Mouton Noir

Before we dive deep into Agricultural Course by Rudolf Steiner, let's understand the key differences between organic and biodynamic farming.

Both frameworks share a commitment to sustainable, chemical-free methods of agriculture. However, there are some significant differences between the two.

Holistic Approach: While organic farming tends to focus on the health of individual plants or fields, biodynamic farming views the entire farm as a single, self-sustaining organism. This includes the integration of crops and livestock, recycling of nutrients, maintenance of soil, and the health and well-being of the people involved.

Biodynamic Preparations: Biodynamic farming uses specific preparations, as outlined by Rudolf Steiner, made from fermented manure, herbs, and minerals. These are used to enrich the soil and stimulate plant growth. While organic farming also uses compost and natural fertilizers, it doesn't use this specific set of preparations.

Cosmic Rhythms: Biodynamic farmers use an astronomical sowing and planting calendar. They believe the moon, planets, and stars have an influence on the growth and development of plants and make farming decisions based on these celestial bodies. This is not a practice generally associated with organic farming.

Pest and Disease Control: Both methods use natural means for pest and disease control, but biodynamic farming emphasizes the use of the farm's inherent biodiversity and ecosystem balance for this purpose. While organic farming may often bring in external, natural means for pest and disease control, biodynamics primarily seeks to prevent pests and diseases by maintaining overall farm health.

Certification: Certification for both is rigorous, but biodynamic certification (Demeter Certification) requires a higher standard than most organic certifications. All biodynamic farms are organic by default, but not all organic farms meet the requirements to be biodynamic.

Spiritual/Philosophical Aspects: Biodynamic farming has a spiritual/philosophical component that organic farming doesn't necessarily have. Biodynamic farmers consider themselves to be mediators between the land and cosmic influences. This doesn't mean that organic farmers can't have a spiritual connection to their land, but it's not a prescribed part of organic farming like it is with biodynamic.

I don't know if Mr. Steiner would appreciate my comment but he definitely was a Daoist.

Back to the book.

“Agriculture Course” is the foundational text for biodynamic farming. Rudolf Steiner delivered it as a series of eight lectures to farmers in Koberwitz, Germany, in June 1924.

Here's the overview of the key points in each lecture:

Lecture One: Steiner begins by noting that agricultural methods have evolved away from nature and towards mechanization and artificial fertilizers. He proposes that a farm should be viewed as a self-contained organism, where the interrelationships between all elements are taken into account. In this lecture, Steiner starts to establish the foundation of biodynamic agriculture, emphasizing the need for an in-depth understanding of the life processes occurring on a farm.

Lecture Two: The focus here is on soil health. Steiner criticizes the reliance on purely mineral fertilizers and advises farmers to consider the living nature of the soil. He introduces the idea of cosmic and earthly substances, explaining that both play a vital role in plant growth and soil vitality. Steiner also emphasizes the importance of various animals and their manure in contributing to the vitality of the farm ecosystem.

Lecture Three: In this lecture, Steiner delves into the nature of plant growth and explores the roles of nitrogen, potassium, and calcium in the process. He also introduces biodynamic preparations and explains how they are made. For instance, he details preparation 500 (horn manure), which involves filling a cow's horn with manure and burying it over winter.

Lecture Four: Steiner discusses the influence of celestial bodies on plant growth. He suggests that the phases of the moon, movements of the planets, and positions of the zodiac constellations can impact plant development. He talks about different types of plants (root crops, leafy plants, etc.) being influenced by different celestial bodies. This lecture lays the foundation for the biodynamic planting calendar.

Lecture Five: Steiner focuses on the role of animals within the farm ecosystem. He discusses how animals' physical and spiritual characteristics relate to their surroundings. The link between an animal's diet and its manure is also explored, emphasizing how this relationship can affect soil fertility. Steiner talks about animal diseases and their connection to the overall health of the farm organism.

Lecture Six: Here, Steiner delves deeper into the nature of different types of plants. He discusses the unique forces at play within fruit-bearing, leafy, and root plants and how these forces are influenced by their environment. Steiner expands further on the use of biodynamic preparations, including how and when they should be used for maximum impact.

Lecture Seven: Steiner explores the correct approach to pest and disease control. Rather than simply reacting to diseases and pests when they appear, Steiner suggests maintaining the overall health of the farm organism to prevent their occurrence. If pests do appear, he recommends using natural methods, such as promoting the pests' natural enemies, to control them.

Lecture Eight: In the final lecture, Steiner emphasizes the importance of spiritual understanding in farming. He encourages farmers to see themselves not just as observers but as active participants in the life of the farm. Steiner believes that through this engagement, farmers can mediate between the cosmos and the earth, leading to a more balanced and productive farm ecosystem.

Without trying to sound like someone whose favourite book is Eat, Pray, Love, I definitely believe everything in this universe is vibration. For instance, mass is “created” through the interactions between electron or quark fields and the Higgs Field. (We are all interference patterns!) However, it's tough not to be sceptical of some of the more “esoteric” elements of biodynamic farming.

My current theory is that the placebo effect of adhering to the principles affects the vines through us. Again, I cannot help but think Steiner was a Daoist.