Biodynamic farming
Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), a teacher and philosopher born in
Austria, and founder of the Anthroposophical Movement, devised
biodynamic farming. According to anthroposophy the human being
is the highest expression on Earth of the Divine, incarnating all cre-
ative power and patterns of physical manifestation. The world is
studied through the inner and outer natures of humanity. Its
approach to farming is very similar to Schauberger's, the assumption
that energy is the primary cause, and growth the secondary effect.
While it has been mooted that Rudolf Steiner and Viktor
Schauberger did have fairly lengthy discussions, if such was the case,
it is not clear how much either might have influenced the other.
Biodynamic farming recognizes the very ancient practice of
burying cow's horns filled with cow dung deep underground in the
autumn. At this time the active Earth's energies are drawn into the
horn because of its vortex shape, transforming its contents into
powerful fructigenic energies by the cold process of fermentation
encouraged by the low temperatures. The cow horns are disinterred
in early spring, their contents having been converted into a sweet
smelling, highly active substance.
This empowered material is the basis of the natural fertilizer
known as '500 mix.' Since 1947, it has been increasing widely used,
and over a 1 1/4 million acres are fertilized in Australia using this sys-
tem. The land where it has been spread, when seen from the air,
stands out clearly from neighbouring farms, due to the much
greener pasture. Some cows from farms bordering Alex Podolin-
sky's did not eat for two or three days after they had broken into the
biodynamic farm, so high was the quality of the grass they had con-
sumed.^3
The '500' mix fertilizer is produced according to an ancient
Alpine tradition which Schauberger himself once observed being
practised by an old mountain farmer who achieved amazing
results from his fertilizer. The principle is like that of homeopathy.
When a homeopathic medicine is made, the original remedy is
stirred and shaken between the dilutions, which increase its
potency. With the fertilizer a small quantity of the converted cow
dung is added to water and stirred first in one direction and then
in the other, so as to create vortices rotating about the vertical axis
- ORGANIC CULTIVATION