The Canadian Organic Grower www.cog.ca16 – Spring 2008

BIODYNAMIC FARMINGWHERE SPIRIT MATTERS

“Life can only be passed on by the living.” —Rudolph Steiner, 1924

By Av Singh

Biodynamic farming is arguably the oldestorganized agricultural movement in theworld and yet the concept has avoided a

concise definition for over 75 years. Biodynamicagriculture is based on the knowledge that the soil,plants, animals and farmers work together in oneagricultural cycle. Thetheory evolved from aseries of eight lecturesgiven by Austrianphilosopher RudolfSteiner in 1924 to agroup of German farmersseeking ‘renewal’ in theirfields. Unfortunately, thevisionary died less thanone year later leavingmuch of his insights opento interpretation by hisfollowers.

One of Steiner’s basicideas was that the farmshould be viewed as anorganism in its own right.As such, all enterprisesand activities on the farmare interconnected. This highlights a further idealof limiting off-farm inputs and favouring increasedself-reliance. In practice, similar to organic farming,biodynamic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers andpesticides. Biodynamic farming favours soil healththrough the use of compost, animal and greenmanures; diversified crop rotations; andincorporation of livestock. However, the twoagricultural systems differ in that biodynamicfarmers rely on eight specific preparations to theirsoil, crops and compost to enhance soil and plantquality, and to stimulate the composting process.

The eight preparations, designated by theiringredients or by numbers 500 to 507, are madefrom cow manure; silica; the flowers of yarrow,chamomile, dandelion and valerian; oak bark; andthe stinging nettle plant. A ninth prep, often referredto as 508, is made from horsetail and is used for

fungal disease pre-vention. Rudolf Steineralso noted that a healthyagricultural system tookinto account cosmicfactors, such as theinfluence of the moonand planets on cropgrowth and quality.

BiodynamicpreparationsHorn manure prepar-ation (BD 500) is by farthe most ‘famous’ of allthe preps in large partbecause of how it isprepared. Fresh cowmanure (preferably fromcows grazing pasture) is

placed in a cow horn and buried (on or near theautumnal equinox) in fertile soil. This produces asweet smelling, humus-like colloidal substance whenharvested in the spring. As with most biodynamicpreps, BD 500 is applied at homeopathic rates (i.e.extremely small quantities); 75 grams is stirred inwater (34 L) for one hour and spread in droplet formover one hectare of soil after 3 p.m. (preferablyduring the descending phase of the moon).

Biodynamic farmers rely on BD 500 to enliventhe soil, stimulating soil microorganisms and, in turn,increasing the availability of nutrients including trace

Tamworth pigs raised biodynamically at Whole CircleFarm. This rare breed has exceptional motheringskills, does well on pasture, and needs only minimalshelter with lots of straw in the winter.

www.cog.ca Spring 2008 – 17 The Canadian Organic Grower

elements. BD 500 is often equatedwith humus formation andcredited with improving soilstructure including water-holdingcapacity. It is also used as a rootdip for transplants because of itseffect on root formation,especially fine root hairs. BD 500is applied directly on the soil,usually ahead of planting, and isbest followed by shallowcultivation (e.g. by a harrow or agarden rake). BD 500 can beapplied fairly early in the springand can be applied several timesduring the year.

Horn silica preparation (BD501) complements BD 500, butworks in the atmosphere byenhancing photosynthetic uptakeand increasing assimilation ofnutrients. BD 501 is preparedfrom ground quartz or a silicatesuch as feldspar, and is buried incow horns under the soil for thesummer. Less than 2 grams/ha isadded to water (34 L), stirred foran hour, and then sprayed as a finemist on foliage at sunrise. BD 501keeps sugar sap levels high withthe excess sugars exuded throughthe roots to feed beneficialbacteria and fungi.

Biodynamic farmers rely on BD501 to help stave off fungaldisease, increase dry mattercontent of the fruit, and increasethe fruit’s flavour, colour and post-harvest quality. Biodynamicorchardists and grape growers useBD 501 to increase Brix (sugar)levels one full point within a fewhours. The proper procedure is toapply BD 501 when the organ thatone wants to harvest starts to beformed. Many garden plants, suchas ornamental flowers, tomatoesand strawberries, should betreated when the flower buds areready to open. Potatoes are bestsprayed when flower formationbegins, and members of thecruciferae family (e.g. cabbage,cauliflower, broccoli, etc.) respondto repeated applications. Simil-arly, greenhouse plants, herbs,melons, cucumbers, lettuce andmost soft fruit respond to severalapplications after fruit set.

Biodynamic compost prepar-ations (BD 502–507) are made upof various flowers and animalparts treated in special ways (seetable on next page). Their purposeis to infuse the compost pile with‘life,’ not with actual living micro-organisms but with a vitality thatstimulates the existing species inthe compost.

Preps 502–506 are humus-likematerials and are placed incompost in five distinct holesapproximately three feet apart ata depth of half the compost pile.

BD 507 is added to rainwaterand stirred in an alternatingrhythm every few seconds for tenminutes and then half of it ispoured into a sixth hole, while theother half is sprayed over theentire pile in a fine mist.

BD 508 is not truly considered oneof the eight BD preps but is usedextensively by biodynamic farmersas a fungal disease suppressant.

Energy from waterOne of the key principles ofbiodynamic farming is to harnessenergy from nature and this isprobably best exemplified in thestirring process in making BD 500and 501. The preparation is addedto water, which is then energizedby hand (or a stirring machine orflowform structure that createsvortices of energy). The BD prepscontain immense forces which areeventually taken on by the water.The stirring process creates life-giving vortices which increaseoxygen and give water a pulse orpotentized force. Stirring by handcan be a phenomenal experience

Is this just hocus pocus…? There are many whodoubt that such minute quantities could have any effect on

soil or plant health. BD 501 can silence most doubters. SprayingBD 501 late in the day, in full sun or when temperatures are highwill severely stunt or burn plants, while simply spraying water notpotentized with BD 501 will show no effect.

Johann Kleinsasser of WholeCircle Farm in Acton, Ontario.Biodynamic preparations

contain immense forceswhich are eventually

taken on by the water.

The Canadian Organic Grower www.cog.ca18 – Spring 2008

in which you create a vortex, onlyto then create chaos by changingdirections, and then, out of chaos,you create another vortex. Manyfind the stirring process rewardingand meditative; it is theiropportunity to infuse the waterwith their own positive energy.

Thinking biodynamics?The thought of burying cow hornsand collecting a deer bladder maysound too daunting to mostfarmers and many are reluctant toadopt biodynamic methods.However, they need not bediscouraged. Some biodynamicfarmers produce fresh BDpreparations annually and theseare available for sale. There arealso many workshops, courses, andbiodynamic farms that can offermore practical information tomove you from thought to action.

If you are reluctant to jumpinto biodynamics because you feelthe ‘science’ isn’t there to explainsome of Steiner’s visions…well,you may be waiting a long time.For the most part, Western biologyis still based upon a 19th-centuryreductionist foundation, which inessence means if we can’t explainit, it doesn’t exist. In contrast, 21st-century physicists recognize thatthere is much in the natural worldthat can be measured but notdefined, and yet still acknowledgeits existence. Recent Europeanresearch efforts have found thatBD methods alter measurableaspects of soil quality on the farm,

Biodynamic compost preparations 502-508

Yarrow Yarrow flowers are placed in a stag’s bladder(BD 502) and are used to attract potassium and trace

elements such as selenium and sulphur.

Chamomile Chamomile flowers are placed in the small(BD 503) intestines of a cow and are used to help

stabilize nitrogen, calcium and sulphur, as wellas manganese and boron.

Stinging nettle Nettle is buried without an animal sheath and(BD 504) enhances decomposition, aids in chlorophyll

formation, and stimulates iron, potassium,calcium, magnesium and sulphur activity in thesoil.

Oak bark Oak bark is placed in a cow skull and in water(BD 505) over winter; it is used to help restore water

balance after too much rain or a full moon. Italso helps protect against fungal diseases andstimulates calcium and phosphorus activity inthe soil.

Dandelion Dandelion flowers are placed in a cow’s(BD 506) mesentery (abdominal membrane); this is used

to increase flowering and filling of fruit.

Valerian Valerian flowers are tinctured and used to(BD 507) mobilize phosphorus-activating bacteria, as well

as selenium and magnesium.

Horsetail Horsetail shoots are boiled in rainwater and(BD 508) used against fungal diseases as a foliar spray

or root dip.

Making BD Preparation 500 atWhole Circle Farm in Ontario.Around fall equinox, 200 to 300horns are filled with manure andburied. This provides enoughpreparation for the farm and forothers who request it.

www.cog.ca Spring 2008 – 19 The Canadian Organic Grower

despite not knowing the mode of action. This is the‘force’ behind biodynamics and, unfortunately forthe corporate world, it cannot be patented or usedto create profit.

The result has been a somewhat limited outwardadoption of biodynamic practices in North America;however there are far more practitioners than onewould think. In Europe, Australia and India, thebiodynamic movement is growing exponentially, inlarge part because of the increased quality of cropsproduced, but as much for the improved quality oflife for the farmer. Is the farmers’ quality of lifeincreased by application of biodynamic preparations?That appears to be the message. For manybiodynamic practitioners, the methods employedfoster a reconnection with the land and the life withinit. Perhaps Steiner’s greatest legacy will be inremoving the disconnect between farm and farmer.

Av Singh, PhD, PAg, is the Organic and RuralInfrastructure Specialist with AgraPoint in Nova Scotiaand is available for comment or question at 902-896-0277 or at a.singh@agrapoint.ca.

Footnote:Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming.Mäder et al., Science 31: 2002.

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic andconventional farming systems: a review. Reganold.American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, 10: 1995.

Suggested reading or watching:Agriculture Course: The Birth of the BiodynamicMethod. by Rudolf Steiner, Rudolf Steiner Press.

Grasp the Nettle: Making Biodynamic Farming &Gardening Work. Peter Proctor.

How to Save the World: One Man, One Planet, OneCow. Video.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Video.

Photo credits: Whole Circle Farm

Perhaps Steiner’s greatest legacywill be in removing the disconnect

between farm and farmer.