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Natural Mystics – Sweden
In Sweden, where the trend is towards fewer and larger farms, consumers are becoming concerned about the environmental impact and the safety of food produced under this type of farming. They are turning towards biodynamic products that still retain their link with the land. Biodynamic agriculture is being enthusiastically practised, not just for its yields, but mainly because of the positive interaction with the surrounding environment and to make farming a fundamental part of a sustainable society.
The Steiner Approach
In the 1920s Rudolph Steiner promoted an alternative approach to agricultural production. He had a fundamental belief in the spirituality of the living world. While the quality of the soil and food was degrading due to the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, he believed that the underlying cause was a lack of spirituality in these substances. After his lectures in 1924 the biodynamic agricultural movement was started and this is now established worldwide. While biodynamics is similar to organic farming in many ways it incorporates the spiritual science of anthroposophy – a path of knowledge leading the spirit in man to the spirit in the universe.
Biodynamics takes a holistic, spiritual view of the world where all things, from micro-organisms to planetary rhythms, are equally important. At its heart an ideal biodynamic farm has the right balance of animals, crops and environments to encourage and sustain bird and insect life as well as producing sufficient yields from its crops; the farmer too is part of the whole.
In Sweden students at the Rudolph Steiner Institute follow a three-year course in biodynamic agriculture. There is a difference between organic and biodynamic farming, which takes organic principles even further, encompassing the relationship in nature between plants, animals and human beings.
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Grounds at the Rudolph Steiner Institute, Sweden.
Credit: Rudolph Steiner Institute |
Living Soil
Central to biodynamic agriculture is care for the 'living' soil, which is achieved through the use of nine preparations that enhance soil quality and stimulate plant life. These preparations are usually fermented and applied in small proportions to the compost, soil or directly onto plants, after dilution and stirring procedures called dynamisations.
Compost is infused with measured doses of six special homeopathic preparations that give vitality to the soil and strengthen the life forces of the farm. The preparations are made from yarrow, chamomile, nettles, oak bark, and dandelion. A teaspoonful of each of the ingredients is injected into 50 cm deep holes into different parts of the compost heap spaced about 2 metres apart from each other. Finally, a capful of juice from the pressed flowers of valerian is added to half a bucket of water and stirred vigorously clockwise and anti-clockwise for fifteen minutes. This liquid is sprayed over the compost heap, which is then covered with straw, not plastic. During this period micro-organisms, earthworms and fungi are working in the compost, so that by the following autumn the compost is ready for use. It has a positive effect on soil acidity levels, introduces elements such as calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus, and increases the amount of beneficial organic matter.
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| Spraying the compost with the valerian preparation |
Two further preparations are used directly in the field. One, made from cow manure fermented in a cow horn buried in the soil for six months through autumn and winter, is used as a soil spray in spring to stimulate soil life and encourage the growth of roots and leaves. The other preparation is made from powdered quartz silica packed inside a cow horn, which is buried in the soil for six months through spring and summer. This is sprayed in very small amounts on the plants during the summer. This preparation supports the ripening of the plants, and helps them to develop taste and keeping qualities for storage.
Finally, there is a preparation made from the silica-rich horsetail plant that is used as a foliar spray to suppress fungal diseases in plants.
Cover crops such as rye, vetch, rapeseed and mustard are used to assist in accumulation of soil nutrients, nematode control, soil loosening and soil building, as well as their commonly recognised benefits of soil protection and nitrogen fixation. Green manures are also used – this involves digging in any field or forage crops while green, or soon after flowering, to improve the soil as they decompose.
Cosmic Cycles and Elements
A key principle in biodynamic farming relates to the cycles of life based on an understanding of cosmic rhythms. The influence of the sun, moon, planets and stars reaches plants in regular rhythms. Each contributes to the life, growth and fertility of the plant. By understanding these influences, biodynamic farmers work in tune with these rhythms to time their preparation, sowing, cultivating and harvesting activities.
Each crop is linked to the four traditional elements of earth, wind, water and fire.
Root crops such as potatoes and beetroot are seen as earth plants, while fruits such as apples are linked with fire. Leaf crops, including spinach and lettuce, are associated with water, and air crops include cauliflowers and broccoli. Each crop type must then be planted on a day when the moon is in a sign of the zodiac associated with that element. Fruit, for example, might be planted when the moon is associated with Leo, a fire sign. As the moon moves across the constellations through the month different parts of the plant are affected.
The Earth too has cycles where it ‘breathes’. Over the day, the Earth breathes in from midday to midnight, and out from midnight to midday. When it is breathing in, energy is drawn downwards, nourishing the soil and the roots. When it is breathing out, energy is sent upwards and outwards, into the leaves, flowers and fruits of the plants. The best time to sow seeds, plant and transplant is therefore in the afternoon. If you want to work with the leaves, flowers or fruits then it is best to work in the morning as the out-breathing helps these parts of the plant to respond well. Jobs like dead-heading and pruning will have a more beneficial effect if done in the morning, on the in-breath.
Much research has been carried out to investigate the effects of planetary movements on agricultural crops. For instance, it has been established that wood felled during the waning moon has greater resistance against wood borers and rot. Carrots seeded after the full moon produce greater yields and have longer keeping ability than those planted at other times.
Healthy Animals
Biodynamic farmers are aware that all things in life are interconnected, from caring for farm workers to a sense of responsibility toward domestic animals, cattle, pigs, fowl, sheep and goats, as well as bees.
There should be just the right number of animals, particularly cows, to provide the manure that enlivens the soil and maintains its fertility. All animal feed should be produced on the farm itself or purchased from other biodynamic farms, although a certain proportion of feed can be purchased from certified organic farms. Where possible, animals are treated with homeopathic remedies.
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Animals play an important part in the balance of biodynamic farming.
Credit: Rudolph Steiner Institute |
Farming Benefits
Yields are not necessarily higher than conventional methods. So what are the real benefits? Neither pesticides nor artificial fertilisers are permitted on the land, so no harmful pollution occurs. Now, growing numbers of farmers in Sweden are using biodynamic methods to reverse the adverse environmental impacts from over-use of artificial products. A healthy ecosystem develops with high levels of species diversity, which are welcome in biodynamic farming. In conventional farming weeds are considered harmful and are eliminated with herbicides. Biodynamic farming takes a different approach – weeds are considered useful as they attract beneficial insects and organisms.
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Produce for sale at a local market.
Credit: Rudolph Steiner Institute
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Demeter
A fundamental belief of biodynamic farming is that its products are nutritionally superior and taste better than foods produced by conventional methods. Biodynamic products are increasingly popular with consumers, who pay a premium price for them. They look for the universal brand symbol ‘Demeter’, which guarantees goods have been produced in a biodynamic system. All partners using this brand must conform not only with organic regulations but also with strict International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, which exclude the use of synthetic fertilisers or chemicals during crop production and processing, and also require specific measures to strengthen the life processes in soil and foodstuffs.
More than 3500 food products have the Demeter mark, ranging from baby food, sweet snacks, ice creams, cow's milk, quick-frozen lasagne, raw milk cheese, wine, and lamb. There are also natural unadulterated cosmetic and body care products, as well as textile and fashion products from wool and cotton. There is a close working relationship between the farm and stores to ensure customers receive a high level of service and advice.
Further Information
Participating Organisations
Rudolf Steinerhögskolan (Rudolf Steiner Institute)
153 91 Järna
Sweden
Tel: +46 08 551 503 25
Fax: +46 08 551 506 85
Website: http://www.steinerhogskolan.se/
index.php?id=112
Other Information
The Biodynamic Agricultural Association (BDAA)
Painswick Inn Project
Gloucester Street
Stroud, Glos GL5 1QG
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1453 759 501
Fax: +44 (0)1453 759 501
E-mail: office@biodynamic.org.uk
Website: www.biodynamic.org.uk
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc.
25844 Butler Road
Junction City, OR 97448
USA
Tel: +1 888 516-7797 / +1 541 998-0105
Fax: +1 541 998-0106
E-mail: biodynamic@aol.com
Website: http://www.biodynamics.com/
Demeter
E-mail: info@demeter.net
Website: http://www.demeter.net/
Training on Biodynamic Farming
Website: www.skillebyholm.org
Steiner’s Lectures
Text of Steiner's lectures on agriculture
Website: http://www.garudabd.org/Agriccourse/
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