biodynamics

[bazman]

Is anyone on the forum using biodynamics from within their permaculture systems? Over the weekend I did a moon planting course which touched a little on biodynamics, I was wondering if anyone here is using it or has used it in the past?

I still have so much to learn.

[ecodharmamark]

G'day Bazman,

Not (yet) using biodynamic principles myself, but Tony and Nada Smark of Woodbrook Farm (Harcourt, Vic) are. We visited their farm last year as part of our PDC. They have an integrated biodynamic/permaculture vineyard including orchard and poultry systems, and a timber forestry lot.

This is a very impressive PC site, and the benefits of BD are pretty obvious when you compare the healthy vigour of crops growing on this site with those of the nieghboring properties.

I'm sure Tony and Nada would be only too happy to provide you with all the information you might need. They are truly beautiful people.

Tony and Nada Smark
Woodbrook Farm
Gaasch's Road
Harcourt
VIC

03 5474 2131

Cheerio,

Mark.

[Rob6014]

My brother-in-law has transformed his dryland farm in the mallee country to an organic/biodynamic farm. He has just got his NASSA certification. This is a broad acre wheat farm which was once windswept sand. To see it now - well, it is nothing short of astonishing. Here on our own small block, we use the basic biodynamic principles but have not taken much notice of the moon-planting guide.

[lillypilly]

we have been trying out biodynamic planting in our garden. this year we have been foolowing the moon path and planting the seeds for what is best to grow. The weather has been unbelivible. two warm days before planting then a wonderful shower. we are wanting to try these practices on my parents in laws farm and see how things go. its all a learn experance. this yearr i hope to join the biodymanic gardening group even though we dont have a group down here, im sure i will get a better understanding from it.

[bazman]

I like the idea of it, and will try introducing small steps to start, using antipodean astro calendar is helping and i'm keen on trying the Cow pat pit concentrate in the orchard.

It's all quite complex and I have so much to learn, doing a weekend course which covers biodynamics would be good.

[mariet]

It's amazing isn't it how there is always so much more to learn. I really do intend to follow the moon planting for this year. I usually find that I'm not mindful enough at the time and end up planting out of sync because it's nearly too late for the season or just after a good rain.
I just can't get my head around the total lack of logic about the stirring thing and the cow's horn. It all seems a bit hocus pocus for me but IT WORKS!! Everyone I've spoken to who has tried and followed the prescribed methods has been amazed at the results.
I was reading the biodynamic magazine (very interesting) and was very interested to read an article about use of manure only to feed a green manure crop preceeding a food crop and not using manure directly on food crops. It will take some change on my part but I'm willing to give it a go. There's a day for beginners in Ballarat coming up soon, I'm looking forward to learning more.

[bazman]

What they need to do is make a website which tells you what to do today, pull weeds, slash, don't plant seeds etc... drink beer watch TV. heh.

The calendar is just scary, ahhh all those symbols. all those new words which I can't for the life of me pronounce.

I could see a website or computer program which would help you in which days and times to do things, which shows the next few days, and where you could ask it when to plant seed next.

[danjo]

Damn good idea, Bazman..........When will your new site be up?!!!
i like to be told to drink beer too!

[SueinWA]

There are a lot of people who pooh-pooh the biodynamic methods. And I do admit that it sounds like a lot of hocus-pocus. But more and more, I wonder if the problem is more with the "translation" than the method?

I wonder if it is possible that Steiner found a method that works, but misinterpreted what he discovered? Like someone in the Dark Ages thinking that young plants growing in spring caused the rain to come?

There seems to be too much of it that works to pass it all off as nonsense.

For instance: the Biodynamic method says to pack manure into a cow horn and bury it point-up in the soil. Would you get the same results if you mixed powdered cow horn with manure and put it into a covered (but bottomless) container in the ground? And what if you didn't stir it, but had a pump hose laying on the bottom of the tank, that mixed it while you were off doing something else?

I guess some people may be attracted by the mysteriousness of the method, while others are put off by it.

I wonder where I could find some cow horns?

Sue

[mariet]

Hey Bazman, I really like your idea of getting the checklist, could do it for your local area. And the idea of being instructed when to take a day off is brilliant. I could do with some of those. The beerdrinking I could take too. I must admit the rest does sound a bit like even more hard work. Now if we could take some of the hard out of the work.....
And Sue, I think only the future will tell how the concepts will be modified to get the same results and demystify. I suppose you're right. Some love the sense of magical and others are just too practical.