Biodynamic treechange (homesteading)

What is Biodynamic agriculture and who is Rudolf Steiner?

February 25 marks the birthday of Rudolf Steiner, who was born in 1861. An Austrian philosopher, scholar, educator, playwright and social thinker, Steiner is credited as the founder of Anthroposophy, the Waldorf education system, the School of Spiritual Science and anthroposophical medicine; in short Rudolf Steiner is the spiritual father of the Biodynamic movement.

In the early 1920's, farmers in Germany began to notice a decrease of soil and produce qualities, allegedly brought about by artificial fertilisers and improper farming methods. At the request of these farmers, Steiner delivered a series of 8 lectures on agriculture in Silesia, Germany in 1924. The basis of the lectures spoke of composting, utilising 'on-farm' manures as fertilisers, extensive crop rotations and working the farm as a whole entity. In addition to these practices, Steiner prescribed nine different soil preparations to use as fertilisers and compost additives, that cause significant increases in bacteria and biological activity in the soil. These preparations, the practices listed above, and associating astrology and lunar cycles with specific applications and agricultural activities, became the cornerstone of biodynamic agriculture.

The following article appeared in The Gazette (Montreal, Canada) recently, and gives an excellent appraisal of biodynamic agriculture and the impact it has on grape growing in the wine industry.Written by Bill Zacharkiw, an excerpt follows.

Think organic, then take a big holistic leap to bio-dynamics.

Published: Saturday, February 23

Proof that organic foods ARE better for you

Preliminary results from a European Union funded Newcastle University study indicate what some of us have known all along - that organic foods are healthier and safer than conventionally produced foods. For example, the four year study has found that markedly higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin E are present in milk from organic cattle versus conventional.

There was movement at the station.....finally.

I know it’s been a while between posts, but we’ve been really busy with lots of activity here at ‘Near River’, the farm at 1466, and at the moment that keeps me away from the keyboard.

So a few Sundays ago, the neighbour we’d engaged what seems like months ago to slash and rake our front paddock, decided that finally the grass wasn’t too wet to work with, and after lunch, he went to it! This was so exciting! What started out four and a half months ago as knee high grass, had become shoulder high in places, and we were beginning to wonder if it would ever stop raining long enough for it to dry out so that the grass could get cut.