Care for the Earth by caring for your earth
You don’t have to choose one system only for your garden. There are organic systems that work in harmony, and biodynamics and permaculture do this very well. Permaculture is an Australian system that incorporates sustainable design elements from around the world. The basis of permaculture is perennial organic gardening using varying techniques depending on climate and soils.
Permaculture and biodynamics are philosophically compatible, as they are both based on the workings of nature-integrating plant and animal systems and share an environmental ethic that aims to produce all resources onsite. Many successful farms utilise both techniques. For example, the people at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms in the ACT make and apply the biodynamic preparations on their large permaculture designed beef and chicken properties.
Permaculture design often includes a biodynamic element - that is, the flowform. A flowform is a series of stepped basins engineered to replicate the water movement of a cascading stream as it flows into rock basins. Flowforms oxygenate water for fishponds or oxidise pollutants in waste water treatment systems. The flowform was devised at Emmerson College, England, a college for anthroposophical and biodynamic studies.
Gardeners with a permaculture property which is completely mulched may question whether biodynamic preparations need to be applied to bare soil. The answer is yes, ideally, so rake away the mulch before spraying. However, if that is not feasible, you can spray the preparations directly onto the plants and the water droplets will run down the stem to the ground. 500 has a radiating effect which makes it effective over a greater area than just where the droplets land, which is why we are able to use as little as 13 litres per acre.
Biodynamic gardeners might like to consider what additional tools permaculture has to offer for greater sustainability. To get you started, have a look at the following websites:
And please write in and tell us about how you combine different systems in your garden. We’d love to hear from you.
Backyard Biodynamics is a place where you can learn, share and be engaged by biodynamic gardening in your own backyard. 