It is true that we know very little about biodynamic agriculture. Our only discussions about biodynamic practices came during a visit to Erda Gardens—a local farm—sometime ago and the occasional wine tasting chat with a certified winery. But the more we looked into an organic certification the more we asked ourselves, “Is this really sustainable?” If following organic practices is good, is there something else out there that is great? Biodynamics may be that “great” and we needed to investigate.

Don’t Know Much About Rudolf Steiner

In the days of yore—prior to television—some folks distracted themselves with a lot of activities. Our move from urban life to rural living seems silly compared to the accomplishments of these people past. (Those familiar with Bill Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything will recognize my appreciation of his work in this section.)

Imagine the time it took to learn to be a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, theologian, and the first to describe gravitation and motion—as Isaac Newton did during his days of the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries. He also created calculus in frustration to the limitations of his time—and then he didn’t tell anyone about this new form of math for almost 27 years. Now that is holding a secret very well. Similarly John Dalton, who ran a Quaker school at 12 and later laid the foundation for atomic theory, and Albert Einstein, who ironically, paved the way for television with his theories of light, had mind blowing achievements by taking the time to explore the depths of their minds.  (If you feel down comparing your accomplishments to these folks, also consider Thomas Midgley, Jr. Outcomes are not always rosy when gifted folks pursue the meaning of life and how to make living better for the world. Brilliant, but unfortunate, while on a noble quest for quieter cars and safe refrigeration he developed the lead additive for gas and chlorinated fluorocarbons.)

This brief history of accomplishment leads to Rudolf Steiner, the founder of biodynamic farming. In his days (1861-1925), Mr. Steiner dabbled in philosophy, wrote mystery dramas, and designed buildings (the first and second Goetheanums) as well as promoted the separation of culture, politics, and economics as a balance for healthy societies (a notion we should all listen to in these times of economic woe).

In 1924 a group of concerned farmers in the Germany/Poland area—worried that modern agricultural practice would destroy soils, crop health, and biodiversity—asked Rudolf Steiner for help in redefining sustainable farming practices. Does this dilemma sound familiar to you? In turn, Rudolf Steiner provided a series of lectures and follow-up lessons that became the foundation of biodynamic farming practices. Few have matched the vibrant purity—with a spiritual bent—of Steiner’s wisdom regarding farming practices. Unfortunately for humanity, Rudolf Steiner died the next year.

Rudolf Steiner’s lectures and lessons were published in a book called Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture (the first English title An Agriculture Course was too boring to be successful). We are in the process of obtaining this book as well as supplemental pieces to help us understand biodynamic agriculture practices. The people at the Natural Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) provide a good overview—complete with resources—of biodynamic farming.

How did biodynamics cross the pond to America? In the 1930’s, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer—who worked closely with Rudolf Steiner—brought the biodynamic principles to the United States. With his help, The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association (its shortened acronym is BDA as the full BDFGA might be confused with the Beer Drinkers Frisbee Golf Association) formed in 1938.

Don’t Know Much About Biodynamics
 
What we do know about biodynamics is that it is not organic farming. It is more like organic farming on sustainability steroids—very natural indigenousness steroids. While many procedures are integrated in each practice (cover crops, composting, crop rotation, and more), biodynamic agriculture concepts upgrade your relationship with the land. In biodynamic farming, you protect the soil not because of obligation—you protect the soil because it is the same as you.

Even more, you are a participant in the organism known as your land which is part of the greater organism known as the earth. Your particular organism includes everything that walks, grows, eats, and dies—a circle of life package—on your section of this earth.

There are specific principles in practice—a few Alan York of Benziger Winery explains in these short videos—but understanding the self-contained living organism and the search for balance are very important concepts in biodynamics.

The farmer or gardener also consults a prepared calendar that identifies optimum times to work the soil, tend to the plant, or harvest. This biodynamic guide follows stellar influences to determine the moments of concentrated intake or output in your soil, vegetation, and compost. Many farmers follow a similar guide in the Old Farmers Almanac as it also follows solar and lunar phases.

There is a twist to biodynamics. Biodynamics also includes anthroposophy—with a dash of alchemy—in its practice. Anthroposophy—a philosophy developed by Steiner himself—basically centers on a journey to lucid thought and observation beyond the reach of our senses. This “supersensory consciousness” is achieved through discipline and learning (inner and outer). Alchemy also pursues a similar type of supreme wisdom, only it often searches for transformation with the aid of elements and/or ingredients.

The mysticism in biodynamics often frightens people away from its practice. We share these concerns of the spirituality aspect of biodynamics, but still have much to learn before we can make final decisions (I had a hard enough time trying to decipher anthroposophy and alchemy). I know that my third eye needs a little exercise these days or maybe even a monocle. We can see what the anthroposophy practice is doing for biodynamics as the discipline requires intense focus in the participant’s activities or intense focus on the land. This focus is what every farmer should do all of the time.

The alchemy part of biodynamics includes nine special preparations for field and compost applications. While we are hesitant to acquire animal innards and horns for assistance in fermenting ingredients—these are some of the aids from the original Steiner prescriptions—there seems to be practical uses for ingredients such as Yarrow and other plants to both attract beneficial insects and repel the bad insects.

Don’t Know Much About Biodynamic Certification

And then there is biodynamic certification. In the macro-world we live in, certifications are the warm handshakes of days past. Certifications are marketing and connection tools. Farms achieve certifications to help the consumer decide on what to buy without having to actually meet the farmer. It is scary to admit—for me at least—that certifications are pieces of papers or authenticating stamps of trust.

In biodynamic agriculture, certification is granted through the non-profit Demeter organization. The process for biodynamic certification is the same as the organic certification process. For more details, please scroll to the bottom of this Demeter page to view the process document.

The certification baseline for biodynamic agriculture is compliance with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), which we somewhat covered in our previous installment. This is a bit puzzling for us due to the “self-contained organism” concept of biodynamic practices. With organic certification, you can bring in truckloads of approved material. Again, we have a lot to learn before making any conclusions. We reached out to Demeter for their Grower and/or Processor Guidelines and Standards for Certification packet and look forward to continued reading—with coffee in hand.

In theory, we would love to have a mix of both organic and biodynamic practices—maybe in the form of a Sustainable Organic Certification. But before we can take up that cause, we must learn the basics of farming. Until we know the language of nature we should stay away from appropriate barriers or farms as individuals. We are determined that our practices will follow natural soil nourishment and well-being for those that eat our produce—with or without a certification.

(Image courtesy of Krinklewood Biodynamic Winery

More of our continuing series about the greening of a farm in Bosque Farms, New Mexico:

To Organic or Not To Organic, That Is the Certification

A Sustainable Farm Prepares for Winter