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  • From: Marty Kraft <martyk AT allspecies.org>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Biodynamic Planting Calendars
  • Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:05:03 -0600

I'm not sure that biodynamic or other, more esoteric approaches to growing can be measured or tested by scientific means. That doesn't mean they don't work. To me life and gardening is an intimate interaction between me (my consciousness) and the world. I don't see the world as unconscious. I give it the benefit of the doubt and am often surprised at how it seems to respond. In the act of preparing some of the biodynamic applications there is ample opportunity for a person's consciousness to shift to become more in tune with nature. Does that consciousness effect the way the plants turn out? I think it does. Can you replicate my interaction or relationship with nature? My relationship with nature has so many factors in it that another person could never mirror it perfectly. I think it is something like what people used to say about success at fishing, "it's the way you hold your mouth." I also think that if you farm to the letter scientifically you could still have a deep relationship with nature. Far too much happens in the dark under the surface for me to be anything but respectful of our process.

Marty
On Feb 17, 2010, at 7:48 AM, Tom wrote:

I'm sorry if I'm missing something in the excerpt, but I saw only a suggestion for proper research and speculation that some optimization may result from it.  Was there more?

Tom at Tom's Gardens
Cut Flowers & Veggies
Northern Lower Michigan


--- On Tue, 2/16/10, Allan.Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com> wrote:

From: Allan.Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Biodynamic Planting Calendars
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 8:22 PM

Friends -

Here's a little 'scientific information' to bolster the use of
celestial calendars in plant work. It's important information for
anyone who wants to maximize the essential oils in their herbs and
"increase the quality of (botanical) products and increase the
efficiency of farming and management practices."


HerbalGram. 2010;85:50-56 American Botanical Council (should be on
the shelf at Borders of Barnes et Noble)

Lunar Influence: Understanding Chemical Variation and Seasonal
Impacts on Botanicals
By Ian B. Cole and Michael J. Balick, PhD

Conclusions drawn from the article that above:

>Through many generations, traditional cultures have learned that
>harvest practices, specifically the time of harvest, can greatly
>impact the characteristics and qualities of plant products. Wood is
>harvested at different times depending on if it is a "soft" or
>"hard" wood, and depending on if it is destined to become a chimney,
>cheese box, or a load-bearing beam for a building. Similarly,
>farmers have reported the best times to plant seeds, weed gardens,
>and harvest crops. These practices increase the quality of products
>and increase the efficiency of farming and management practices.



>In the modern world of botanical products research and the quest to
>develop and improve plant-based medicines, numerous challenges
>exist. Inconsistent phytochemical profiles and commercial
>agriculture-based management practices of botanicals can sometimes
>make it difficult to prove efficacy in clinical trials and develop
>new commercial products. Traditional cultures often paid special
>attention to the lunar phase when harvesting and planting crops, but
>these practices have not been effectively applied to modern
>agriculture or critically examined by contemporary scientific
>research. With modern chemical tools and guidance from ancient
>wisdom, researchers could examine and optimize harvest practices for
>high quality botanical products.

It's what we've known all along, but here is a scientific journal
article that substantiates much of our observation.  And another
explanation of why wildcrafted herbs are often more effective than
garden raised herbs. _AB




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