Care for the Earth by caring for your earth
Have you ever wondered why your grandma’s tomatoes are delicious red orbs and yours are a complete failure? Or perhaps you have never grown veges before and it all seems a mystery. The secret to having green thumbs is that there is no secret. It’s true that some gardeners are naturally gifted with plants, but it is equally true that everyone else can develop the skills and knowledge to successfully grow food. Organic/biodynamic growing is not complicated but there is a lot to learn if you are starting from scratch. Like any new skill, start out with the basics and then move on to the next stage when you are ready. We are going to develop this site with staged learning in mind.
Let’s start with four tips for gardening success:
A major part of gardening biodynamically is organising plantings according to the position of the moon as it travels through the zodiac constellations. Former editor of New Scientist, Dr Bernard Dixon, stated that “there seems little doubt that the lunar cycles influences the life processes in plants”. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) considered the rhythms of the stars, planets and moon to be significant to plants and suggested areas to investigate. Biodynamic researcher Maria Thun has spent over 40 years conducting field trials to research the cosmic effects on plant form, quality, yields and vitality.
One of Maria Thun’s most important discoveries has been that as the moon passes through the signs of the zodiac it positively influences different organs of the plant. The photo above shows the results of an experiment with radish plants; those that have been sown when the moon is in a root constellation (Virgo and Capricorn) show superior size and shape. Maria’s large body of knowledge has been condensed into her Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar and informs Brian Keats’ Antipodean Astro Calendar.
Maria has identified the influence of the moon in the 12 constellations as follows:
Pisces - Leaf
Aries - Fruit
Taurus - Root
Gemini - Flower
Cancer - Leaf
Leo - Fruit/seed
Virgo - Root
Libra - Flower
Scorpio - Leaf
Sagittarius - Fruit
Capricorn - Root
Aquarius - Flower
Of course, there are exceptions and other rhythms at work. If you are interested in reading studies on moon planting, there are 140 references at www.considera.org/reslit.html.
Biodynamic practice has often been derided as a loony hippie concept with no scientific basis. One of the strengths of biodynamics is its holistic approach – from the science of soil and plants to its inclusion of more esoteric concepts such as life-forces and cosmological influence.
Before you start rolling your eyes at the mere mention of “cosmic rhythms”, let’s define it:
Cosmic - relating to the cosmos; forming a part of the material universe, especially outside of the earth; orderly or harmonious.
Rhythm - measured movement or procedure with uniform recurrence.
The Macquarie Dictionary
Take a moment to consider the seasons, moon phases, tides and the planetary movements of our solar system. These are rhythmical, and they influence what happens on Earth. Fishermen know that sea life is influenced by the moon’s phases – are they all crazy? No. And neither are biodynamic gardeners and farmers. Just because biodynamics differs from the present pariadigm does not mean it is wrong.
Along with compost, the biodynamic system uses a set of organic preparations that are administered at specific times of the year and phases of the growth cycle that are optimal for plant growth. It is an agricultural practice that has been used and developed for over 80 years and has been researched scientifically. We do not sacrifice goats or howl at the moon.
If you are unsure, eat some biodynamic produce and wash it down with a glass of biodynamic wine. Perhaps their superior qualities will go some way towards convincing you that somehow biodynamics does go beyond organics.
Embarking on a new way of gardening can be a daunting prospect. Will it be doomed to failure? What happens if I rip up my lawn in favour of a vegetable garden and then I don’t have time to look after it? How will I know the right time to apply the biodynamic preparations? The answer is, you can convert to biodynamics at your own pace. There is no rule that says you have to do everything at once. Don’t bite off more than you can chew at the outset.
Start by simply going out into your garden and studying the space you have available. Even if you have lived with your garden for a long time, get to know it as a living organism. How does it change through the seasons? Where is the light and shade?
When I started out with biodynamics, I was already gardening organically. So my first step was to start applying the biodynamic preparation 500 (cow horn manure). I bought enough preparation for three acres. I have a quarter acre block. The amount looked so small. I stirred the 500 according to the accompanying directions and applied it with a little straw broom that I pilfered from my kids’ cubby house. The neighbours looked bemused as I walked around my place, flinging out what looked like water from a bucket. That was it. I’d become a biodynamic gardener. Now I do a lot more than that, but I will always remember how I started. You just have to take that first step. And then another one, and another …
Backyard Biodynamics is a place where you can learn, share and be engaged by biodynamic gardening in your own backyard. 