Biodynamic Farming

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Biodynamic Farming

• Clare Lane

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In the beginning

• Rudolf Steiner (1861- 1925)
• Philosopher
• Anthroposophy
• Architecture
• Goetheanum
• Education
• Waldorf Schools
• Medicine
• Anthroposohical Medicine
• Performing Arts
• Eurythmy
• Agriculture
• Biodynamic Farming

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Why Biodynamic?

• Response to farmers requests for ideas on how to
  improve yields and soil health.
• Integrates Steiners philosophy with agriculture.
• Lectures given in 1924 are foundation of
  Biodynamic Farming.

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Principles

• Farm as organism
• Soil health
• Belief that food raised using biodynamic
  techniques is healthier and tastes better.

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Practices

• Preparations
• Compost
• Pest and Weed Management
• Planetary Influence

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Science

• 1994 Washington State University Effects of
  Biodynamic Preparations on Compost Development
  http//www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/3645000
  0/Products-Reprints/2000/865.pdf
• 1994 New Zealand Soil quality and financial
  performance of biodynamic and conventional farms
  in New Zealand. http//www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/NEWS
  LTR/v6n2/sa-13.htm

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Science Cont

• 2001 WSU Soil and Winegrape Quality in
  Biodynamically and Organically Managed
  Vineyards. http//www.ajevonline.org/cgi/content/
  abstract/56/4/367
• 21 year study in Switzerland Soil Fertility and
  Bio-Diversity in Organic Farming
  http//www.fibl.org/english/news/2002/2002-05-scie
  nce/release.php
• http//www.jdb.se/sbfi/publ/boston/boston7.html

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Current Research

• Biodynamic Research Institute (Sweden)
• Different forms of farmyard manure, farmyard
  manure treatment, and specific biodynamic
  cultivation methods and their impact on soil
  fertility, plant nutrient conservation,
  productivity and product quality.
• The connection between growing methods, nutrient
  values and health.
• Institute for Biodynamic Research (Germany)
• Optimization of biodynamic preparations.
• Long term trials.

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Difficult to study

• Impossible to scientifically study the
  philosophical aspects of biodynamic farming.
• Difficult to study the physical aspect of
  biodynamics due to variables involved.
• Most research has been done by groups that
  already support and practice biodynamics so the
  results might be biased.
• The research that has been done often doesnt
  differentiate between organic and biodynamic
  methods so it is difficult to assess the
  usefulness of the results to the study of
  biodynamics.

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Skepticism

• Holger Kirchmann from the Department of Soil
  Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural
  Sciences
• His instructions were based on insights and
  inner visions from spiritualistic exercises and
  not on agricultural experiments. His purpose was
  to show mankind a form of agriculture that
  enables not only the production of healthy foods
  but also the achievement of harmonious
  interactions in agriculture and a spiritual
  development of mankind through cosmic forces
  captured in the foods. However, many of his
  statements are not provable simply because
  scientifically clear hypotheses cannot be made as
  his descriptions were unclear and not stringent.
  Those predictions that can be tested
  scientifically have been found to be incorrect.
  It was concluded that Steiner's instructions are
  occult and dogmatic and cannot contribute to the
  development of alternative or sustainable
  agriculture.
• Biological dynamic farming An occult form of
  alternative agriculture?
• Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics,
  Volume 7, Number 2 / September, 1994

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Conclusion

• Despite the lack of scientific proof as to the
  validity of Steiners claims, biodynamic farming
  is practiced throughout the world. Research is
  continuing to be done on the methods of
  biodynamic farming however, many practitioners of
  biodynamics feel that biodynamic farming is
  better for the environment and produces healthier
  food that feeds their body and soul despite the
  lack of scientific evidence to support this idea.

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References

• Pictures taken from
• http//anthroposophie.blogsport.de/images/rudolfst
  einer.jpg
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0
  /First_Goetheanum.jpg
• http//www.jdb.se/sbfi/default.asp?page57
• http//www.grgich.com/html/biodynamic_faq.html
• http//oregonbd.org/Class/Mod4.htm
• http//oregonbd.org/Class/Mod3.htm
• http//www.patsbdfarm.com/links.htm
• http//www.ofb.net/epstein/sl/20030511-the-end.jp
  g

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END