Steiner’sfor agriculture impulse Agri-Culture for the Future demeter – Biodynamic since 1924 2 3 know ledge that he had gained through The Birth of the clairvoyant research, but rather to re- Each farm an search it and try it out in practice. Biodynamic Method The experienced farmers on the course individual organism immediately did just that. The group Pentecost 1924. Rudolf Steiner which formed, calling itself the research effects of earthly and cosmic forces, circle of anthroposophical farmers, chose whereas other people might come to this holds eight lectures on the Especially in the case of agriculture, it is the name of the fertility goddess Demeter realisation through the tides. The fasci- prosperity of agriculture at the apparent that forces must be brought from for their products only four years later. It nating preparation work broadens the Koberwitz estate near Breslau. the spiritual which are quite unknown signifies still today the bridge to the today and which not only have signifi- perception of relationships in nature and spiritual dimension of Biodynamics and cance that agriculture will be somewhat makes it possible to work with these nat- A group of farmers who felt inspired signals highest quality. improved but also that in general, people’s ural forces. It creates free space in the day lives – man must indeed live from what by anthroposophy urged the visionary to day of agricultural life, is not an addi- the earth bears – are able to continue, on thinker to take up the task. They hoped Since the lectures of 1924, Biodynamics earth in the physical sense. tional chore, but a chance to connect to that Steiner would offer concrete assis- has evolved. Men and women on farms the farm organism through finely devel- Rudolf SteineR tance for sustainable agriculture. The and market gardens exchange informa- oped perception. The earth understands the farm and man, food of the highest Agricultural Course 1924 farmers were concerned that the quality of tion about their experiences, research key Biodynamic players as seeds, full of po- quality. The values of diversity go even food, soil fertility and the health of plants aspects and ask themselves and others tential for the future, not a speck of dust further: Biodynamic agriculture is only and animals had declined considerably. questions of existential importance, in the universe. What might sound rather a harmonious whole, when the unculti- which help to advance sustainable food elevated, is in fact quite down to earth in vated areas are also included. These ten days were also the birth of that agriculture is related to the whole production and at the same time allow At first the quote certainly seems a bit practice. Many visitors to Demeter farms modern organic farming. Rudolf Steiner’s cosmos. Through the phenomenon of the the healing of the earth. strange. Anyone who enters into it, to and gardens perceive a special atmosphere impulse fell on fertile ground. The Biody- tides, many people may already know of explore the content, meets an exciting there. This is caused by the individual A thoroughly healthy farm should be namic principle of considering the farm its impact on the world, but it is much thought-cosmos that encourages a new aspects of the farm organism, through able to produce within itself all that to be an organism that is as closed as more far-reaching and ultimately leads to way of viewing things. Steiner was which at a particular spot on the earth ex- it needs. possible has become the foundation of all an understanding, that everything is in- convinced that food only achieves the actly the right number of animals are Rudolf SteineR organic farming: on the farm only as terconnected. Steiner asked his aston- This blackboard drawing from 16th June quality that allows people to develop, maintained, their manure ensuring per- 1924 deals with the nature of animal Agricultural Course 1924 many animals are kept as can be fed with ished audience not to simply believe the when all factors are taken into account in manent soil fertility and full plant matu- fodder and the farm as an individuality. the fodder produced there. In turn, the its production: cosmic rhythms, the soil rity. So the animals get their fodder from animals provide sufficient manure to feed as a digestive organ of the plant or as soul these fodder plants. forces of the animal. To bring all these aspects together and to order them, he For 90 years, Demeter farmers and gar- introduced the Biodynamic preparations. A strong community deners have been investing all their en- ergy so that mankind can live from what Stimulated by this, and building on a Demeter is the brand name for products from Biodynamic farming. Only strictly the earth provides. The so-called “Agri- Goethean view of nature, Demeter farm- controlled licensees may use the Demeter trademark logo. Without a gap the whole cultural Course” of Koberwitz is the ers consider their farms as living, unique chain, from production to processing, is checked to see if the exacting standards of spiritual foundation of the Biodynamic organisms. This ideal goes beyond the the Demeter Association are met. In business development meetings, agreements community on all continents. But what image of the closed farm system. Each or- are made on how the work can be further improved. characterises this particular agri/food cul- gan needs the others. Each part serves the As an entrepreneurial network the Demeter movement promotes the development of Biodynamic agriculture to secure livelihoods on this earth and to strengthen ture that goes far beyond the simple whole. Human beings, plants, animals people in their positive interaction. In cooperation producers, processors, traders omission of chemical fertilisers and pesti- and soil work together. Biodynamic prac- and consumers contribute as a partnership to the form and structure of the market. cides or food additives? titioners have not only material sub- This association strives to keep the people and their needs in mind and at the same stances in view, but also formative forces time give consideration to environmental, economic and social responsibility in The crucial difference is due to a wider of the cosmos and the rhythmic processes equal measure. understanding of agriculture. In 1924 of life. Through their Biodynamic prac- Steiner explained to the practitioners tice, they are again and again aware of the 4 5 motes plant growth directed toward the sunny, warm summer day. This has been The essence: the sunlight and is more used toward the end observed especially by gardeners, or- Making the of growth and at plant maturity. chardists and winemakers. They know that the formation of characteristic aro- Biodynamic preparations And in fact, in the meantime Australian mas can be enhanced with it. Analytically soil alive physicists have shown that quartz can it can be shown that shelf life is improved Right from the beginning, the lerian. For this they are put in sheaths store light and release it back into the for vegetables in storage, nitrate levels re- One goal of Biodynamics is most unusual feature of the made from animal organs, such as skulls, ground. The effect of the preparations has duced and plant sugars and vitamin con- the enlivening of the land. Biodynamic method is the prepa- intestines or bladders to which the plant been demonstrated many times, although tent increased. The Biodynamic prepara- Only in vital soil can food grow material, put simply, has a healing rela- the mode of action is not always clear. In tions give back to the cultural landscape rations. Their use is mandatory harmoniously. tionship. They are buried in the earth for general, a balancing, harmonising effect some of the forces which are inevitably for all Demeter operations. at least half a year and then added to the can be observed: if there is too great a nu- lost, even with the best management. manure so that a particularly valuable trient supply then the preparations sup- Thus, management is sustainable – in the The farmer feeds the soil life not the Their manufacture takes substances from compost is produced. press the yield, at suboptimal conditions truest sense of the word. plants, Rudolf Steiner taught. In fact he the natural world, exposes them to natu- they increase both quality and yield. termed the soil an ‘organ’ of agriculture, pense of quality. The Demeter farmer, ral forces and then they are fed back into The spray preparations are filled in cow Anyone with a trained eye can already see the digestive organ of the plant. With this however, nourishes soil life so that this nature in an altered form. The Biody- horns and buried: horn silica as finely The horn manure preparation has a posi- by exact plant observation, that there are view, Steiner set a counterpoint to the enlivened soil makes nutrients available namic preparations are remedies for the ground quartz and horn manure using tive effect on soil fertility: high activity differences in the morphology of food then newly developed industrial nitrogen to the plant roots. earth. cow manure. Both will then be rhythmi- of soil organisms, higher biomass content plants. Comparisons of garden beans are fertilisation methods. It soon became ap- cally stirred in water and sprayed. Horn and pronounced root development of documented in the research laboratory at parent that these nitrogen salts promote A diverse crop rotation helps to keep the The compost preparations are prepared manure orders and stimulates soil pro- plants are among some of the positive the Goetheanum in Dornach (Switzer- the development of plant mass at the ex- soil fertile. from medicinal plants; nettle, yarrow, cesses and is sprayed preferably when outcomes.