Certificate In Alternative Farming

Biodynamic farming and gardening is a natural practice which developed from a series of lectures given by Rudolf Steiner in 1924. It has many things in common with other forms of natural growing, but it also has a number of characteristics which are unique.

It views the farm or garden as a "total" organism and attempts to develop a sustainable system, where all of the components of the living system have a respected and proper place.

There is a limited amount of scientific evidence available which relates to biodynamics. Some of what is available suggests biodynamic methods do in fact work! It will, however, take a great deal more research for mainstream farmers to become convinced widely of the effectiveness of these techniques; or in fact for the relative effectiveness of different biodynamic techniques to be properly identified.

Principles of Biodynamics
Biodynamics involves a different way of looking at growing plants and animals.
Plant and animal production interrelate.
 Manure from animals feeds plants. Plant growth feeds the animals.
Biodynamics considers the underlying cause of problems and attempts to deal with those causes rather than dealing with superficial ways of treating problems. Instead of seeing poor growth in leaves and adding nutrients; biodynamics considers what is causing the poor growth -perhaps soil degradation, wrong plant varieties - or whatever? It then deals with the bigger question.
Produce is a better quality when it is "in touch" with all aspects of a natural ecosystem. Produce which is produced artificially (e.g. battery hens or hydroponic lettuces) will lack this contact with "all parts of nature", and as such the harvest may lack flavour, nutrients, etc., and not be healthy food.
Economic viability and marketing considerations affect what is grown.
Available human skills, manpower and other resources affect what is chosen to be grown.
Conservation and environmental awareness are very important.
Soil quality is maintained by paying attention to soil life and fertility.
Lime, rock dusts and other slow acting soil conditioners may be used occasionally.
Maintaining a botanical diversity leads to reduced problems.
Rotating crops is important.
Farm manures should be carefully handled and stored.

Developing a Biodynamic Farm or Garden
The first step is always to look at the property as a single organism, and to appreciate that whatever changes are made to the property can have implications to many (probably all) of the component parts of that property. There is an obvious (though sometimes subtle) relationship between every plant or animal and its surroundings, both the nearby and the more distant surroundings.

Biodynamic Preparations
These are a particularly unique and important aspect of biodynamics. There are all sorts of biodynamic preparations. There is a wide experience (throughout many countries) which suggests the use of these preparations is beneficial, resulting in both morphological and physiological changes in plants (e.g. better ripening rates, better dry matter, carbohydrate and protein rates).

Some of these special preparations are outlined below:

• In the book "Organic Farming" by Lambkin (Farming Press, U.K.); two different sprays (500 and 501) are mentioned as being commonly used. These are made from a precise formulation of quartz and cow manure and are sprayed on crops at (very) diluted rates. Biodynamic growers in the U.K. and elsewhere also use preparations made from plants to stimulate compost and manure heaps.
• Cow manure is placed in a cow horn and buried over winter, with the intention of maintaining a colony of beneficial organisms in the horn over the cold months which can then recolonise the soil quickly in the spring.
• Insect control sprays are commonly made as follows:
  Catch some of the grubs or insects which are becoming a pest. Mash them to a pulp (perhaps in a food processor), then add water and place in a sealed jar for a few days in a refrigerator. Once fermentation begins, remove and dilute with water (100:1). Spray over affected plants. This is said to repel the insects, though no scientific evidence is known to support the treatment.
• Biodynamic growers use a variety of different preparations to add to compost heaps or spray on paddocks or garden plots to encourage faster decomposition.
• Preparations have included: yarrow flowers, valerian flowers, oak bark, calendula flowers, comfrey leaves and preparations from Casuarina and Allocasuarina species.