"One Cow"

Watched this documentary about biodynamic farming as portrayed through the work of Peter Proctor, and farming in India. Called "How To Save The World", quite an ambitious project, right? No need to be turned off by the title. Although the film is propaganda for the biodynamic movement, it's at least a do-gooder. And it's atleast reflexive enough to address the criticism of this philosophy as "voodoo doo doo". Though I haven't been convinced biodynamic food production will save the world (it's hard for me to wrap my head around how the preparations can be produced on a mass scale) I still appreciate the heart and attention this system offers, in the relationship between the grower and that which is grown. My instinct says these preparations designed by one man, Rudolf Steiner, not that long ago, are just arbitrary formulas. The more important thing as a farmer or gardener is to be engaged at the depth Steiner was, working through their own formulas. At the same time I think the herbal preparations make sense, because nettle, dandelion and chamomile plants are full of wonderful properties, but to follow Steiner's precise recipes seems unnecessary. But what do I know?

My instinct also says that cosmic forces are indeed operating in our microcosmic lives and gardens. I don't want to get hooked into beliefs like in the constellation capricorn root crops will behave this or that way. But I still want to pay attention. Today was New Moon, and we are entering a period of ascent as the moon moves to Full... Tomorrow we enter the Aquarious constellation (flower)... I'm working 3 8-hour days when all the daylight abounds so I probably won't get to the garden.

I want to live in a city where cows are unfenced and chilling by the side of the road!!!

Biodynamic chart for February

Picked up a few more books for the library and starting reading Gardening for Life the Biodynamic Way by Maria Thun (Hawthorn Press, 1994). Which is based off  Steiner's Eight Lectures (Rudolf Steiner Press, 2005). Just for fun I created a biodynamic chart for my own February gardening. You do chores at the right time too.

Feb 7-8 (Tue/Wed) is Leo Fruit/Seed time, which I take to mean time to do last minute garden chores. Such as turning in the cover crop. Testing the soil. Weed around the wooden perimeter. Clean/santize tools. Pull the hoses back out. Organize tools. That's probably all I'll get to this month. Unfortunately I will be out of town Feb 11-15, which actually makes me realize I should put all that bed prep on hold for one more cycle and just sow later. But I'll see what happens.
I still want to only experiment in biodynamics with the biodynamic seed. Because it seems more authentic. And it could be less work. It could also be more complicated, maintaining charts for some plants and not others. Although once I got into a groove it would probably be fine. February will show what I can take care of.

Biodynamic inspiration

One neat thing about Abundant Life Seeds are their handful of certified biodynamic seed varieties. I haven't looked into the biodynamic certification process but my understanding is it's as complex as certification can get. As a gardening system biodynamics is one of the most rigid, precise, and rule-bound. I wonder how closely the certification follows the science itself. I just checked out https://www.biodynamics.com/ and am interested to bring this philosophy into the North Beach garden this year. But I don't want to mess around so must obtain resources quickly. I will experiment with the biodynamic-certified seeds, and do my best to grow these plants under the right conditions. Then compare them to the non-biodynamic plants/conditions. Why not? That farm in Battle Ground I mentioned was doing similar quests and were more legit because they had their own cows. Oh well. I will still have some fun. I will order these seeds Thursday:

Apiaceae: Nantaise Narome carrot
Chenopodiaceae: Rote Kugel beet
Fabaceae: Ura pole bean, Major bush bean, Blauseh Okker pea
Lamiaceae: Summer Savory

One thing I'm unsure about is if I will grow them in the same bed as the nonbiodynamic plants. I think that would complicate "the experiment".

Also here is an interesting article published in the Seattle Times from 1993 (I was 7 years old then)

Also! There is a biodynamic farm on Bainbridge Island, Tani Creek Farm... I am keeping my eye on this place