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_Agriculture)
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- Eurythmy is a movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century. Primarily a performing art eurythmy is also used in therapy and taught to children for its pedagogical value. Steiner described eurythmy as an "art of the soul". Its gestures unite subjective experience with the objective reality of what is being expressed (the music, poetry or other theme chosen). It takes its character from the movement that arises out of the upright form of the human being, in which the cultivated feelings of the soul ray into space most strongly through the expressive movement of the arms, the legs and feet, which mediate the connection to the earth and differentiate the soul expression through the quality they give to the overall movement of the body through space, while the head mediates the human connection to the heavens in a more reflective way. Most eurythmy today is performed with classical (concert) music or texts such as poetry or stories. Silent pieces are also sometimes performed.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurythmy)
- Anthroposophical medicine is a holistic and salutogenetic approach to health. It thus focuses on ensuring that the conditions for health are present in a person; combating illness is often necessary but is insufficient alone. The approach was founded in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Ita Wegman, who carried the impulse forward after Steiner's death in 1925.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthroposophical_medicine)
The Madrone Trail Initiative strives to promote the understanding of the above concepts through sponsoring of guest speakers on these different subjects or development and implementation projects such as the Madrone Trail Public Charter school.
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