Posts Tagged ‘Rudolf Steiner’
-
Gardening and Farming the Biodynamic Way
Posted on October 10th, 2011 by admin
When presented with the notion that biodynamic gardening and farming is an exceptional forum with advanced methods, one scientist scoffed, saying Youre not espousing a system that plants by the phases of the moon, and such, are you?!
This scientist fails in his profession the moment he makes such a comment. I was tempted to respond with, Where were you when the calendar went beyond the 1950s?! A true scientist does his research before making statements. Had this individual looked for it, he would have found irrefutable evidence from scientific research that has found, indeed, that the phases of the moon have a significant impact on many gardening operations, including ideal times to sow seed, or to transplant, and for most gardening operations. The world of nature holds a treasure trove of secrets, to be harvested for those who can stay the distance, who can penetrate into the deeper resources.
Other noteworthy aspects of Biodynamic methods:
The Biodynamic system was inaugurated in 1924 by Austrian spiritual scientist Rudolf Steiner, as a system that not only embraces the living ecology of the soil, but goes further, into the interaction of elements of the cosmos on the plant community.
You could say that to the degree organic food rises above mainstream food, so does biodynamic rise above organic – meaning its produce is even more vital and nutritious. Soil and plants are not only physically enriched, but are enhanced on the etheric level – in effect, aided to evolve to a higher state.
Homeopathic preparations are one of the devices used to accomplish this enhancement. Sometimes they are implanted in the soil, other times applied as a spray.
A quote from the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association:
Rudolf Steiner presents a notion of science that says we can know things that go beyond what we can weigh, measure, and calculate. Science is the practice of observing phenomena and relating them in a way that correctly represents the phenomena’s reality. Agricultural judgments about health, what to do where, and when to do what, best succeed when we begin to rely on a certain wisdom gained through observation and experience and when we perceive consciously and concretely the phenomena that induce life itself.
Biodynamic farming and gardening combines common-sense agriculture, an understanding of ecology, and the specific environment of a given place with a new spiritual scientific approach to the concepts, principles, and practices of agriculture.
For further resources, visit the insight21 website.
J Graf is the coordinator of Insight21 and Earth Vision – doorways for the 21st Century.
More Biodynamic Gardening Articles
Related Posts:
-
The Biodynamic Gardening Persona
Posted on October 8th, 2011 by admin
History is filled with many people that have made a lot of difference. It is in this difference that countless lives have been uplifted. It is through this difference that many forms of society and community have made it pass through all sorts of catastrophes and trying times. These handful men and women have carved their way not only on the irreplaceable pages of time but also within the hearts of each human being they have touched. Lets meet the man behind the birth of biodynamic gardening.
It was on that fateful year of 1924 when a certain group of farmers that were so much concerned with the way agriculture was progressing came straight towards the aid of a man named Rudolf Steiner. Steiner swiftly obliged to their plea by holding different phases and series of lectures regarding agriculture. This paved the way for the birth of a revolution in farming and gardening. Biodynamic methods came straight into the scene and rapidly took a position of stardom in dominant areas of North America, Europe, and Australia.
The main focus of the teaching given by Mr. Steiner is the concept of farm individuality. This involves having few or no external sources of farm manipulation. Only the materials that were naturally and innately within the farm should be allowed to circulate within its circles. These consisted of manure and animal feeds that were purely part of what Steiner tagged as farm organisms.
Steiner also introduced a unique aspect of the botanical world wherein activities are to be timed accordingly with the movement patterns of heavenly bodies. One very good example is planting and applying additional preparations and treatments during the time when planets and the moon are in good alignment. The reason behind this principle is that there are higher chances of absorbing natural materials that were specifically designed to boost the components and general structure of the soil. Although Steiner might have some eccentric and unconventional ideas during his sessions he still encouraged the farmers to test his teaching scientifically.
It was during the early years of the 20th century when the concept of inorganic fertilizers began to invade the agricultural industry particularly condensed nitrogen which was administered via aerial means. Steiner was not slow at letting the agricultural field know his thoughts. He believed that as part of a general law mineral manures should not be utilized to treat the plants since they bring forth a significant loss of nutritive value.
Steiner also took notice of how the quality of food during the past years has deteriorated. He pointed out that the very culprit for this happening is the appearance of chemical farming. He was firmly against the use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers. Mr. Steiner was not only concerned on the biological and chemical shift that the soil had to undergo. He saw that there were spiritual shortcomings in terms of how chemical faming was developed and practiced.
As a man of biodynamic gardening and farming, Rudolf Steiner stood on the approach known as monism wherein a specific environment and its constituents simultaneously exist both in physical and spiritual aspects. In addition, living matter according to Steiner was entirely of separate realms with dead matter. This is the why synthetic forms of enhancements are very much different from their living counterparts.
Get more complete tips on Biodynamic Farming , visit: www.biodynamicfarming.getmytips.com
Related Posts:
-
The Path of Biodynamic Gardening
Posted on October 8th, 2011 by admin
The success of a certain group can be achieved in so many ways. There is passion. There is trust. And there is the need for a system. The agricultural circles abide by these principles. This is how, through the years, more and more important changes have brought forth positive results to their production. Lets take a look at the path of biodynamic gardening and find out how its systematic and holistic approach is practiced by many of its supporters.
Biodynamic has been embraced throughout many regions across the planets for so many reasons. Its principles are well-loved by the farmers that have incorporated each and every ounce of teaching it has to offer. It brings out the individuality of the farm as a self-contained entity. The focus is on the health of the crops and the livestock as well as the holistic development of the farmer. Lets see how these things become a reality.
Rudolf Steiner who is considered as the main proponent of the biodynamic practices prescribed nine preparations that are to be utilized in order to boost fertilization which is actually the cornerstone of the said practice. He gave a concrete description on proper preparation should be done. Preparation of the substances to be used was very vital as it will influence the transport of cosmic forces and metaphysical beings into the soil.
Steiner meticulously labelled each substance using the numbers 500 to 508. The first pair was used to signify guidelines for field preparation while the last seven numbers gave out ample information on compost production. Studies show little amount of direct effect of the preparations to the quality of soil structure and compost development. However, it has contributed in the acceleration of the initial composting phase, the stimulation of plant growth, and the enhancement of the nutritive content of the compost.
The field preparations were founded on humus formation. 500 was composed of humus mixture prepared by filling the horn of a cow with cow manure and burying it underground at a depth of about 40 to 60 centimeters during autumn. The decomposition process occurs during winter and then it has harvested in spring time. 501 on the other hand is buried during spring time and recovered when autumn comes. It consists of crushed powdered quartz that is stuffed into a cows horn.
The preparations for the compost side mainly employ herbs that are commonly utilized for their medicinal benefits. 502 is made of yarrow blossoms that are stuffed inside the urinary bladders of a Red Deer and is placed under the summer sun then buried during winter to be retrieved come spring. 503 follows and is composed of chamomile blossoms stuffed into the small intestines of cattle that is buried in soil enriched by humus during autumn and then extracted come spring time. 504 is stinging nettle plants that are said to be in full bloom and stuffed together with peats around the burial site for the whole year.
The path to the fertilization aspect of biodynamic gardening ends with 505 up to 508. 505 is made of oak bark that is chopped into small pieces and place inside the skull of a domesticated animal and when buried is surrounded by peat where there is abundance of rain water. 506 has dandelion flowers placed into the peritoneum of cattle which is buried in winter and scooped up during spring. 507 has valerian flowers extracted into water and 508 is made of horsetail.
Get more complete tips on Biodynamic Farming , visit: www.biodynamicfarming.getmytips.com
Related Posts:
-
Biodynamic Agriculture: Organic Farming, Holism, Manure, Compost, Astronomy, Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, List of Biodynamic Farms in the United States, … Permaculture, Sustainable Agriculture
Posted on January 23rd, 2011 by admin
Find More Biodynamic Gardening Calendar Products
Related Posts:
-
An Overview of Organic Gardening
Posted on January 11th, 2010 by admin
Organic gradening is also known as organic horticulture and is basically the science of growing fruits, vegetables and flowers by using essential organic elements in the soil. There are several different types of organic growing or gardening systems. Organic growing has been based on thousands of years of study and research and involves a more naturalistic approach to growing that takes place over a period of time. This is holistic approach.
Biodynamic farming is an organic approach to growing and is based on the teaching of Rudolf Steiner. Later the Japanese writer and farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka invented a no till system for small scale grain production. This system of organic growing was Natural Farming.
Those people who follow an organic growing system believe that a garden is more than a means of providing food. It is felt that a good garden is a good indicator of what a community could be like. Everyone could be growing and eating healthy food, be it in a large scale garden or just a small container in their back yard. A small garden could sustain your family and provide a great deal of food.
One major difference between chemical growing and organic growing is the approach to pest control. In chemical growing, chemicals are sprayed on the plants or vegetables to get rid of the pests, essentially killing the pest so that they don’t return. Organic growers believe in some pest control but they also take the long approach. They allow for a small amount of pest damage. They feel that some pests will allow for healthy growing of the fruit or plant. They take action to fight against pests but changing the location of their crops each year so the crop is not infected.
There is a range of growing techniques involved in creating an organic garden. Many organic growing methods are a combination of many scientific growing methods and old fashioned farming methods. The study of organic growing is referred to as agroecology. Organic farmers are restricted in what they are able to use to grow their plants. These farmers are permitted to only use natural pesticides and fertilizers. The principal method of growing crops organically is crop rotation, green manures and compost. This also includes biological pest control and mechanical cultivation.
The amount and type of organic crop that is being grown all depends on the size of the farm. Farm size also determines the general approach and specific tools and methods. While the organic farming industry is growing more and more it wasn’t always big. It first began as a small enterprise. The type of organic crop that is being grown also determines the size of the farm that is being planted. For example, if there is a high demand for a particular type of organic crop then farmers will plant more of that crop. However, if there is less demand for a crop smaller amount of this will be planted. Today, the organic industry is continuing to grow as more and more people are looking for healthier food choices.
Related Posts:
Biodynamic Farming Secrets
You Too Can Use This Advanced Technology To Heal Polluted Soil, And Turn Ordinary Plants Into 'Super-Food' Loaded With Nutrients, to Heal And Sustain Your Family - I'll Teach You How, Step-by-Step, In Less Than 60 Minutes