Paull, John (2009) How Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer Contributed to Organic Agriculture in Australia Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania, 96: 21-27 How Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer Contributed to Organic Agriculture in Australia John Paull Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University john.paull[a]anu.edu.au Who was Ehrenfried Pfeiffer? November 1953. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (1899-1961) was 25 was then aged 54 years. He was years old when Rudolf Steiner described as the “Director of the (1861-1925) delivered his eight Biochemical Research Laboratory, lectures on agriculture from 7th June to Threefold Farm, Spring Valley, New 16th June 1924. In those eight lectures York” (FGD, 1953b, p.37). at Koberwitz, Rudolf Steiner laid the basis for biodynamic agriculture. Pfeiffer’s Australian lecture tour was advertised as including visits to New Steiner advocated an agriculture South Wales, Victoria and South informed by anthroposophy, and that Australia. The tour was cancelled the ideas he expounded in the eight “owing to the sudden illness of Dr. E. agriculture lectures should be Pfeiffer” (FGD, 1953a, p.i). A later developed by experiments, practice and opportunity did not arise, and Pfeiffer observation (Steiner, 1924). Ehrenfried never managed a visit Australia. Pfeiffer took on this task and he spent the rest of his life in the pursuit. Nevertheless, the early advocates of organic agriculture in Australia were Pfeiffer published his book ‘Bio- familiar with the work of Ehrenfried Dynamic Farming and Gardening’ in Pfeiffer. In 1949 and 1950 ten articles 1938. It was the first popular account by Pfeiffer appeared in the periodical’s of bio-dynamic agriculture. In that of Australia’s earliest organic book Pfeiffer presented the practical agriculture society, the Australian results of more than a decade of Organic Farming and Gardening farming practice and experimentation. Society. Visit to Australia Pfeiffer and Australia A visit and lecturing tour by Pfeiffer to Biodynamic pioneer Ehrenfried Australia was advertised by the Pfeiffer was a major contributor to ‘Australian Organic Farming and Australia’s first organic farming Gardening Society’ for October and journal, the Organic Farming Digest. Issue 96 2009 ELEMENTALS - Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania 21 He was the leading contributor from Where Pfeiffer first uses the term “bio- the USA. dynamic”, the editor of the Organic Farming Digest, V. H. Kelly, added the Pfeiffer had worked at the following footnote: Anthroposophy headquarters at Goetheanum at Dornach in Switzerland “*Bio-dynamic Farming:- A from before Steiner’s 1924 Agriculture system embracing the use of herbal Course. The outbreak of WWII preparations in compost heaps to influenced Pfeiffer to migrate to the control and direct a balanced USA. Other than short trips abroad, he bacterial activity” (Editor's subsequently lived out the rest of his footnote in Pfeiffer, 1949, p.23). life in the USA (Selawry, 1992). Of Pfeiffer’s ten Australian articles, Pfeiffer was living in the USA when eight were credited to ‘Organic his articles appeared in the ‘Organic Gardening’ (USA) and one to ‘Bio- Farming Digest’ (later called the ‘Farm Dynamics’ (USA). Another, “The Use & Garden Digest’). The Digest was of Dolomite”, was a response to a letter Australia’s first organic journal, and the from Eve Balfour (UK). Pfeiffer world’s first organic journal to be advised that: “the use of dolomite is published by an organic association preferable to the use of ordinary (Paull, 2008). limestone” (1950f, p.23). Pfeiffer’s articles published in Pfeiffer’s first Australian contribution Australia from 1949 to 1950 served to appeared in Volume 1, Number 12, of give Australia’s organic pioneers a taste the Organic Farming Digest, January of biodynamic thought and practice, 1949. It extolled the virtues of toads, and forged early links in Australia and in particular cane toads (“Bufo between biodynamic and other organic marinus”) which had recently (1932) practices. been imported into Hawaii. Pfeiffer related enthusiastically the work of Pfeiffer and Australia’s ‘Organic others reported in ‘The Hawaiian Farming Digest’ Planters’ Record’: In ten articles in the journals of the “The toads were famous for their Australian Organic Farming and tremendous appetite, devouring Gardening Society, Pfeiffer presented insects in the sugar cane cultures the science and the practical lessons in Puerto Tico. One hundred and that can be drawn from the data. fifty-four toads were collected of which one hundred and forty-nine The titles and publication details of arrived in good condition in Pfeiffer’s articles are presented in Table 1. Hawaii. These have since 22 ELEMENTALS - Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania Issue 96 2009 multiplied and have become In “Mineral Relationships between valuable hunters of insects … At Soils and Plants” Pfeiffer (1950c, p.8) first, for a few years, they reported experiments on a “little remained inconspicuous and then investigated and understood” appeared in great numbers, phenomenon of “selective and i n c r e a s i n g r a p i d l y biocatalytic properties” of plant growth thereafter” (Pfeiffer, 1949, p.20). and soil interactions. He offered practical advice: “we like to interlayer Pfeiffer reported that the presence of a compost heap or even a manure heap toads stimulates plant growth. He with thin layers of earth … we see that reported on his own work that toad humus is the basis of all life, even of saliva “has a growth stimulating effect the mineral exchanges between soil on plants, even though it might not be and plants” (p.11). beneficial for animals, small animals in particular” (1949, p.23). Title Issue Pages The Toad - The Gardenerʼs Assistant 1949, OFD, Vol.1, No. 19 - 23 12 Mineral Relationships between Soils and Plants 1949, FGD, Vol.2, No.2 8 - 11 Trace Elements - Boron, Molybdenum, Cobalt, 1949, FGD, Vol.2, No.3 25 - 29 Iodine More about Trace Elements - Iron, Copper, Zinc, 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.4 5 - 9 Manganese The Case of the Strawberry 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.4 26 - 29 Mineral Resources in Plants 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.5 13 - 18 Know your Vitamins 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.5 20 - 26 The Use of Dolomite 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.6 23 Know your Soil 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.6 23 - 28 Vitamins, Growth Substances, Hormones to the Soil 1950, FGD, Vol.2, No.7 11 - 14 Table 1: Ehrenfried Pfeiffer’s publications in the Digests of the Australian Organic Farming and Gardening Society (OFD = Organic Farming Digest; FGD = Farm & Garden Digest incorporating Organic Farming Digest). Issue 96 2009 ELEMENTALS - Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania 23 In “Trace Elements - Boron, Organic methods, which mean Molybdenum, Cobalt, Iodine” Pfeiffer indeed the refinement of plant (1950g) considers four trace elements. growing methods, cannot overlook He stated that cobalt “is a vital element them … Certain weeds which we for the health of sheep” and that: “A use in our composts, are very rich rapidly progressing disease of sheep, in trace elements, while cultivated ending fatally, has been observed in plants growing nearby may be New Zealand, Australia and relatively poor. Farmers and Scotland… It did not occur on newly- gardeners frequently overlook this broken land but on land that had fact when supplying their soils carried sheep for several years” (p.28). with all the bulk He reported that: elements” (Pfeiffer, 1950d, p.5). “Cobalt treated soils influence Throughout his life, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer plants to absorb an abnormally acknowledged the wisdom Rudolf large amount of molybdenum … Steiner as the first-mover of the bio- Such a fact demonstrates how dynamic enterprise. “Rudolf Steiner, dangerous it can be to cure a the founder of the bio-dynamic deficiency by simply adding what method, recommended having little is missing. The organic process is ‘gardens’ of mushrooms in the compost more complicated than that and it yard for their ‘beneficial effect’. For is always necessary to consider the many years we did not understand why, whole, the living balance, the but now it becomes clear that the selective properties of plants, the addition of mushrooms to a compost buffered state of the soil, the heap can be very helpful” (Pfeiffer, colloidal structure of humus, and 1950d, p.7). many other factors” (Pfeiffer, 1950g, p.28). In “The Case of the Strawberry”, Pfeiffer (1950e) lamented the In “More about Trace Elements - Iron, developing fast food culture. He wrote Copper, Zinc, Manganese”, Pfeiffer that: “City people who are used to the (1950d) reported further on trace luncheon counter type of eating - just elements that: like ‘Fill her up’ at a filling station - don’t know the fine differences in “Only during the last two decades flavour and quality. They eat calories, has it been discovered that these protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc., elements may play an important to get their fill” (p.27). In this article role, mainly as bio-catalysts. Their Pfeiffer promised his secrets of presence stimulates and also growing tasty strawberries: “how you sometimes hinders the living can have big berries and at the same process in the growing plants ... time good ones” (p.27). 24 ELEMENTALS - Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania Issue 96 2009 In “Mineral Resources in Plants”, vitamin content in plants than run- Pfeiffer (1950c, p.13) advised that: down soils, or those which are forced to production in a one-sided “ … by using all possible organic way … Organic soils with a high wastes deriving from plants, humus content produce the highest animals and bacteria, one can amounts of vitamins. The best provide all the mineral procedure would be to label requirements of the soil … But all vegetables, fruit, etc., as to their compost is not yet enough to cover actual contents if one wishes to the organic requirements of the know which is the highest soil.