Biodynamic agriculture comprises sustainable systems of production, particularly of food, that respect all creation. It is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. It includes the idea of organic farming (but predates the term) and the idea of the soil and the life on it as a living system.
It is perhaps most widely used in the making of biodynamic wine.
Two principles that can be said to be typical of Steiner's biodynamic theory have to do with composting and moon phases . In practice these principles go far beyond the usual attention paid to such factors by pre-modern agriculturists and their modern counterparts in the organic movement.
For example, Steiner suggested that the precise composition, position, shape, and handling of a compost pile made up of cow manure and plant trimmings, was critical to making it truly biodynamic. He further suggested that the beneficial organic matter produced in the resulting soil would be greatly enhanced by specific additions of animal remains, such as the horns of oxen or the bladders of deer. The reason for such additions apparently has to do with subtle forces creating balance and harmony in the natural world. Practitioners who have the patience to follow Steiner's detailed instructions have claimed significant results.
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Last updated: 08-04-2005 19:07:37
