Growing biodynamically

New Life Journal, June-July, 2002 by Medicine Eagle

Saturday mornings during the growing season will find a small group of farmers selling their produce at a garden and gift shop called Featherwood. This gathering in Cleveland, Georgia might not seem unusual at first sight, but you won't find your everyday road-side produce here. The produce is colorful, interesting in the varieties available, and unusually flavorful. The secret? All produce sold here must be fresh-picked, grown by the vendor and organic. Growing interest in healthier eating and supporting sustainable farming practices sustained this market from June through September last year.

Two of the farmers, Ed Taylor and Patti Caraway, grow their produce biodynamically. Ed Taylor farms in the Nacoochee Valley and has been growing food organically for over twenty years. After several years of farming, he began to have a keener awareness of the plants themselves; some plants looked more distressed or lively, some had more vitality than others. This awareness of the plants led to a recognition of energies and rhythms of individual plants. Ed read about biodynamics and how it is a method of allowing the natural forces of nature to work for the plants. These biodynamic growing methods were in accord with what Ed observed--that the plants have lives of their own that respond to forces and rhythms of the earth. Our grandparents who planted and pruned according to phases of the moon are early examples of farmers using natural influences to nurture plant growth.

Patti and Donald Caraway have the Higher Path Farm in the Blue Ridge area of north Georgia and are also managing the Union Agricultural Institute. They talk about biodynamics as a holistic system of agriculture that views a farm as a living individual within the larger framework of the living earth and universe. "An ideal biodynamic farm is a self-sufficient eco-system that produces all of its own inputs and operates within the larger context of its district, country, the world, and the rhythms and relationships of the universe." The motive of the farmer is an important aspect of this holistic system. Donald and Patti grow food for physical and spiritual nourishment, not just for money.

Spiritual nourishment is key for these farmers, and to any developer of biodynamic practice. In developing biodynamic growing methods, the philosopher Rudolf Steiner sought to address what he saw as a primary limitation to spiritual evolution, i.e., the lack of spiritual nourishment from the food we consume. As Patti, Donald, and Ed all agree, our food is our medicine. It's easy for many of us to acknowledge that plants are medicines, especially in terms of healing with herbs. But even for some people who use herbal medicine it is a leap to consider everything we put in our bodies as healing (or not). As lid puts it, "There is a way of seeing and treating these plants as medicine so that they invigorate and give us life."

No particular spiritual belief is necessary, however, to use the wisdom of biodynamic agriculture. In biodynamic journals, only the results of biodynamic practices are reported. One key aspect of biodynamic farming is using biodynamic preparations. These preparations, made from plant and silica substances, are very simple and highly concentrated. Ed talks about the difference he has seen as a biodynamic versus organic farmer. "Last year I sprayed fruit trees with biodynamic preparations. On the second day, the leaves were noticeably different; having more luster and being more erect." And then of course there is the palpable difference in the taste of the fruit.

The other difference Ed has seen in his biodynamic garden is the presence of more natural predators such as preying mantis and assassin beetles. "The garden is more in sync with the natural order and I have had good results with produce almost without exception. There is something observable in the product itself." He has also noticed lots of earthworms, more insects and more varied insect life. Ed let his carrots go to seed, which attracted a particular wasp which kills tomato horn-worm. This is an example of allowing the natural forces of nature to work for the plants--natural "pest management." "When I do everything right, the plants seem to have a natural ability to ward off bugs."

Although biodynamics is a holistic practice and in some sense, a way of life, "going biodynamic" is possible for any gardener. Steps that bring you closer to being biodynamic include, first and foremost, not adding anything to the garden that is harmful to the cycle of life. This includes pesticides and processed fertilizer but also seeds that have been treated with pesticides. Next, start composting table scraps and leaves. Composting is central to biodynamic methods. Ed suggests tuning into the plants as a key step. Just as some people are sensitive to what animals or children are feeling, we can be sensitive to what plants are feeling. Treat the plants with respect. When you harvest, say "thank you for growing" and "may I have this fruit?" Companion planting is another example of understanding what is beneficial to individual plants. Companion planting involves planting certain beneficial plants near your vegetables to ward off pests or add helpful nutrients to the surrounding soil. Begin planting borage or marigold with your potatoes and notice the difference it makes.