What does “Biodynamic” mean?
What does “Biodynamic” mean?
In the early 1920’s, a group of practicing farmers, concerned with the decline in the health of soils, plants and animals, sought the advice of Rudolf Steiner. An impulse for deep social change rooted in the practice of farming, Biodynamics calls for new thinking in every aspect of the food system, from how land is owned to how farms are capitalized to how food is produced, distributed and prepared.
It is a unified, self-regulating and multi—dimensional approach to agriculture by considering the interconnectedness of the soil, the plants, the animals, the earth, even the entire cosmos as a living system. By working creatively with these organisms and forces, farmers are able to significantly enhance the health of their farms and the quality and flavor of food.
It is considered to be one of the most sustainable forms of agriculture. Its focus is to develop and maintain a healthy soil organism through the use of manure, crop- rotation, cover-cropping and special biodynamic preparations. The entire farm is considered a living organism, with the farmer and his practices playing a vital role in the farm ecosystem.
What Makes it Different from Organic Farming?
As in organic farming, there is no use of chemicals, pesticides or fungicides. However, biodynamics goes beyond organic farming. It treats the soil as a living organism and ensures the health of the soil at all times. Thus, biodynamic farming looks at the farm in terms of forces that affect the soil, the farm, and the processes that go into farming, rather than just the substances that are put into the soil or plants. Biodynamic agriculture makes use of compost, cover cropping, ecological pest management, and special preparations that revitalize the life forces, stimulate the roots and help in the production of soil microorganisms and humus. These preparations are homeopathic substances made from herbs, minerals, plants and animals, at very miniscule portions. Biodynamic agriculture follows daily, monthly and seasonal patterns of nature, such as the phases of the moon for sowing, fertilizing and harvesting.