Do you know biodynamics?
This age-old agricultural practice relies on esoteric and holistic principles to promote soil fertility and plant health. Biodynamics considers the Earth as a living being, an organism that can be both degraded by toxic chemicals and nourished by other beneficial substances.
As a market gardener passionate about organic methods, I have been practicing biodynamics for a few years with enthusiasm.
In the fall, after harvesting the last vegetables from my plot, I devote myself to a singular task: I bury a cow horn filled with fresh dung in the ground, about 12 inches deep. Throughout the winter, this strange concoction remains in direct contact with Mother Earth and the mysterious forces that flow from it.
When spring finally shows up, I dig up this buried horn to contemplate the astonishing transformation that has taken place. The cow dung has metamorphosed into a beautiful, nutrient-rich powder.
I then “energize” this precious amendment in a large barrel of water by creating a vortex using a circular motion made with a wooden spatula. For this special occasion, I always invite some friends to impress them with my “witchcraft”. For about 30 minutes, I vigorously stir the powder in the water. I then explain that this energizing process connects the water mixture to the energy of the cosmos, thus providing additional power to the preparations.
Once this preparation has been energized, I spread it over all of my gardens using a sprayer, a tool which makes it possible to diffuse a liquid in the form of fine droplets. Thus, I inculcate in my garden billions of beneficial micro-organisms.
I then explain to my guests that these precious allies, made up of good bacteria and microbes, will be deployed throughout the summer to nourish my plants by providing them with essential nutrients, thus contributing to the fertility of my soil. I would add that my method takes into account the influence of planetary movements, lunar cycles and solar influences on the growth and development of cultures.
My garden then becomes a real reservoir of biodiversity where beneficial insects, birds and small animals find their place. This ecological harmony reduces the presence of parasites and promotes the development of a balanced ecosystem.
It’s really fascinating! These practices come to us in particular from the Austrian Rudolf Steiner, father of “anthroposophy”. This movement of thought, founded in the 1910s, is oriented towards proximity to nature and affects as much education, health as agriculture.
These methods raise questions, and I completely understand! The most pragmatic always ask me: “And concretely, what are the results? Do you really see a difference? »
My answer is always this: “No idea! But I have blind faith in this practice and I don’t want to experiment by comparing a treated part of the garden with an untreated part. I want to take full advantage of it for all of my plots! »
Another question that often comes up is, “If it works so well, why aren’t more farmers using biodynamics in their fields?” Is this part of basic education in agricultural schools such as Saint-Hyacinthe or Laval University? I reply that unfortunately this is not the case, but I think we would benefit from broadening our horizons. Some of the largest wineries in Europe have turned to these practices and many here in Quebec take a holistic, even spiritual, agricultural approach to their practice.
So, today, I reveal one of my secrets: biodynamics. If you are a nature lover and looking for alternative ways to grow your vegetables, this might be a fascinating experiment to try. With that, happy gardening!