Three big fat reasons to garden biodynamically

There are lots of reasons to garden biodynamically. We could go on all day with a list as long as an orang-utan’s arm. But we won’t. Instead, here are three top reasons why you should give biodynamic gardening a go.

1.  High quality seasonal produce

Do a taste test. Compare home grown tomatoes with conventionally farmed tomatoes. There’s no contest there. Place a bunch of basil bought from the supermarket next to a bunch fresh picked from the garden. Give them a sniff. Which one would you prefer to make pesto with? Not only does it taste better, it’s better for you. It doesn’t sit in cold storage for however many weeks, even months, before it arrives on your dinner plate. Food picked fresh has the maximum amount of vitamins and enzymes and biodynamically grown produce is invested with nature’s life forces, meaning highly nutritious food for you and your family (and lucky friends).The only thing that will be missing is the chemical residues.

2.  Personal growth

You will be part of a growing community of biodynamic gardeners who know that their work contributes to the greater health of the Earth. Any step towards self-sufficiency can give a sense of personal satisfaction, and supplying your household with fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit (and eggs if you keep chooks) is certainly a noble pursuit. When you garden biodynamically, you can’t help but become more aware of the rhythms of the seasons, skies and the Earth itself. Your tiny speck of garden indicates what is happening in the wider environment. Learning to organise gardening tasks according to planetary movements and seasonal changes gives rise to the realisation that nature and our actions are closely connected. We can feel the Earth breathing in during the colder months, and out during the warmer months. Biodynamic practices inherently foster an enriching  relationship between human beings and nature that is based on giving as well as receiving. 

3. Lower your ecological footprint

Food from your backyard has no food miles attached. Biodynamic gardening is a carbon efficient method of growing that captures atmospheric carbon dioxide through humus formation. This means your gardening activities can offset your carbon emitting activities, and you become part of the solution to climate change rather than part of the problem. It is timely to be reminded of the positive impact we can have on our planet if we take responsibility for healing the damage already done.