Environment
Fact-checked

At AllThingsNature, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Biodynamic Farming?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Biodynamic farming is a farming technique similar to organic agriculture, although it integrates more of a spiritual aspect, and has been formally organized far longer than the organic movement has. The main idea behind biodynamic farming is that the Earth is a living, interconnected organism, and that farmers should work with, harness, and encourage it. The roots of biodynamic farming can be found in Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian social philosopher who was widely admired at the turn of the twentieth century. In a series of lectures in the 1920s, Steiner laid out the foundations for biodynamic farming, concerned about the direction that commercial agriculture was taking. Although biodynamics has not been widely embraced, it is practiced at farms of varying size all over the world, and biodynamic farms can be officially certified through chapters of Demeter International, an ecological association.

The idea behind biodynamic farming is anthroposophy, the idea that people can reach a state of spirituality through discipline and learning. Steiner saw a profound disconnect between the earth and the people who live on it, and proposed a series of principles for farmers to follow. Many of these principles are familiar to organic farmers: the use of cover crops to protect the soil, for example, or the idea that farms should have a low ecological impact. Biodynamic farming also values composting, using natural fertilizers such as manure and herbal teas, and living in harmony with the earth.

Biodynamic farming has a spiritual element.
Biodynamic farming has a spiritual element.

However, biodynamic farming also has a whiff of alchemy about it. Farmers use one of eight biodynamic preparations to condition the soil, along with compost and mulch. These preparations include plant, animal, and mineral ingredients, and are prepared in specific ways, often in accordance with the cycles of the moon. Some of the more well known biodynamic preparations include horn manure, cow horns filled with cow manure and buried in fields to condition the soil, along with yarrow blossoms, picked at full bloom and buried at the margins of fields, and plant derived sprays to resist fungus. Invasive weeds are ritually burned and scattered at certain periods of the moon, while preparations made from the ashes of animal pests are used to resist infestation.

Cooperatives that are organized around biodynamic farming often bring their produce to farmer's markets.
Cooperatives that are organized around biodynamic farming often bring their produce to farmer's markets.

The idea that the farm should be a self contained organism is also an important tenet of biodynamic farming. A biodynamically framed farm functions like a microcosm. Sheep and chickens, for example, are used to eat weeds and fertilize, while compost made from leftover plant material is scattered on the fields to renew the soil. Seeds for new crops are harvested from the crops of the year before, and all the materials for enriching the soil come from the farm. This reduces the economic cost of biodynamic farming, and also minimizes the ecological footprint of the farm.

Vegetables grown on certified biodynamic farms tend to be more expensive than conventional or organically grown produce.
Vegetables grown on certified biodynamic farms tend to be more expensive than conventional or organically grown produce.

Crops from certified biodynamic farms, especially commodities like wine, tend to fetch a higher price than conventional and organic counterparts, and can sometimes be difficult to obtain. Specialty stores may have packaged biodynamic goods, but for produce, it is best to go directly to the farm. Many community supported agriculture cooperatives are organized around biodynamic farming principles, and some biodynamic farms bring their crops to farmers' markets or make them available for sale at the farm itself. Most biodynamic farmers also enjoy giving tours of the land under their care to people who are interested.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is biodynamic farming?

Produce from biodynamic farms is typically more expensive than from conventional or organic farms.
Produce from biodynamic farms is typically more expensive than from conventional or organic farms.

Biodynamic farming is an advanced form of organic agriculture that treats farms as unified and individual organisms, emphasizing balance in the holistic interrelationship among soil, plants, and animals. It incorporates astrological influences and lunar cycles into planting and harvesting schedules and uses specially prepared composts and herbal sprays to enhance soil health and vitality.

How does biodynamic farming differ from traditional organic farming?

The methods of biodynamic farming are similar to those of organic farming.
The methods of biodynamic farming are similar to those of organic farming.

While both biodynamic and organic farming avoid synthetic chemicals, biodynamic farming goes further by incorporating principles of dynamism and homeopathy. It uses unique preparations made from fermented manure, minerals, and herbs, and follows an astronomical sowing and planting calendar. Biodynamic farming also focuses on closed-loop systems, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem within the farm.

What are biodynamic preparations, and why are they important?

Biodynamic preparations are natural substances used in composting and spraying fields, made from fermented manure, minerals, and herbs. These preparations are believed to enhance soil quality and stimulate plant growth by increasing microbial activity and nutrient availability. They are central to biodynamic farming, embodying the approach's emphasis on ecological and spiritual sustainability.

Can biodynamic farming improve biodiversity?

Yes, biodynamic farming can significantly improve biodiversity. By fostering a diverse ecosystem through crop rotation, intercropping, and the creation of habitats for beneficial insects and wildlife, biodynamic farms can support a wide range of species. According to the Biodynamic Association, biodynamic farms often have higher biodiversity levels than conventional farms.

Is biodynamic produce healthier than conventionally grown produce?

Advocates of biodynamic farming claim that the methods used result in produce with higher nutritional value and better taste. While scientific studies are limited, some research suggests that biodynamic farming methods can lead to higher antioxidant levels in certain crops compared to conventional methods, as reported by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

How does biodynamic farming address climate change?

Biodynamic farming addresses climate change by prioritizing carbon sequestration through enhanced soil fertility and the use of perennial plants. The emphasis on biodiversity and reduced reliance on external inputs also reduces the carbon footprint. Moreover, the Biodynamic Association highlights that these practices contribute to resilience against climate extremes, such as droughts and floods.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

KoiwiGal

@Ana1234 - Biodynamic farming isn't all that popular these days. There has been quite a lot of research showing that it's no more effective than comparable organic farming techniques and that the mystical element doesn't increase yields or improve soil quality.

I like the sentiment behind it, but using outdated and pointless farming techniques isn't good for farmers. They are busy enough as it is.

Ana1234

@pleonasm - I'm sure Steiner was serious about these applications even if he was guessing. He didn't believe that he was guessing, because he thought that there was power in crystals and the moon and so forth, so it made sense to try and combine these powers in a harmony.

And biodynamic farming practices are still used in quite a few places. They weren't established to get money out of people or anything. They were an experiment in making the world a better place.

I actually think the problem with a lot of the techniques and philosophies that Rudolph Steiner left behind is that they have become dogma rather than an ongoing quest for improvement where it is needed.

pleonasm

The mother of my best friend in high school was very into biodynamic farming. At first I thought it sounded amazing, as I was a fairly impressionable teenager, but eventually I realized that, while some of it was based around solid science and it was usually practiced with real earnestness, most of it was just guesswork and conjecture with no basis in reality.

I mean, I don't see why they thought Steiner was such an amazing expert at farming that he managed to come up with these obscure techniques in the first place. I guess if the parts that did work managed to work well, they would obscure the fact that the mystical parts were nonsense.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Biodynamic farming has a spiritual element.
      By: onepony
      Biodynamic farming has a spiritual element.
    • Cooperatives that are organized around biodynamic farming often bring their produce to farmer's markets.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Cooperatives that are organized around biodynamic farming often bring their produce to farmer's markets.
    • Vegetables grown on certified biodynamic farms tend to be more expensive than conventional or organically grown produce.
      By: Goran Bogicevic
      Vegetables grown on certified biodynamic farms tend to be more expensive than conventional or organically grown produce.
    • Produce from biodynamic farms is typically more expensive than from conventional or organic farms.
      By: valery121283
      Produce from biodynamic farms is typically more expensive than from conventional or organic farms.
    • The methods of biodynamic farming are similar to those of organic farming.
      By: Denis Pepin
      The methods of biodynamic farming are similar to those of organic farming.