Garden Biodynamically, I
© Geoffrey Ian Miller
Biodynamics (BD) is an advanced form of organic gardening on a small scale to larger scale agricultural farming. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) developed BD in 1924 in what is now Poland in response to depleting soil nutrition and quality. BD began organic production methods.A simple principle of BD is visualising the garden as a natural self-contained organism. Integration of crops, nutrient recycling, soil and plant health and the gardener is important. BD is a holistic form of management.
BD goes further than basic organic gardening. Consider non-physical characteristics in nature such as vitality, life force, ki, delicate energy and similar concepts. These are common in alternative science and medicine.
Here are some principles of biological and dynamic farming practices as taken from Taken from Biodynamic Farming & Compost Preparation by S Diver p.3:
- Green manures
- Special compost preparations
- Cover cropping
- Special foliar sprays
- Composting
- Planting by calendar
- Companion planting
- Peppering for pest control
- Integration of crops and livestock
- Homeopathy
- Tillage and cultivation
- Radionics
Nine significant features apply to BD preparations to improve soil health and stimulate plant growth. Add fermented preparations to minerals, plant or animal manure substances. BD preparations are numbered 500-508. BD 500 is cow manure fermented in a cow horn buried in the soil for six months through autumn and winter and sprayed on the soil to increase root growth and humus. BD 501 is powdered quartz packed into a cow horn and also buried in the soil for six months through spring and summer and is a foliage spray to increase and control growth.
Apply the preparations BD 502-507 to compost.
- 502 - Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium)
- 503 - Chamomile blossoms (Chamomilla officinalis)
- 504 - Stinging nettle (entire plant in bloom) (Urtica dioca)
- 505 - Oak bark (Quercus robur)
- 506 - Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale)
- 507 - Valerian flowers (Valeriana officinalis) BD 508 is from the silica-rich horsetail plant (Equisetum arvense) used as a foliage spray to control fungal diseases. BD preparations regulate biological systems and aid life (etheric) forces in the farm or garden.
Compost is a basic component of BD because of all the benefits I mentioned in my compost article. Use BD preparations' 502-507. BD compost provides humus as well as encouraging energetic forces to boost the garden. The BD compost method is specific.
Dr Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (1899-1961), a soil microbiologist working with Steiner partook in extensive research on BD compost. Pfeiffer research developed a compost inoculant called by its trade name of BD compost Starter and 55 different microorganisms. Those practicing BD commonly use BD Compost Starter because it is simple to apply whilst building the compost pile. Purchase the BD Compost Starter from Josephine Porter Institute (JPI) for Applied Biodynamics in Woolwine, Virginia.
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