Applied Biodynamics — Issue 051 (Winter 2005–2006)

Applied Biodynamics Issue 051 (Winter 2005–2006) follows the Selke Biodynamic Cherry Tomato across about twenty generations and documents seed vitality, preparation practice, cold-climate recovery, and hands-on professional learning.

A biodynamic tomato with a twenty-generation history

L. A. Rotheraine found the original volunteer tomato in an old compost pile in 1988, moved it to his high-school classroom, and continued saving and sharing its seed. He named the strain for Margrit Selke, who worked with Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and supplied Pfeiffer Compost Starter and Field Spray for his early garden work.

Issue 051 reports indoor Selke plants about eight feet high and seventeen feet long with 250 to 300 tomatoes. In the roughly ninety-day season near Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan, one grower harvested more than 300 tomatoes from a single plant. At Elm Street Biodynamic Garden in Bradford, Pennsylvania, the tomato became a vivid teaching plant within a larger program of Pfeiffer Field Spray, BD 502–507 compost preparations, BD 501, and BD 507.

Preparation-guided recovery in cold weather

After cold weather left one Selke tomato yellowing and losing foliage, Rotheraine followed Hugh Courtney's suggestion to stir BD 504 stinging nettle and BD 505 oak bark separately and apply them together to the tomato hill for three to five consecutive days. Within ten days to two weeks, he observed fresh green foliage throughout the plant, and tomato production continued.

The garden also used protective covers, careful timing, and close observation to begin tomatoes well before customary local dates. Rotheraine presents the preparations as active partners in a practical program shaped by plant stage, weather, and the character of the garden.

Saving tomato seed with BD 507 valerian

Rotheraine's method begins with 80–85 percent tomato seed and pulp and about 15 percent non-chlorinated water in a glass container. One unit of BD 507 is added for each half-gallon of water and stirred biodynamically for ten minutes. The uncovered container rests in a dark, dry, warm place for one to three days and is agitated gently each morning and evening.

When surface mold forms, the floating material is poured off while the good seed settles. The seed is rinsed three or four times until the water is clear, spread on a screen, and dried rapidly, usually for two to four hours in the sun or indoors with a fan when needed.

Twelve-year seed retained visible vigor and production quality

The issue records a direct garden comparison of about ten Selke plants grown from twelve-year-old seed and about ten plants grown from one-year-old seed. The two groups showed the same visible vigor and production quality. This positive long-storage result highlights the value of Rotheraine's valerian fermentation, careful washing, rapid drying, and continuing seed stewardship.

Vineyard managers and winemakers learn at JPI

For the second year, vineyard consultant Philippe Armenier brought growers and winemakers from California, Oregon, and Washington to JPI. The three-day program combined lectures, a research presentation by Jennifer Reeve, and direct preparation work with Hugh Courtney and JPI staff. Participants examined BD 500 and Barrel Compound pits, compost, cattle, and the wider farm organism, meeting the substances, processes, people, and relationships behind biodynamic viticulture.

Read the original ten-page issue PDF.