So after my last blog post a few people commented on my definition of biodynamic gardening. I should have clarified that I was speaking only of the effects of the moon’s phases on seed starting rather than describing the entire philosophy and practice of biodynamic gardening. So we’ll do that now cuz there’s a whole lot more to this concept.
I don’t have a degree and I’m not a scientist but basically, biodynamic farming or gardening is a holistic approach that incorporates care of soil, animals and plants in a synergistic way where each component enhances the whole. Say what???
For instance — the deep litter system we’ll use for our chicken coop and run on our half acre homestead will provide rich compost that’s teeming with millions of healthy micro-organisms. Those micro-organisms will feed the soil when that spent litter is spread over the garden beds. Then any excess produce raised in those beds will be fed back to the chickens. Sort of a closed loop thing.
Biodynamics goes a whole lot further of course but that’s a very simplistic definition. It is organic, holistic and – according to founder Dr. Rudolph Steiner – it is spiritual. I tend to think of the spiritual part as how our world must have looked in the Garden of Eden – rich, lush and truly abundant.
And about planting by the phases of the moon? I have now found three different almanacs (online and print) that all have different dates listed for planting! Will the real Farmer’s Almanac please stand up?!?
