The Path Of Biodynamic Gardening

The Path Of Biodynamic Gardening

The success of a certain group can be achieved in so many ways. There is passion. There is trust. And there is the need for a system. The agricultural circles abide by these principles. This is how, through the years, more and more important changes have brought forth positive results to their production. Let’s take a look at the path of biodynamic gardening and find out how its systematic and holistic approach is practiced by many of its supporters.

Biodynamic has been embraced throughout many regions across the planets for so many reasons. Its principles are well-loved by the farmers that have incorporated each and every ounce of teaching it has to offer. It brings out the individuality of the farm as a self-contained entity. The focus is on the health of the crops and the livestock as well as the holistic development of the farmer. Let’s see how these things become a reality.

Rudolf Steiner who is considered as the main proponent of the biodynamic practices prescribed nine preparations that are to be utilized in order to boost fertilization which is actually the cornerstone of the said practice. He gave a concrete description on proper preparation should be done. Preparation of the substances to be used was very vital as it will influence the transport of cosmic forces and metaphysical beings into the soil.

Steiner meticulously labelled each substance using the numbers 500 to 508. The first pair was used to signify guidelines for field preparation while the last seven numbers gave out ample information on compost production. Studies show little amount of direct effect of the preparations to the quality of soil structure and compost development. However, it has contributed in the acceleration of the initial composting phase, the stimulation of plant growth, and the enhancement of the nutritive content of the compost.

The field preparations were founded on humus formation. 500 was composed of humus mixture prepared by filling the horn of a cow with cow manure and burying it underground at a depth of about 40 to 60 centimeters during autumn. The decomposition process occurs during winter and then it has harvested in spring time. 501 on the other hand is buried during spring time and recovered when autumn comes. It consists of crushed powdered quartz that is stuffed into a cow’s horn.

The preparations for the compost side mainly employ herbs that are commonly utilized for their medicinal benefits. 502 is made of yarrow blossoms that are stuffed inside the urinary bladders of a Red Deer and is placed under the summer sun then buried during winter to be retrieved come spring. 503 follows and is composed of chamomile blossoms stuffed into the small intestines of cattle that is buried in soil enriched by humus during autumn and then extracted come spring time. 504 is stinging nettle plants that are said to be in full bloom and stuffed together with peats around the burial site for the whole year.

The path to the fertilization aspect of biodynamic gardening ends with 505 up to 508. 505 is made of oak bark that is chopped into small pieces and place inside the skull of a domesticated animal and when buried is surrounded by peat where there is abundance of rain water. 506 has dandelion flowers placed into the peritoneum of cattle which is buried in winter and scooped up during spring. 507 has valerian flowers extracted into water and 508 is made of horsetail.

What is Biodynamic Farming?

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. 

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