permaculture

[Ethan X <livetrii@yahoo.com>]

This article says,
  “Biodynamics  means creating a living system,” says Fullmer. “Biodynamic 
farmers are  certainly not the only organic farmers who do this, but it is 
the only  existing organized movement with such roots.”
  
  Why would permaculture not also
  be considered an "organized movement with such roots"?
  
  Beyond Organic
  Discovering the Secrets of Biodynamic Foods
  by Daniel Scollan
  http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3011
  
  From  small family farms threatened by big agribusiness and suburban sprawl 
 to environmental destruction from soil erosion and overuse of  pesticides, 
agriculture today faces many challenges. Consumers and  farmers alike are 
looking for more natural approaches. Bill Hill, owner  of Warrups Farm in 
West Redding, Connecticut, has been searching for  better ways to raise his 
tomatoes, garlic, peppers, Swiss chard,  scallions and squash, and he might 
have found it with biodynamic  agriculture.    Bill  Hill sprays his crops at 
Warrups Farm in West Redding,  Connecticut...with organic preparations that 
strictly adhere to  biodynamic principles.© Daniel ScollanBiodynamics  is not 
new; it predates the now-popular organic farming movement. It  resembles 
organic agriculture in many ways, but adds a spiritual or  mystical 
component. Hill describes biodynamics as “deep organic.”  However, the 
biodynamic movement is relatively unknown in the U.S.,  having only earned 
mainstream attention in
 the world of wine making.  But just about anything can be, and is, grown and 
sold using biodynamic  principles. 
  The  Austrian philosopher, scientist and artist Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)  
laid the foundations for biodynamics in a series of lectures he gave in  
1924. Steiner founded a school of philosophy known as anthroposophy,  meaning 
“wisdom of the human being,” which he defined as “a way of  knowledge—a 
cognitive path—that leads the spiritual in the human being  to the spiritual 
in the universe.”  
  Steiner  applied this thinking to a diverse range of practical fields. He  
designed the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, a building considered  a 
landmark of 20th century architecture. He also developed a method of  
teaching that centers on educating the whole child—head, heart and  
hands—that later became known as Waldorf education. Today, Waldorf  schools 
can be found all over the world, including more than 150 in the  U.S.  
  Philosophical Roots  
  Steiner’s  1924 lectures, known as the “Spiritual Foundations for the 
Renewal of  Agriculture,” presented a critique of the contemporary 
agricultural  practices of the day and set forth the key principles of 
biodynamics.  Like organic farming, biodynamics rejects the use of synthetic  
fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, but for different reasons.  Steiner 
believed such substances were spiritually dead, rather than  chemically or 
biologically troublesome.  
  Steiner  believed that everything in the material world has a spiritual  
counterpart. So, biodynamic farmers are called to view the farm as a  unique 
organism with a spirit, with each part integrated into the  whole. A more 
concrete manifestation of this idea is that each farm is  seen as a 
self-contained unit, and farmers aspire to have all inputs  such as 
fertilizers come from within the farm. Composting then becomes  an essential 
tool.  
  Farmers  are also called to pay close attention to their environments and 
tailor  their practices to those that best suit their specific local  
conditions. Harold Brown, who has studied biodynamics as outreach  
coordinator at Farm Sanctuary, says, “Biodynamic farmers don’t push the  land 
beyond what it’s capable of doing, as is the case with modern  agribusiness.” 
  A  key difference between organic and biodynamic techniques is that animal  
husbandry is required for the latter. Animal manure is seen as  especially 
important for its contributions to compost. Further,  biodynamic farmers 
often work in connection with solar, lunar and  astrological rhythms. For 
example, plantings are conducted on certain  days of the year. Such 
practices, however, are not specifically  required by the international 
biodynamic certification agency, Demeter.  
  Something  unique to biodynamics is the use of eight specific homeopathic  
preparations, two of which are sprayed on crops and six of which are  added 
to compost. The preparations are believed to increase the “life  forces” in 
the soil and plants. Since they are difficult to produce,  many farmers buy 
their preparations from the Josephine Porter Institute  and other producers. 
The remedies are mostly herbs, usually stored in  an animal organ, and are 
buried underground to ferment for a time  period coordinating with cosmic 
cycles. The specific organs are thought  to enhance the life forces of each 
material. 
  The  two spray preparations, manure and grounded quartz, are stored in the  
horns of a cow. Small amounts of the manure or quartz are then mixed in  
water. The compost preparations include chamomile and dandelion flowers  and 
oak bark, and are stored in a variety of organs such as animal  intestines, 
skulls and bladders, and then applied directly to compost.  In Steiner’s 
view, the preparations are both natural and spiritual.  
  Some  people, especially vegans (who refuse to eat any animal-derived 
foods),  may object to such use of animal parts in farming. Brown, of the 
farm  animal rescue and protection group Farm Sanctuary, explains, “The whole 
 point of veganism is to alleviate suffering, and using animal parts  
necessarily involves suffering.” Brown, however, finds other aspects of  
biodynamics appealing, especially its view of the farm as a living  organism. 
“Biodynamics works in harmony with nature and, with  experimentation, it may 
be able to evolve to be more animal friendly,”  he says.  
  Jim  Fullmer, president of Demeter USA, advises, “Animals on biodynamic  
farms are revered, and the goal of the movement is to mimic the wisdom  put 
forth by nature. Vegetarians and vegans should look at the whole  picture of 
biodynamics.”  
  Success in Wine-Making  
  The  biodynamics movement, although currently occupying a small niche, is  
growing. It has received the greatest attention and commercial success  in 
the wine-making business, where it has gained a reputation for  especially 
high-quality products. In the U.S., biodynamic wines, or,  more accurately, 
wines made with biodynamic grapes, are produced by  such major California 
vineyards as Fetzer, Benziger and Frey Vineyards.  
  “The  success of biodynamics in wine can be attributed to the industry’s  
focus on quality rather than quantity,” says Fullmer. He also points to  the 
intense media interest in wine ratings, which have often been very  high for 
biodynamic offerings. In addition, biodynamics’ focus on farm  individuality 
is especially suitable to the popular vineyard concept of  “terroir,” 
referring to a quality in the wine that expresses the place  where the grapes 
are grown. 
  Biodynamics  is reaching beyond wine, however. Clean Foods of Santa Paula,  
California sells several blends of biodynamic coffees sold under the  Café 
Altura brand. Owner Chris Shepherd says sales are increasing.  “Consumers new 
to biodynamics are attracted to its holistic nature, and  often become 
intrigued through their knowledge of Steiner’s Waldorf  schools,” says 
Shepherd. “It just tastes better.”  
  Biodynamic  grower Seven Stars Farm in Pennsylvania has also seen success 
with its  line of yogurts, which are sold in major natural food stores 
throughout  the Northeast.  
  A Sustainable System?  
  John  Reganold, a professor of soil science at Washington State University, 
 has studied biodynamics for nearly 15 years. His research suggests that  the 
special preparations do indeed have a positive effect on compost.  However, 
he says, “the jury is still out” on how effective they  ultimately are, or 
whether there truly is much difference between the  health of biodynamic 
farms and typical organic farms.  
  “We  just finished a study that looked at a number of soil properties over  
six years, and there were no significant differences between biodynamic  and 
organic practices,” says Reganold. However, he adds, “Biodynamic  farms may 
be the most holistic farms that I’ve seen.”  
  Jim  Fullmer says many farmers are beginning to turn to biodynamics because 
 they are dissatisfied with the current U.S. National Organic Program.  “Many 
of the folks looking closely at biodynamics as an alternative are  the good 
organic farmers who see that the National Organic Program is  losing the 
basic foundations of organic farming—the emphasis on  sustainability and 
reduction of inputs. The National Organic Program  has basically boiled down 
to a list of materials you can or cannot use.  
  “Biodynamics  means creating a living system,” says Fullmer. “Biodynamic 
farmers are  certainly not the only organic farmers who do this, but it is 
the only  existing organized movement with such roots.”  
  However  holistic biodynamics may be, it’s still difficult for some people 
to  stomach the idea of those unusual preparations. According to Bill Hill,  
“It’s not for everybody.” 
  DANIEL SCOLLAN is a former E intern currently serving in AmeriCorps.
  CONTACTS
  Demeter USA
Phone: (541)998-5691

  Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
Phone: (888)516-7797
  


"In the world I see -- you  will stalk elk through the damp canyon forests 
around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You will wear leather clothes  that 
last you the rest of your life. You will climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines  
that wrap the Sears   Tower,  and when you look down, you will see tiny 
figures pounding corn and  laying strips of venison on the empty car pool 
lane of some abandoned  superhighway." Fight Club

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