Biodynamic Agriculture – Planting and Growing with Spirit

Pioneered by Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic agriculture is rooted in anthroposophy, a philosophy that encompasses the spiritual as well as the physical world and embraces a profound understanding of the human being and of evolution. Biodynamic agriculture involved the use of particular spray preparations as an aid to increase soil fertility, encourage light into the crop and enhance the

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Biodynamic Forces at Work

So we’ve all heard of organic, as in organic food, farming, cotton etc, but what about biodynamic? Do you know what Demeter is, what the symbol looks like or what it stands for? What concepts underpin biodynamic practice for the farmer, smallholder or gardener and how can these be applied to anyone’s backyard? Intrigued and slightly dubious, but open and wanting to learn more about biodynamic farming, I recently attended a weekend course in Biodynamic Agriculture at Emerson College in Sussex to learn more.

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Calves in the Biodynamic Community

Biodynamic Farming is a unique form of organic husbandry inspired by the research of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) and founded on a holistic and spiritual understanding of nature and the human being. Planting, harvesting, and other agricultural activities are undertaken at particular times in response to particular phases of the moon, or astrological cycles

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What is Biodynamic Farming?

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Posted on January 17, 2007 by Sarmaad

Biodynamic farming has been practised in over 50 countries on all 5 continents for at least 80 years. "Bio" comes from the Greek word which translates as "life" and "dynamic" means a moving force. It is a science of life-forces, a recognition of the basic principles at work in nature and an approach to agriculture which takes these principles into account in trying to bring about balance and healing. It is part of the work of Rudolf Steiner, known as anthroposophy. Through anthroposophy individuals are able to find their own relationship with the world and nature.

Steiner propagated the idea of the "self-contained" farm where there would be just the right number of animals to provide manure for soil fertility and that these animals would then, in turn, be fed from the farm. One of biodynamics fundamental efforts is to build up stable humus in the soil through composting. Vegetable waste, manure, leaves, food scraps, all contain precious vitality which can be put to good use in building up the soil.

Steiner introduced what are known as biodynamic preparations, i.e. naturally occurring plant and animal materials that are combined in a specific way in certain seasons of the year and placed in compost piles. These preparations contain concentrated forces which are used to organize the elements within the compost piles. On completion of the process the resulting preparations are "medicines" for the Earth.

One of the preparations is used on the earth before planting to stimulate the soil life and the other is used on the leaves of the plants to encourage their capacity to receive light. The positive results of these preparations has been scientifically proven. By understanding the natural rythmns of the sun, moon, planets and the stars we can time our ground preparation, sowing, cultivating and harvesting to the optimize the quality of the crops we grow.

Weeds and pests are very useful indicators of imbalances in soil, plants and animals; and the aim of the biodynamic method is to use such indicators in a positive way. Pest and disease control is generally managed by developing the farm as a total organism. When specific pest and weed control is required, products are made from the weeds and pests themselves.

Biodynamic farming means farming in a way which cares for the environment, without relying upon synthetic chemicals and other unnatural interventionist approaches to farming and food production.

Everything in nature reveals something about it's essential character; it is therefore necessary that we learn to understand the language of nature!

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What is Biodynamic Farming?

In the agriculture industry, biodynamic farming is fast becoming an important technique. It is a method of special organic farming that calls for treatment of farms as individual and unified organisms. It emphasizes balance in the holistic interrelationship and development of plants, animals, and soil in a self-nourishing system even without external outputs. This is possible given the usual loss of nutrients in the soil due to continuous and heavy farming.

Biodynamic farming is regarded by many as a form of a pioneering modern ecological farming technique. It has many things in common with many other organic farming approaches. Biodynamic farming emphasizes the use of composts and manures with simultaneous exclusion of the use of artificial chemicals usually applied on soil and on plants to increase production. Among the methods that are unique to biodynamic farming approach is the use of fermented mineral and herbal preparations like compost additives, natural field sprays, and the use of astronomical planting and sowing calendar.

In essence, biodynamic farming as well as gardening looks at the soil and the farm as a whole like living organisms. This regards maintenance and furtherance of the soil life as an important and basic necessity if soil is intended to be preserved for many generations. The technique regards the farm as true to its essential nature if it could be conceived as a kind of entity in itself. The technique starts with the ideal concept of necessary self-contained structure of the farm and the necessary works to further the life of soil.

Maintaining soil life is important in the protection of soil from erosion. It is also necessary in the creation, improvement, and augmentation of the significant humus content. There would be fine, crumbly, and fertile soil structure containing necessary organic colloids. Thus, this leads to production of quality crops, which leads to better feed for many types of livestock and better for consumption by people.

In biodynamic farming, manure and compost are considered the most valuable forms of fertilizers. Such materials contain organic matter where soil bacteria as well as earthworms could be fed. Doing so would eventually help revitalize the soil. Manure and compost also have colloids that absorb moisture as well as mineral solutions to form a crumbly structure, eventually eliminating erosion. Careful storage of manure within heaps covered with soil could help prevent or reduce loss of nitrogen in the soil.

Biodynamic compost preparations could play an important role in the unified approach to agriculture. Such materials are made of several medicinal herbs that undergo a long and tedious process of fermentation to enrich the soil in growth-stimulating substances. At the same time, the technique and strategy of appropriate crop rotation is very necessary in preserving soil fertility. As a general rule, soil-exhausting crops like potatoes, corn, cabbage, and cauliflower should alternate along with soil-restoring crops like legumes.

At the same time, biodynamic farming also calls for planting of deep-rooting crops alternating planting of shallow-rooting ones. Crops that are requiring manure must alternate with plants that could do without it.