The biodynamic movement originated from a group of eight
lectures given by Rudolf Steiner in Poland in 1924. Rudolf Steiner was a
Christian seer who originated the anthroposophical society. He is the
originator of the Waldorf educational system and anthroposophical medicine.
Farmers in the anthroposophical society asked him to address agricultural
problems of their time. There were problems with the decline of soil fertility
and farm viability even at this time, prior to the huge use of chemicals and
poor farm management which has ensued since then. They were concerned about
degeneration of seed strains in many cultivated plants. Crops could not be
grown in the same fields for as many years as they had grown previously. There
was an increase in animal disease, with sterility and foot-and-mouth disease
amongst other problems. In the lectures, Steiner gave answers which nurtured
sustainability of farms through health of the whole farm organism. He requested farmers test his ideas rather
than take them as gospel truth. Farmers have been using his methods ever since,
getting wonderful results and adding to the biodynamic wealth of information.
Biodynamic farming is more than a body of information, it is
a spiritual attitude towards all life. In biodynamic farming the farmer is
considered a spiritual caretaker of the land. The farmer's job is to maintain a
healthy organism through education, careful planning, spiritual guidance and
thoughtful activity. She learns to become an intricate part of a larger
organism. The farm becomes a holy place where daily activity takes place with
reverence and love. All the beings on the farm depend on each other for their
continued existence. An intricate web is formed. The farmer has direct
experience of the rhythms of the seasons and intimate communication with the
smallest of organisms unseen in the soil to the largest of organisms, such as
the farm itself. There is a recognition of the interdependence of all the
organisms which make up the farm.
A biodynamic farm strives to be a self reliant
organism. Manuring materials are
produced on the farm via animal manures and green manuring. Composting is an
integral part of the farm. Compost is enlivened with the use of biodynamic
preparations from animal and plant substances which have undergone fermentation
processes. Other biodynamic preparations are applied by spraying them directly
on the soil or the plants themselves. These preparations support the life of the
soil or support the plants ability to draw what it needs from the soil or from
the sun and the rest of the cosmos. The biodynamic methods support the vitality
of the farm organism as a whole. The emphasis is on quality of life and the
health of the plants and animals. Whereas the main interest on most farms is on
quantity, the main emphasis of a biodynamic farm is on the increased
flavor, nutrition and vitality of the food as well as the enhanced life
experience for all entities involved.
In biodynamic farming a plant can not be diseased by itself.
If there is a problem with a plant,
there is something wrong with the environment. The environment of the plant is
nourished so that it can sustain a healthy plant.
Biodynamic growth of healthy plants and animals supports the
vitality of the human beings who consume these organisms. Intake of these essential life forces and the harmonious biodynamic
lifestyle nourishes human beings, allowing them to live a rewarding life of
equanimity.
Biodynamic preparations are used to rectify the chronic and
symptomatic imbalances of our time. Small potentized amounts are used, similar
to homeopathy. Over time the preps in
conjunction with respect for nature and good farming practices, bring the
environment into harmony creating a healthy farm organism.
In Germany and Sweden experiments have compared vegetables
grown with biodynamic methods and other modern day methods. The Biodynamic
vegetables tend to have higher vitamin levels, higher levels of true proteins, and longer storage
times. In European studies Biodynamic
farms show increases in soil fertility over time. There has been a lot of research comparing
biodynamics with other farming systems. Unfortunately many of them are not in
English. In 1995 The American Journal of Agriculture published a comparative
study of Biodynamic farming and other farming practices from English publications. This review was
compiled by John Reganold, a crop and soil science researcher of the University
of Washington (USA). It is called Soil
Quality and Profitability of Bio-Dynamic and Conventional Farming Systems; In
Review., Volume 10, number 1, 1995. This research review finds Biodynamic
methods to have higher organic matter, microbial activity, enzyme activity,
earthworm channels, earthworms and total nitrogen than the topsoil of
chemically fertilized plots and control plots. Research has also shown higher
nitrogen rates, organic matter, enzyme activity, microbial biomass and total
nitrogen in biodynamic plots compared with organic plots. Besides better soil found on biodynamic farms
the studies showed that biodynamic farms had lower crop yields, but equal or
greater net returns than their conventional counterparts. Lower crop yields
were thought to possibly be due to choice of seed strains while increased
returns were due to greater market worth of the Demeter (biodynamic certifying
agency) certified products. The emphasis in bio-dynamic farming is on quality,
not on quantity.
PREPARATIONS EXPLAINED
Some of the preparations use cow, deer or elk organs as part
of their processing. Some people have
asked if there are alternatives to using animal organs in these preparations.
Perhaps, but I don't know of any. You may find it important to know that the
deer and elk bladders in the Oregon Biodynamic group are harvested by a butcher
who collects them for our group when someone brings an animal to him to
butcher. The cow parts are harvested each year from one of the cows, which are
butchered on a biodynamic group member's farm. We are using the parts of the
animals no one generally makes use of. Animals are not dying specifically for
this one purpose. Our group makes the preparations together. The preps are
sufficient in number for our members as well as other people in our area who
purchase them. The preparations are used in minute amounts just like
homeopathic preparations.
#500
Horn
manure - #500 is applied in the autumn and spring as well as on transplants. 500
enhances root growth. It promotes root activity. It specifically stimulates
soil micro-life and increases beneficial bacterial growth. It regulates calcium
and nitrogen content. 500 helps release trace elements and stimulates
germination of seeds. It is diluted in water, potentized, sprayed on the ground
prior to planting, in seed beds and used as a root dip for transplants. It
consists of cow manure packed into cow horns and buried around Michaelmas
(September 29). It remains in the ground until spring. It is dug out between
Easter and Ascension (Spring Solstice). In Oregon it is dug out as late as
possible.
For one acre use one 5 gallon pale of water filled 2/3 full
of water, add prep, stir for one hour. (see stirring directions) The 500 can be
sprayed by dipping a whisk broom into the prep water and shaking the prep onto
the soil. The prep must touch bare ground. 500 is best applied in the late
afternoon or early evening. It should be applied on slightly moist ground and
not in direct sun. It should not be applied
before a heavy rain.
#501
501 is used
for above the ground growth, for the flowering and ripening processes. It
enhances light metabolism of the plant. It stimulates photosynthesis and
formation of chlorophyll. It influences color, aroma, flavor and
keeping-quality of crops. 501 is made from very finely ground quartz. The
moistened quartz is packed into a new fairly recently removed cow horn. This is
buried in the ground from about mid June until the end of October or the
beginning of November.
For one acre use one 5 gallon pale of water filled 2/3 full
of water, add prep, stir for one hour. (see stirring directions) Put into a
spraying apparatus used only for biodynamic preps. Spray in a very fine mist
onto foliage or fruit, in the early morning, not immediately before rain. This spray can burn tender new leaves if
sprayed late in the morning on a bright day. Don't spray on transplants unless
the root system is well developed and the plant is putting out vigorous new
growth. This spray can cause lettuce or spinach to bolt immediately if they are
close to bolting. Only spray early in their cycle.
COMPOST
PREPS #502- #507
#502
502 assists
plants in attracting trace elements in extremely dilute quantities for their
best nutrition. 502 is made from Achillea millefolium (Yarrow blossoms)
collected in June before St. John's Day. The flowers are picked prior to
pollination or at least while they are fully vibrant, prior to making
seeds. They are used fresh or dried and
reconstituted later. An empty stag or elk bladder is filled with these flowers.
The bladder is hung in the air and sun until Michaelmas when it is buried. It
is dug up between Easter and Ascension.
(Helps
assimilation of minerals as a bio prep and as a medinial herb ingested by
humans.)
#503
503 stabilizes nitrogen within the
compost and increases soil life so as to stimulate plant growth. 503 is made
from reconstituted Matricaria recutita (German chamomile) flowers which are
stuffed inside the intestine of a cow, bull, steer or heifer. The sausages are buried at Michaelmas
and dug up between Easter and Ascension.
#504
504 or Urtica
spp. (Stinging nettles) stimulate soil health, providing plants with the
individual nutritional components needed. It enlivens the soil.
504 is made with
Nettles. The whole top of the plant is collected in flower in June, before St.
John's Day if possible. They are bundled together and placed into a hole lined
with peat.
Nettles are also used as a fermented tea. This is sprayed on
sick or stressed plants as a liquid manure.
#505
505 provides
healing qualities to combat harmful plant diseases. 505 is made from Quercus
spp. (Oak bark) around Michaelmas. The bark is gathered from a living tree. It
can't be mossy or flaky. You can't go too deep into the red bark. The bark is
ground, moistened and inserted into the brain cavity of a skull from a large
domestic animal. Cows are usually used. All the holes are sealed with bones,
wooden pegs or dowels. The skull is placed on the side of a small stream, or in
a damp, marshy place where water will trickle through. The prep is removed in
the spring.
#506
506
stimulates the relation between silica and potassium so silica can attract
cosmic forces to the soil. 506 is made from unpollinated reconstituted
Dandelion flowers. The flowers are wrapped in the fresh peritoneum of a bovine
animal. It is buried at Michaelmas and dug up between Easter and Ascension.
#507
507 is used
the evening before a frost is expected. 507 stimulates compost so the
phosphorus content of the compost can be properly used by the plant.
507 is made from Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) flowers
which are ground up immediately after
harvesting. The pulp is squeezed
through cheesecloth and the juice put into amber bottles with corks.
#508
508 is used
to prevent fungal growth. It is helpful on seedlings to prevent damping off.
508 is made with Equisetum arvense (Horsetail). The sterile shoots are
harvested in May through June prior to
the silica losing its organic bond and becoming crystallized. The plant is
dried and used as a tea.
Bio-Dynamic Compost
Making
Compost: 502-507 preps One set of
preps 502-507 is sufficient for a pile of 1-10 tons (one cubic yard of
material). If you make a smaller compost pile, you still need to use the full
set. The compost must sit on the ground. If you make layers, make them thin,
about 2". Use coarse stalky material
on the bottom layer to trap pockets of air in the pile. Sprinkle small
amounts of soil over each layer. The layers should consist of weeds or garden
plants, leaves, animal manure and bedding, kitchen food and soil. These are
used in alternate layers with soil spread between layers and on top. If
limestone is added it should go in with the leaves. If adding rock phosphate,
don't add it with the limestone. To
inoculate the pile with biodynamic preps, use the following method: Use a broom handle or shovel handle to make 5
holes in the compost pile. They should be as far apart from each other as
possible and the hole should reach half way to the ground or 1.5 feet from the
top of the pile. Each of the 5 preps get
put into their own hole. Add preps 502, 503, 504, 505 and 506 into their
separate holes. Cover the opening to the holes with the outer layer of compost
and soil. Take preparation 507 and
dilute it in water (the water must be spring water, river water, rain water or
if necessary tap water which has sat out for 2-3 days to let the chlorine
evaporate), Use about 32 -64 oz of water in a quart jar or 1/2 gallon jar. Stir
the mixture with a wooden stick or spoon. Stir for 15 minutes (See stirring
directions). When the mixture is finished, make a 6th hole in the center of the
pile and pour 50% of the mixture into this hole, sprinkle the rest of the
mixture over the pile. 507 helps all the rest of the preps work together in a
harmonious way. Once the pile is built, covered with earth or straw and
inoculated with preps, simply leave it. It will be ready in 3-9 months
depending on moisture and heat.
Stirring Preps
Use a
stick which makes a good vortex in your pail of water. Also use a stick that is
comfortable to hold. You need to use the stick to make a vortex all the way to
the bottom of the pail. Tree prunings can be saved to use for these sticks. Get
in a comfortable stirring position, start by making a vortex in one direction.
As soon as it is well formed, quickly change directions creating a vortex in
the opposite direction. The water will become chaotic, then a new vortex will
form in the opposite direction. Once again reverse directions creating a vortex
in the other direction. This alternation between a stable vortex and chaos
between the two directions is very important.
Storage of Preps
Fill a cardboard or wooden box with peat and bury each prep
so it is completely covered and surrounded by peat. The box must have a lid on the top of it.
Preps can be put into small glass jars with cork lids or earthenware
containers. 500, 502-507 should be stored in the peat container. 501 should be
stored in a glass jar with a cork cover or paper rubber banded over the top and
left in the sunlight. Avoid storing the preps in metal or near electric wires
or active machinery.
Timing is Everything
Biodynamic preps will enliven and enhance the cosmic rhythms
which are already at play on any given day. This can be beneficial or
detrimental. For this reason it is necessary to use them in conjunction with a
guide of cosmic forces such as the Stella Natura. This is a publication created
by Kimberton Hills. It is a biodynamic agricultural calendar. Sowing seeds,
transplanting, harvesting, thinning,
pruning, weeding and other activities are all planned according to weather
conditions, the plants needs and planetary forces or cosmic forces. This
calendar gives us the play by play movements of the cosmos each day and break
it down as to how it effects farming. It is well known by farmers that trees
pruned in the full of the moon have more chance of losing large amounts of sap.
It is also known the full moon is the best time for germination of seeds. These
are some commonly known facts of farming due to the celestial influences of the
moon and its effect upon earth's organisms. There are many other relationships
between the celestial planets, each
other and how their physical movements effect farming on our planet. The more
you learn these rhythms and use this knowledge in your farming, the better
results you get. If you don't know much about the movement of the planets and
their effects you will want to purchase a book such as Astrological Gardening
to use in conjunction with the calendar.
If you want to know more about the herbs used in biodynamic farming, I wrote an article on the herbs which you can find at
this link. Look for "Farm Data Blog Series"
Oregon BD Group: http://oregonbd.org
The
Bio-Dynamic Farming & Gardening Association Inc
262-649-9212
http://www.biodynamics.com
National
address for preparations and cow horns:
Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics
PO Box 133
Woolvine, VA
24185-0133 phone: 540-930-2463
http://www.jpibiodynamics.org/
Suggested
Reading:
1. Grasp The Nettle by Peter Proctor
2. BIODYNAMICS: Farming and Gardening in the 21st Century
- a journal available from Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Bio-Dynamics
3. Agriculture by Rudolf Steiner
4. Herbal Renaissance by Steven Foster
5. Herbal Emissaries by Steven Foster
6. The Biodynamic Farm by Herbert Koepf
7. Bio-Dynamic Agriculture by Koepf, Pettersson,
Schaumann
8. The Potential of Herbs as a Cash Crop by Richard
Miller
9. Dirt, the Ecstatic Skin of the Earth by William
Logan
10. The Earth manual - How to Work on Wild Land Without
Taming It by Malcolm Margolin
11. Astrological Gardening by Louise Riotte
12. Stella Natura by Kimberton Hills – purchase via
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Ass.
