About Biodynamic
© Tatiana Cavaçana
Key Practices of Biodynamic Growers & Producers
Truly Holistic, Whole-Farm Management
In Biodynamic agriculture, the farm is conceived of as a self-regenerating, self-contained ecosystem; all of its elements interconnect to support the health and vitality of the whole. To steward and manage the land holistically, the farmer must consider all life — soil, cultivated crops, native wildlife, and people. The Biodynamic Farm Standard only allows whole-farm certification; split farms or parallel production is not possible.
Natural Plant & Compost Preparations
Biodynamic preparations are natural remedies made with medicinal plants, minerals, and manure; there are nine in total, and each one carries unique healing properties. Some are applied to the compost pile to stabilize nitrogen and stimulate microbial diversity, others are applied in the field to fortify plant immunity, aid in photosynthesis and enhance ripening. Timely, small doses, diluted in water, support the farm’s overall health and vitality.
Thoughtful Integration of Animals
While many conventional farms have removed or segregated animals from the rest of the farm, Biodynamic sees animals as a vital part of a healthy farm organism. Animals provide natural fertilizer for the soil, and beneficial spiritual energies for plants and people alike. The Biodynamic Farm Standard upholds the highest standards in animal welfare, including a commitment to protecting horned cattle breeds and a strict ban on dehorning.
Regeneration as a Practice; Not a Buzzword
Biodynamic farmers strive to generate all of the fertility the farm needs from within the farm itself. Certified farmers make a verifiable commitment to reducing their reliance on imported materials. Instead, they regenerate soil health and fertility by integrating animals into their farm system, developing potent compost with Biodynamic preparations, and by incorporating crop rotations, green manures and nutrient catch crops into their farm plan.
Gentle Processing & Thoughtful Craftsmanship
The Biodynamic Processing Standard goes far beyond the USDA National Organic Program standard; it covers 16 categories including wine, cheese, olive oil, dairy and body care. In food products, the standards optimize for freshness, authenticity, and nutrient density — requiring gentle processing techniques and thoughtful craftsmanship. Demeter-certified products guarantee an unbroken chain of accountability from farm to shelf, with finished products that are defined by the integrity and purity of its ingredients.
Diverse Seeds, Breeds & Wildlife Conservation
The Biodynamic Farm Standard requires 10% of total farm land be devoted to wildlife preservation, restoration and enhancement. By protecting and cultivating habitat for wild species, Biodynamic farmers invite support for their farms in the form of beneficial birds and insects, food for pollinators, and balanced systems from diverse wildlife. Farmers are also encouraged to select diverse and locally-adapted plant and animal species for their farm system, with the number of species ideally increasing over time.
Every Biodynamic Farm is Unique
In Biodynamic agriculture, the farm is conceived of as a self-sustaining living organism, much like a wilderness forest. When thoughtfully managed, all of the farm elements interconnect to support the health and vitality of the whole. Elements of the farm include the soil, cultivated crops, domestic and wild animals, insects, flowering trees and shrubs, manure, compost, waterways, surrounding fields and forests, the climate, the farmers, the farm’s region, history, and energetic character. All of this comprises a farm’s individuality – the idea that every farm has a unique personality and creative potential. It is up to the Biodynamic farmer to listen to the land, read its inherent tendencies, and nurture what naturally wants to thrive there.
Biodynamic Strives for a Closed-Loop System
Biodynamic agriculture looks to nature as a model. In a healthy wilderness forest, new life arises out of recycled organic matter in a continuous cycle. Its balance of diverse species makes it resilient to pests, disease, and climate stress. The system can support itself indefinitely. While agriculture is one step removed from wild nature, the farmer can similarly strive to create a closed-loop system by generating fertility within the farm itself. To achieve this, the Biodynamic method prescribes the thoughtful and humane integration of animals, who are honored for their essential role in the fertility cycle. Biodynamic farming also utilizes compost, crop rotations and cover crops to maintain soil fertility. The Biodynamic Farm Standard encourages farmers to reduce their reliance on external inputs, and to pay close attention to the balance of nutrients harvested and nutrients returned to the soil through application of compost.
Biodynamic Protects and Cultivates Biodiversity
Biodynamic agriculture recognizes that we are in mutual relationship with all life forms. Biodiversity is seen as vital for the health of the farm, for the preservation of life-supporting ecosystems, and for the realization of resilient and sovereign food systems. The Biodynamic Farm Standard requires 10% of total farm land be devoted to wildlife preservation, restoration and enhancement. This may include forests, wetlands, riparian corridors, insectaries, hedgerows, wildlife corridors, pastures, perennial plantings, and more. By protecting and cultivating habitat for wild species, Biodynamic farmers also invite support for their farms in the form of beneficial birds and insects, food for pollinators, and a balanced system from diverse wildlife. Biodynamic also encourages the selection of diverse, heirloom, and locally-adapted plant species and heritage animal breeds, including on-farm propagation of seeds and on-farm breeding. As a result, Biodynamic farms are noticeably more alive – with more colors, textures, movement, humming, buzzing, and chirping!
Biodynamic Works with Nature, Cosmos, and Intuition
The Biodynamic farmer strives to nurture their land to its fullest expression by being in conscious relationship with nature. By observing, sensing, and listening to the land, farmers learn to improve their perception, patience, and creativity. In this way, farmers become more intuitive and sensitive stewards; instead of forcing their will, the farmer lets emerge what naturally wants to thrive. An intentional and careful observation of nature includes all plants and animals, the wider landscape, as well as the climate and the changing seasons. But Biodynamic agriculture also considers the movements of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. With time and practice, and with the support of Biodynamic planting calendars, farmers can learn to work with cosmic influences to thoughtfully plan the best times for sowing, transplanting, harvesting and applying preparations.
Biodynamic Respects the Nature of Animals
While many conventional farms have removed or segregated animals from the rest of the farm, Biodynamic sees animals as a vital part of a healthy farm organism. Animals provide valuable manure for fertilizing soils, and beneficial spiritual energies for plants and people alike. The Biodynamic Farm Standard upholds the highest standards in animal welfare, including a commitment to protecting horned cattle breeds and a strict ban on dehorning. Biodynamic farmers create conditions that let animals behave as their nature intends: free-range, pasture fed, and raised in flocks or herds that promote natural social behavior. Animals are fed from the farm as much as possible, and are never given preventative hormones or antibiotics. Animals are not mutilated – dehorning, debeaking, wing clipping, tail cutting and tail docking is prohibited.
Martinshof, Tennental Village Community, Germany
Biodynamic Promotes Healthy People, Communities and Economies
Biodynamic recognizes that healthy humans and engaged communities are the lifeblood for farms to thrive and endure into the future. Farm operators have a responsibility to cultivate healthy, safe and fair working conditions, where individuals are empowered to continuously learn and grow. Human development is considered central to the practice of Biodynamic farming, and is expressed as a promise in a recent Demeter campaign, “You Will Grow.” Biodynamic also strives to develop fair economic relationships, drawing inspiration from the concept of Associative Economics which imagines an economy based on mutual exchange to serve human needs as its first aim — not to generate a profit. This is a social-economic future based on altruism, transparency, and cooperation. Biodynamic embraces creative, alternative economic models, like the CSA, in order to bring about this future.