Rudolph Steiner & Biodynamics
A holistic, ecological, and ethical agricultural philosophy
Rudolf Steiner was born in Austria in 1861. He established Biodynamics in the early 1920s as a response to concerns about the declining health of soils and the overall quality of food produced by conventional farming practices. Steiner was a multifaceted individual known for his contributions to philosophy, education, spirituality, and agriculture.
“Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. Biodynamics combines scientific practices and the spirit of nature”. Steiner delivered eight lectures in 1924, later known as the "Agriculture Course" or the "Agriculture Lectures." He was a polymath deeply interested in spirituality, philosophy, and the sciences. He studied at the Vienna Institute of Technology and later earned a doctorate in philosophy. His early career included work as an editor, author, and lecturer. Biodynamic agriculture was significantly influenced by Steiner's anthroposophical, or spiritual and intellectual, worldview. Anthroposophy places a strong emphasis on the advancement of human spirituality while exploring the connection between the spiritual and material worlds. (Biodynamics.com) Steiner’s teachings are still active today, not only in farming but also in teaching methods (Steiner/Waldorf Schools).
After I moved to Tucson, I met Thor Hildale, who taught me some of the basics of Biodynamics. Thor was primarily interested in the “imprinting” method, where water would be spun in different directions while different notes/frequencies were whistled by the person stirring the water. This was to imprint the frequency on the water. Stirring the water creates a vortex that puts energy back into the water. Thor told me about biodynamic preps, but not in detail. My friend, Randy Ritchie of Social Compost, founded Malibu Compost, a biodynamically-made compost in the USA. He has told me about using biodynamic preps to energize the compost. Dr. Masaru Emoto and Viktor Schauberger later used imprinting and vortexing in their works. Neither of these men was known for farming. However, it is interesting to note that they both expanded the use of imprinting (Emoto) and vortexing (Schauberger).
For students of Steiner, there is extensive training in the use of ‘preps’ to enhance soil and plant health. Steiner created nine different preparations for farming/gardening purposes. These preparations often involve specific herbs and minerals fermented and applied to compost and fields in homeopathic doses. These herbs are placed into cow horns or animal organs for several months and buried for about one year. Afterward, they are dug back up and used in gardens and compost to heal the earth.
When you dig deeper into the application rates of these preps, you’ll see they are very similar to homeopathy: considerably diluted formulas. Homeopathy is mainly known today as an alternative to allopathic medicine. (see WebMD) Biodynamic preps are used like homeopathic doses to heal the earth, using traces of manures, plants, or stones as medicine.
Today, businesses and certifying agencies like Demeter International promote and accredit biodynamic farms and goods per global norms. These groups support the integrity of biodynamic methods and reassure customers that biodynamic products follow strict standards.
The development of Biodynamics and other aspects of Rudolf Steiner's work in agriculture and spirituality, which was revolutionary then, are now of interest to people who want to live sustainably and holistically. His emphasis on soil health, biodiversity, and interconnectedness with the environment remains relevant in sustainable agriculture and ecological consciousness, even though not everyone may agree with the spiritual aspects of his teachings.
Feel free to read further:
Biodynamics.com
Rudolfsteinerweb.com
Webmd.com/balance/what-is-homeopathy
*This post is from my upcoming book, Probiotic Farming.