Applied Biodynamics
One way to begin to study and apply biodynamics in this way is to start with agroecology. Even though agroecology is a young science, it offers frameworks of understanding and context that help the practitioner understand how biodynamics can be successfully used in our modern context. It can be a very good bridge or also preparation to understanding anthroposophical (biodynamic) agriculture. It is only a first step, but a good one...
Agroecology is a natural science, so it researches questions, forms theories, experiments and observes and draws conclusions. These are looked at by peers and students, by experts from other fields, by consumers, agencies and various bodies - to seek validity, relevance, and applicability.
Agroecology looks at the ecology (the relationships) in agriculture and tries to understand how various parts fit together, how they influence each other and how one might understand this complexity in such a way as to be a positive participant.
In my seminars, I use agroecologcal knowledge to help practitioners develop a background understanding to begin to grasp the full potential of biodynamics. In particular, I look at how agroecological perspectives help us understand the immunological response in nature.
After all, our primary job is to seek to support the healthiest immunological response capacity in soils, crops and animals as the basis of our ecological farm management. If we are successful in this endeavor, we are reducing from the outset the need to combat illnesses and weaknesses.
Ecological Management
In over 35 years of farming experience as a farmer, gardener, teacher, scientist and consultant - with experience in over 30 countries - I have developed a kind of systematic approach to practical ecological management. It has seven parts. In my seminars and in my work as a consultant, I help the practitioners make these seven parts into true programs of farm development:
1. Locally Appropriate Production
What grows well here? Really well? Comes naturally or has been acclimated well? We focus on understanding the appropriate production conditions and finding the crops, animals and just the right relationships towards a truly integrated and locally harmonized whole.
2. Biodiversity
This is Mother Nature's "iron law." The more natural diversity the better. All tendencies to
reduce biodiversity weaken the natural health of a farm, a region. (Yes, monocultures are the extreme version of loss of biodivsersity!) What can we do to increase biodiversity? What can we do to reduce lack of biodiversity or reduce monocultures? How many different crops does the soil needs for full nutrition and health? (not just what does the "market" need) for example.
3. Soil Fertility
Humus, humus, humus. However, lets not confuse humus with "organic matter." Humus cannot be measured, just observed, experienced. Organic matter can be measured. Natural science tells us humus is an aggregate condition of stable, complex crop nutrition based on complex carbon-nitrogen compounds embedded in balanced silica-clay-calcium soils with ample water, gas and nutrient carrying capacity. It is also rich in nutrients and moisture, dark in color, spongy, sweet smelling and full of microbial and macrobial life. Its a living complex of conditions. Whereas organic matter can be dry and without complex living conditions. It is this living humus complex that supplies nutrients and more importantly life forces for plants and ultimately animals and humans. We build humus through appropriate soil care, complex green manuring, composts and soil tea and preparation applications.
4. Crop Nutrition
How do we feed our plants beyond preparing excellent humus soils? Foliar sprays are one of our specialities: both homeopathic and anthroposophical.
5. Animal Life
How much animal life is necessary? Or can we even farm ecologically (or live?) without animals? We start with worms, ants, bees and butterflies (the four helpers) and develop towards appropriate stocking of domestic and support of wild animal habitats.
6. Weed-Pest-Disease Prevention and Management
Prevention is the key. Instead of 90% reactive activity (reacting to problems) and only 10% prevention, every good manager should be doing EVERYTHING to reverse the numbers. How do we understand the weed-pest-disease cycle and how to we replace it with a healthy and productive upwards spiral?
7. Whole farm systems
The whole landscape needs care! How do we include the landscape, the forests, the bodies of water, the hills and dales? How do we see the farm embedded in the whole bioregion? How do we care for our co-workers? Our consumers? All the people we are involved with? Socio-economics as part of the whole farm system!
These programs become the backbone of ecological health and just the beginning of biodynamics! Biodynamics, as anthroposophical medicine for the earth and for our unique farms begins with a high level of simple ecological farm health. Naturally, we use specifically biodynamic methods and approaches to each program - even to the use of traditional practical methods of farming, like composting, but in a new (we hope improved) fashion - and use specifically new biodynamic "medicines" like the preparations - to compliment out work.