Resources Centre for Sustainable Development

Partners in Sustainable Development

by James Sprunt (mcsprint71@yahoo.com) 

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamics uses a variety of preparations to bring cosmic influences into our soil, plants, animals and hence our food production. The term biodynamics derives from the Greek words “bios” (life) and “dynamis” (energy) – hence, ultimately biodynamically grown food and those who eat it are enlivened by this “life energy”. “BD is man’s service to the earth and its creatures, not just a method for increasing production or for providing healthy food. Healthy food is not enough to save humanity. The food that man grows with the united balancing effort of plant, animal and mineral has the potential to vitalize man to elevate himself” (Indian biodynamic practitioner, Swami Jai Chaitanya Das).

 Biodynamics requires a holistic understanding and attentive observation of the soil, plants and animals and their connection with cosmic forces and planetary rhythms. Biodynamics is a spiritual relationship between people, plants, animals and the universe in which they exist.

 W.D. Storl defined Biodynamics as:

“assisting nature to better its working by the ‘consciousness-level’ involvement of man assisted by cosmic forces, the basic element of earth (gross and subtle) and the production of food with spiritual vitality to bring higher character in mans’ consciousness”.

How and when did Biodynamics begin?

Biodynamic agriculture is much more than organic farming. In the 1920s, a group of organic farmers (considered ‘conventional’) also came to this conclusion after observing that the quality of their crops and animals was not as it should be. They approached Austrian Rudolph Steiner who gave his series of eight lectures on agriculture in 1924. Much of Steiner’s work and thoughts on medicine, education and agriculture is believed to be influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and Vedic scriptures. He described all aspects of life and science in terms of the holistic philosophy he developed which he called Anthroposophy:

 (Anthrop (man) + sophy ( knowledge)= the wisdom about man which recognizes the spiritual being in man based on scientific thought).

Why is Biodynamics so important now?

Chemical agriculture and the Green Revolution

The demand for chemicals used in the manufacture of munitions was greatly reduced following the completion of World War II. This excess capacity, however, was merely utilised in the manufacture of chemicals and fertilizer for agriculture – and chemical or ‘modern’ agriculture was born.

 The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s was the means by which this technology was transferred to developing countries, especially those in Asia. High yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds predominantly grown under irrigation were included in this arsenal. As witnessed all over the world, the health and productivity of these chemically dependent soils have been severely damaged and more and more fertilizers/chemicals are being used to try and maintain yields. Nothing kills the soil life better than chemical agriculture whether it is the range of synthetic fertilizers, the fungicides, insecticides or herbicides.

 The ubiquitous use of chemicals in agriculture today has caused and is continuing to cause untold damage to the environment and to human health. The lack of nutritive value of chemically produced food is the hidden cost of chemical agriculture. It is no doubt one of the reasons for the ever increasing use of pharmaceutical medicine.

In addition, the livelihoods of farmers, and especially small and marginal farmers, have been severely affected and many cases totally destroyed. Food sovereignty and food security has been carefully and systematically taken out of the hands of the farmers and sits firmly in the grasp of the multinational corporations that produce these Green Revolution packages. One only has to look at the many thousands of farmers in India who are committing suicide to see the damage of ‘modern’ agriculture.

India does not need these Green Revolution suicide “packages”. There are thousands of local, farmer bred varieties of crops in India which are high yielding (both in fodder and grain), resistant to pest and disease, drought resistant, highly nutritional and in combination with organic, and specifically biodynamic agriculture, a way to arrest this slide of farmers and their communities into poverty. 

Biodynamics – giving life back to the soil and our food

Biodynamics (BD) recognises the basic principles at work in nature and applies this knowledge of life forces to heal the soil. Whereas conventional/chemical/modern agriculture predominantly concentrates on the chemical element, BD has a “holistic approach” whereby it acknowledges the biological and chemical values of the soil. The three fold philosophy of BD is:

• increase vitality of food
• synthesis spirituality and science
• regenerate natural resources

BD uses special preparations in homeopathic doses which enhance the soil life, plants and animals. Each farm can be sustainable in the production of these preparations although some are more difficult than others to prepare. There is no requirement for special or highly technical equipment.

Steiner showed how the health of the soil, plants, and animals depends on reconnecting nature with the creative forces of the cosmos. The practical methods were intended to revitalise the natural forces which are rapidly being depleted through “modern” agriculture. Steiner believed that for healthy plant growth a balance between the calcium influence and the silica influence is required. Preparation Horn Manure 500 brings in the calcium processes which is balanced by Preparation Horn Silica 501, which brings in the silica processes. This balance is also brought into healthy plant growth through the cosmic influences of the Moon (calcium influence) and Saturn (silica). These are balanced when on opposite sides of the Earth i.e with the Moon, Earth and Saturn are in a straight line.

The Cosmic Influences and the Planting Calendar

The timing for the production and application of the various BD preparations is guided by cosmic and planetary rhythms, which are listed below. The occurrences of these rhythms are contained in a planting calendar which is prepared on an annual basis. The various preparations are l in the following section, The Preparations.

•  Waxing and waning moon (Full moon/new moon)

• Ascending and descending moon

• Nodes (point where the moon’s and the sun’s paths cross

• Apogee and Perigee (times at which the moon is closest and most distant from the earth)

• Moon opposition Saturn (when the Moon, the Earth and Saturn are in a straight line i.e. Moon on one side, Saturn on the other)

• Moon in Zodiac Constellations (when moon’s path passes in front of the various constellations)

These rhythms influence various agricultural activities including:

• cultivation of the soil

• sowing and transplanting of seeds and trees

• making and spraying of various preparations

• harvesting of crops

• making and spreading compost

• making and planting cuttings, and pruning  

The Biodynamic Preparations

Preparation 500 – Cow horn manure

 The prime starter, it contains the basic “life forces” with the following benefits:

·        ↑ calcium activity

·        ↑ earthly forces to the soil - “dark and cool”

·        ↑ soil bacteria (including Rhizobium spp., Azospirillum spp., Azotobactor spp. & phosphate solubilizing bacteria)

·        ↑ humus

·        ↑ adsorption of nutrients thus reducing leaching from the soil

·        ↑ earthworm activity

·        ↑ absorption/retention of water (humus holds 70% weight in water without getting wet) BD soils require 25% less irrigation than conventional soils

·        ↑ depth of topsoil, benefits root development and soil structure

 To apply:

·        25grams/acre stirred for one hour in 15 litres of slightly warmed rain water

·        apply at least two per year (autumn and spring) and up to monthly at certain times

·        also sprayed prior to planting

·        apply in late afternoon (earth “breathes in”) in descending moon (earth “breathes in”);

·        application is not attempting complete soil coverage but a mere drop per square foot.

Preparation 501 – Cow horn silica

·        Brings in the silica activity (balancing the calcium activity of 500) and represents “light and warmth”;

·        takes light forces into the roots;

·        aids photosynthesis and leaf development (light coming in);

·        aids mineral uptake including trace elements from the soil;

·        ↑ dry fibre content and sweetness of fruit or grass etc;

·        ↑ sugar content of plant sap (and brix levels) and sends more sap to micro organisms via root exudates;

·        ↑ pest and fungal disease resistance;

·        ↑ colour, ↑ storage quality, ↑ nutrient value of crops.

·        strengthens seed quality including ↑ hardness and bran/fibre content of cereals

To apply:

·        1-2 grams/acre stirred for one hour in 15 litres water of slightly warmed rain water

·        apply as a very fine mist into the air (not as a foliar spray as such) at sunrise (earth “breathing out”) during ascending moon (earth “breathing out”);

·        for prevention and strengthening against fungal diseases apply at moon opposite Saturn each month once fruit reaches walnut stage (apples & stone fruit) (NB: Horn Silica Preparation 501 is not a fungicide but strengthens the plant to help it overcome fungus);

·        can be applied morning after 500 (and other soil sprays);

·        apply at 2-4 leaf stage of plant growth;

·        for fruit crops, spray at bud burst to strengthen against insect attack;

·        spray fruit when ripening to ↑ sugar levels and finish ripening;

·        spray 2-3 days prior to cutting hay - ↑ nutritional content and keeping qualities;

·        spray cereals after flowering to increase hardness and quality

·        for signs of ↑ insect attack spray as balancing spray.

Preparations 502-507: The Compost Preparations

Each of the following preparations are composted or prepared in a different way. They can be used individually for specific purpose although predominantly they are used as a set. For example:

·        1 gram of each of 502-506 and 10ml 507 are used for approximately 5 tonnes of Biodynamic ‘hot’ compost;

·        3 grams of each of 502-506 and 30ml 507 are used in a Cow Pat Pit (see below);

·        also used in liquid manures/teas/tonics such as fish emulsion, seaweed teas, comfrey tea, stinging nettle tonic or in a problem weed tea.

Yarrow preparation 502

·        stimulates the potassium, silica and selenium activating bacteria and helps combine sulphur with other substances;

·        remedies weaknesses in flowering and fruiting and strengthens the plant against insect attack;

·        aids the soil in connecting to the planetary rhythms.

Chamomile preparation 503

·        retains nitrogen and calcium, keeping them in the living realm and prevents loss to atmosphere;

·        strengthens a plant’s regenerative life activity and reunites this with the physical

·        stimulates manganese and boron;

·        stimulates azotobactor activity – the best bacteria for making nitrogen in the soil.

Stinging nettle preparation 504

·        aids decomposition;

·        aids chlorophyll formation;

·        stimulates iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur activity in the soil.

Oak bark preparation 505

·        helps pull the earthly forces back into the soil when the water activity is working too strongly, such as after lots of rain or at full moon;

·        helps protect against fungal diseases;

·        helps calcium and phosphorus work into the earth in a living form.

Dandelion preparation 506

·        stimulates the potassium/silica bacteria in the soil to enable it to work more effectively with the growth forces;

·        can help increase flowering and filling of fruit out to tips e.g. cucumbers;

·        brings substance to food to nourish us;

·        stimulates the magnesium, boron and selenium soil activity.

Valerian preparation 507

·        stimulates the phosphorus process and mobilizes the phosphorus-activating; bacteria in the soil, as well as selenium and magnesium;

·        prevents flowering process becoming too excessive;

·        forms “warm blanket” around compost heap;

·        if sprayed onto blossoms in spring can provide protection against late frost.

Cow Pat Pit (CPP)/manure concentrate

Prepared in a pit using fresh cow dung, basalt (volcanic rock dust), eggshells, only 3 grams each of Preparations 502-506 and 30ml of 507, CPP usually takes three or four months to complete prior to its application. The result is a dark, rich product and a great way to spread the compost preparations over larger areas.

CPP can be used in the following ways:

·        As a soil application 100grams-2kgs per acre in 40litres water

·        Can be combined and applied with Preparation 500

·        Combined with any liquid manures/teas and applied

·        as a foliar spray weekly, monthly

·        slurry for pruning paste

·        applied to bark of trees to stimulate cambium growth

·        slurry for soaking seeds prior to sowing

·        slurry for soaking seedlings when transplanting to enhance root development

Other preparations used in biodynamics

·        Tree paste

·        Liquid teas/manures/tonics

·        Horn clay preparations: acts as a mediator taking the earthly forces into the earth and aiding cosmic forces to come up from the earth. It connects the actions of the horn manure (500) and horn silica (501).

·        Equisetum/casuarinas preparation (508): works with the water balance in the atmosphere as a fresh tea and is used to prevent and stop fungal growth, sooty mould and helps plants against becoming soft and open to mildew infection.

·        Fuzzy brew

·        Blood and bone brew

·        Weed tea

·        Panchagavya: cow dung, ghee, cow urine, curd, milk, water, CPP – mixed, fermented and used as growth promoter and against disease

Peppering of Insect, Weed and Animal Pests

Peppering is a method that BD farmers and gardeners use to clear an area of a certain weed, animal or insect that is not in balance with the environment. The method involves taking the seed part of the plant or the whole animal or insect and putting it through fire (opposite of fertility) at the time of highest fertility and then spreading the ashes or potentising the ashes to the area where the problem exists.  It should be noted that this should only be done as a last resort as BD practitioners attempt to get the environment balanced so that such problems should not exist.

References:

Information from the following literature was used in preparing this document.

Proctor, P. and G. Cole. (1997). Grasp the Nettle: Making Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Work. Random House, New Zealand

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia (2002) Course Notes 

Biodynamic Association of India (2003) Training Materials

Steiner, R. (1924). Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture. M. Gardner (ed) (1993). Kimberton, Pennsylvania, USA, Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc.

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