Demeter und Baubo

The agricultural ethnologist, geographer, and economic historian Eduard Hahn (1856-1928) attempted to explain the origins of early forms of agriculture and the domestication of animals in numerous publications. In the book "Demeter and Baubo, An Attempt at a Theory of the Origins of Our Agriculture" (1897), Hahn discusses the connection between the emergence of plow culture and religious sexual beliefs. Notable among his other works on the history of agriculture are "The Origins of Plow Culture" (1909) and "From the Hoe to the Plow" (1914 and 1919). In several essays, particularly in his book "The Economy of the World at the Turn of the 19th Century" (1900), Hahn presents himself as a pessimistic cultural critic and opponent of colonialism.

The name "Demeter" is derived from the Greek goddess Demeter, a mother goddess associated with the fertility of the earth, seeds, and grains, as well as the seasons. She is often depicted with a wheat ear and poppies. Demeter agriculture is a holistic agricultural culture that goes far beyond conventional organic practices. It takes into account cosmic connections (e.g., lunar cycles), relies on biodynamic plant strengthening (e.g., effective microorganisms), and places great importance on animal welfare. All elements of agriculture, including humans, are interconnected with each other and with the cosmos, creating a farm organism, a living diversity that allows for the production of energetically high-quality and healthy food.

Reprint of the original edition from 1897.