Biodynamic Gardening

What is Biodynamic Gardening?

The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association was founded in 1938 by Rudolf Steiner and Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, after much success using biodynamic principles in Europe. It was during the 1920s in Europe that discouraged farmers and gardeners sought the expertise of Steiner for the declining health of their soils, plants and animals. Steiner was renowned for his life long research and investigation into the subtle forces working within nature. His fundamental biodynamic principle is rooted in a unified approach to agriculture in which the ecology of the farm-organism directly relates to that of the entire cosmos. In other words, Steiner perceived the whole planet as being a single, self-regulating and multi-dimensional ecosystem. As European farmers and gardeners began to see and work their farms as self-regulating, biodiverse ecosystems, the health of their soils, plants and animals significantly improved.

Permaculture and biodynamics share many of the same principles, but what sets biodynamics apart is its recognition of the cosmic life forces at work on the farm and in the garden. Biodynamic gardening integrates the laws of Spirit with the laws of Nature. It sees the spiritual in the material and the material in the spiritual. For example, few understand that plants are greatly influenced by energies deep with the planet and deep within the cosmos. The cosmic rhythms of light from the moon, sun, stars and other planets affect all plant life. We can use these cosmic rhythms to our advantage, such as using lunar cycles as our planting and growing guide for seeds and seedlings. Further, Steiner used the cosmic forces to develop his soil healing amendments called Biodynamic Preps that rejuvenate and restore depleted and toxic soils. I have used these preps and planted by the moon with great success.

Biodynamics and permaculture also share the concept of raised beds, though biodynamics does not enclose the raised beds, but rather leaves the edges open and slanted at a 45 degree angle. Biodynamic gardening is also famous for its “double dig” method as well as companion, close quarters and succession planting.

The beauty of permaculture and biodynamics is that both gardening methods are capable of turning a wasteland into a bountiful paradise, producing huge, healthy yields from small spaces, and doing so without toxic chemicals while improving the soil and saving water and energy. Modern agriculture has lost sight of these vital principles, and the result is depleted soils that produce nutritionally depleted food. We can use permaculture and biodynamics as impulses for deep social change rooted in wiser, healthier gardening and farming practices. We can use them to reinvent the food system and how food is produced, prepared and distributed. Local farms can provide fresh food for their surrounding towns so that we are not eating nutritionally dead food being shipped in from afar.

While biodynamic gardening brings us the spiritual, cosmic forces with which to garden and farm in a more holistic way, permaculture recognizes the vital connection with the community for local farm and garden success. Together, these powerful farming and gardening methods can ensure a strong, sustainable future from which all life on our planet, and the planet herself, can reliably and steadily benefit.