The Path Of Biodynamic Gardening
The success of a certain group can be achieved in so many ways. There is passion. There is trust. And there is the need for a system. The agricultural circles abide by these principles. This is how, through the years, more and more important changes have brought forth positive results to their production. Let’s take a look at the path of biodynamic gardening and find out how its systematic and holistic approach is practiced by many of its supporters.
Biodynamic has been embraced throughout many regions across the planets for so many reasons. Its principles are well-loved by the farmers that have incorporated each and every ounce of teaching it has to offer. It brings out the individuality of the farm as a self-contained entity. The focus is on the health of the crops and the livestock as well as the holistic development of the farmer. Let’s see how these things become a reality.
Rudolf Steiner who is considered as the main proponent of the biodynamic practices prescribed nine preparations that are to be utilized in order to boost fertilization which is actually the cornerstone of the said practice. He gave a concrete description on proper preparation should be done. Preparation of the substances to be used was very vital as it will influence the transport of cosmic forces and metaphysical beings into the soil.
Steiner meticulously labelled each substance using the numbers 500 to 508. The first pair was used to signify guidelines for field preparation while the last seven numbers gave out ample information on compost production. Studies show little amount of direct effect of the preparations to the quality of soil structure and compost development. However, it has contributed in the acceleration of the initial composting phase, the stimulation of plant growth, and the enhancement of the nutritive content of the compost.
The field preparations were founded on humus formation. 500 was composed of humus mixture prepared by filling the horn of a cow with cow manure and burying it underground at a depth of about 40 to 60 centimeters during autumn. The decomposition process occurs during winter and then it has harvested in spring time. 501 on the other hand is buried during spring time and recovered when autumn comes. It consists of crushed powdered quartz that is stuffed into a cow’s horn.
The preparations for the compost side mainly employ herbs that are commonly utilized for their medicinal benefits. 502 is made of yarrow blossoms that are stuffed inside the urinary bladders of a Red Deer and is placed under the summer sun then buried during winter to be retrieved come spring. 503 follows and is composed of chamomile blossoms stuffed into the small intestines of cattle that is buried in soil enriched by humus during autumn and then extracted come spring time. 504 is stinging nettle plants that are said to be in full bloom and stuffed together with peats around the burial site for the whole year.
The path to the fertilization aspect of biodynamic gardening ends with 505 up to 508. 505 is made of oak bark that is chopped into small pieces and place inside the skull of a domesticated animal and when buried is surrounded by peat where there is abundance of rain water. 506 has dandelion flowers placed into the peritoneum of cattle which is buried in winter and scooped up during spring. 507 has valerian flowers extracted into water and 508 is made of horsetail.
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