Gardening by the Constellations? Learn Biodynamic Planting!
This year we're trying something new and planting our seeds according to the biodynamic farming method.
This method has been around for about a hundred years and originated in Austria. It has some ties to the Waldorf education method, but mainly--biodynamic planting has to do with planting your seeds according to the moon and the constellations.
A biodynamic planting calendar is just one tool for success. Certified Biodynamic Farms are a step "beyond organic", and often boast better quality of soil and better crop yields, even without pesticides or herbicides.
Biodynamic Farming may be viewed as "woo" for some, but just like homeopathy, it does produce positive results--and it's been practiced for decades.
You may be familiar with certain signs considered as water signs or fire signs in the zodiac? Well, the same is true for each constellation.
The idea is, plants that we want to harvest the fruits of, like cucumbers and eggplant, we'd plant during the time when the moon is in an air sign. When planting crops that we wish to consume the leaves of, such as lettuce or Swiss chard we'd plant during an air sign, and so on. You're supposed to plant crops that you grow for the roots (carrots and turnips, for example) when the moon is passing through a constellation that has earth energy.
From the Stella Natura website: "Nearly fifty years ago, Maria Thun discovered that plants sown when the moon is passing in front of a constellation bearing the qualities of the Earth element have enhanced root growth. Results were consistently similar with leaf growth and the element of water, enhanced flowering and the element of air, and fuller development of ripe fruit when seeds were sown with the Moon in relation to the element of fire."
Each part of a plant, the leaves; flowers; roots; or fruit; corresponds to one of the four elements of earth; air; water; and fire.
There's much more to this method of planting, including fun terms like perigee and apogee (which indicate the closest and furthest points in the moon's orbit from Earth, respectively), phases of the moon, and so on. You can check out this link to learn more!
The basic concept is that there's always been much more at play than the practical, straightforward reasons as to why some crops thrive and others fail.
In our own garden, we already apply some permaculture principles and don't use commercial pesticide or herbicide. Now, we're working with a biodynamic planting calendar called Stella Natura. It's part coded calendar fascination, and part esoteric storytelling guide, with a different explanation of a biodynamic concept for each month in lieu of a photo or art piece.
I'm excited to see what kind of results I get!
Visit the site here!
I love this concept of farming as it takes organic to the next level! However, I've been growing more and more concern with growing food traditionally (i.e., outdoors) and the weather is usually unpredictable, not to mention drought, bugs...etc. I live in northeast Florida now and the weather is usually very nice and ideal for growing, but it's been raining like crazy for the past 4 weeks, almost like a hurricane, I kid you not. What do you think about growing food indoors with LED-lights? I was thinking aquaponics would be great since you're using the fish byproducts as nutrients. I do like growing soil due to high mineral content, but I don't know about indoor soil growing. Your thoughts?
me gusta el mistisismo ....y el hecho de que pueda existir relacion entre las frutas y nuestro signo del zodiaco... quiero saber mas.. felicidades por tan buen post.
I like both biodynamic Or permaculture or food forest gardens and raised bed gardens. It depends on the application. I felt in my fathers small 4000 sq ft of space he would not be able to implement a full on food forest and generate as much food as he would like. So he went with raised beds using biointensive method instead after a suggested idea. If though, he had one+ acres, I feel this would easily be enough space for him to do a food forest instead, although he may also have some rasied beds near the house as well : )
Yes this works quite well! We go by the biodynamic calendar ourselves
What a great idea, I've heard people talk about biodynamics before.... I also believe that the natural way of raising and caring for our plants is the best way and i hope this will works a lot... Thanks for sharing this with us.
Interesting I've loved Rudolf Steiner's work for a long time but I've never heard of this. I can't wait to put this theory to the test.