Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Horn silica

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Allan.Balliett" <allan.balliett AT gmail.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Horn silica
  • Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:24:57 -0500

Dorene - As a long time biodynamic farmer myself, I'll take gamble here and ask you the important question. Do you see anything about the Kimberton Garden or dairy, the plants and livestock, that would give you reason to believe that the biodynamic preps are more than elements of belief?

(I have a fall back position: anyone following wine is familiar with prominent wine critic Robert Parker's lavish praise the last dozen years for biodynamic wines in THE WINE SPECTATOR. The use of the preps is a necessary element of biodynamic practice. )

Horn Silica/Horn Quartz (the same thing) is an atmospheric spray that improves photosynthesis. When a maturing fruit crop on properly prepared and prepped biodynamic soil is sprayed with horn silica, the BRIX increases and the fruit has a deeper, more complex flavor as a result. The proof of the pudding for me in horn silica applications, though, has been that, although when I make a sprayer full of it I use as little as a match head of the quartz prep, if I spray too late in the day (close to 10 am), blow back from the sprayer (mist) has caused my forarms to become red with light sunburn! (A human reaction to how quartz in the air organizes sunlight to improve photosynthesis.)

If you want to learn more about biodynamics and you are willing to ask questions of an experienced group to learn what you want to know, you can join us at the Yahoo! group "bdnow" the international biodynamic food and farming discussion list.

Allan in WV who would have never brought this up on his own


Dorene who lives 3 miles away from Kimberton Hills Camphill Village in Kimberton, PA




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page