By: Ivana Dragica |
Biodynamic Garden: How to grow plants for the benefit of the environment |
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During the twenties of the last century, a group of farmers concerned about the health risk to soil, plants and animals sought the advice of Rudolf Steiner, the famous anthroposophist and a man who spent all his life researching the forces of nature.
That is how the main principles of biodynamic farming and gardening were conceived - a unified approach to agriculture that connects the agricultural ecology of organisms with the whole universe.
Since then, this approach has been constantly evolving, and Mary and Matthias K. Thun contributed to it the most.
The aim of biodynamics is to convert a farm into a self-sustaining organism.
Biological and dynamic processes of cultivating plants
Biodynamic agriculture consists of biological processes including green manure, cover cropping, composting, plant compatibility, integration of crops and livestock, plowing and cultivating the land.
It also includes special compost preparations, special foliar sprays, planting by the calendar, protection against parasites, homeopathy and radionics.
Plant diversity is very important in biodynamic farming.
This method allows for a variety of plants to grow on uncultivated ground.
The diversity is obtained by mixing the crop, resulting in a mutually supporting plants.
For example, if one plant lacks a certain nutrient in the soil, a compatible plant can provide it.
While conventional agriculture cultivates the culture on the same soil for years, in biodynamic agriculture changing crop rotation and animal species is one of the main advantages.
Biodynamic agriculture considers that annual plants should not be planted in the same place more than two years in a row.
Changing crops, with cover cropping and green manure, gives health to the soil, destroys parasites and controls weeds and pests.
Composting - the essence of healthy soil
Composting is the key of biodynamic agriculture and a source of healthy soil, because recycling manure and organic waste in compost heaps creates vital humus.
During field fertilization humus stabilizes nitrogen in the soil, which is essential for crop productivity.
There are nine homeopathic remedies based on animal, plant and mineral fertilizers.
All were diluted in sprays and used for the homeopathic treatment of the compost, soil and plants. This process is called dynamization.
Research from Washington State University found that biodynamic preparations actually work in homeopathic quantities, which range from approximately two milliliters in seven to ten tons of compost.
Horoscope helps with cultivation
And last, but not least, there are life forces.
Biodynamic agriculture is distinguished from other types of agriculture due to its orientation to spirituality and astrology.
In addition to spiritual focus, its goal is to develop humanity and provide general welfare to the people, plants and animals.
Moon and astrological cycles affect the maintenance of agricultural activities starting from planting to harvesting, processing of fruits and making biodynamic preparations.
Examples of lunar calendar for sowing:
- Potatoes are not planted during the new moon, because they would turn green, but when the moon is in its last quarter, so that they grow into the ground.
- If the cabbage is planted during the new moon, enough of it will grow for people and for animals.
- Apples are planted during the new moon.
The effectiveness of such sowing has been proven by the research by the Agricultural University in the Netherlands.
Mustard seeds taken from plants that were sown according to the lunar calendar in the previous year gave a 30% higher yield than other plants in the study.
Biodynamic farms also have a social component, because they often participate in local exchanges with their products, connecting communities and raising awareness of healthy food and coexistence with nature.
Cultivation quality in biodynamic agriculture
One of the main reasons for this type of cultivation are nutritionally richer foods compared with those produced by conventional farming.
Dr. John Reganold from Washington State University published a study which showed that biodynamic farms outperform conventional farms in physical, biological and chemical properties, although they are financially equally demanding.
Similar outcomes were obtained by other studies.
Biodynamic farms are more resistant to bad weather and more energy efficient. They are increasingly gaining in importance due to climate changes, energy scarcity and population growth.
More about biodynamic farming can be learned from literature (Agriculture course: the basics of spiritual progress in agriculture by Rudolf Steiner, Seeding manual by Marie Thun etc.).
Also, you can visit biodynamic farm and connect with biodynamic farmers.
The main principles of biodynamic farming are:
- plant diversity
- crop rotation
- wildlife
- composting
- homeopathic solutions
- life forces
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