A (Bio-Dynamic) Easter

Originally published 2026-03-31. By Lloyd Nelson, Stewart Kahn Lundy, JPI Biodynamics.

welcoming in spring

With your friends Lloyd Nelson and Stewart Lundy

April kicks off with a full moon on the first day of the month. Seen from our Earth, this Full moon shines physically in front of the Earth/Root enhancing constellation of Virgo.

The simplest way to take advantage of enhancing the full moon energy is to stir and spray one or more of the biodynamic preparations.

With the full moon in front of Virgo, the Biodynamic preparation Horn Manure, known commonly as BD #500 can be stirred and applied to help increase soil health and biological activity, all while stimulating healthy root growth. This is the foundational preparation, without which the others simply do not have the raw potential to direct their work. Imagine having all the planets and the Sun — Mars, Mercury, Venus — but missing the Earth itself! Without the Earth, no plants grow in our solar system. The first step in the season and in biodynamics is reenlivening deadened soil with horn manure.

On or near the full moon is absolutely one of the best times of year to kick your biodynamic program into action! Now is the time to use your biodynamic preps, we may even add early and often. Don’t forget to harvest Dandelion blossoms this spring. One of the greatest medicines for revitalizing soil and increasing crop yields is dandelion. The flowers can be used to make a tea to spray on plants later in the growing when a such a boost is most needed. We also make the biodynamic dandelion preparation, BD #506, with the blossoms, and this is the most difficult of the preparation herbs and flowers to acquire, as no commercial source exists. While you can call upon herb suppliers for yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, and equisetum to make preps, it is nearly impossible to acquire the flowers of dandelion unless you know somebody who knows somebody, or you do the laborious work yourself. Harvesting dandelion blossoms is a great joy for the few among the billions who actually do the work! Of course you will still find those courageous individuals who make dandelion mead and wine, which is a labor of love, but still requires a lot of work!

Good Friday occurs on April 3rd. Maria Thun’s years of research studying specific timings of plant growth according to rhythms of the Sun, moon and planets within the framework of the constellations of the zodiac has yielded incredible insights on ways to improve plant health, while also identifying specific timings that are challenging or even detrimental to normal plant growth.

The two days before Easter, Good Friday and the following Saturday are blocked out in the various biodynamic planting calendars. According to Biodynamic lore, the Earth herself remembers the deeds of the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. Good Friday memorializes the crucifixion and subsequent death of Jesus. The impact of the event was so profound that it seems that even the Earth remembers. Plants seeded at the Good Friday are prone to insect and disease challenges, weak growth and lack of future productivity. Each year the Friday and Saturday before Easter is best not used for garden work. However the following day, Easter, is an exceptionally great day for biodynamic work, as the Earth remembers the resurrection, that is the forces of Life overcoming Death! While not everyone has been able to repeat these results, as an observant anthroposophist, Maria Thun was keenly attuned to the seasons and to the liturgy of the year. Whether it is the life of nature outside us or something we bring to nature in our relationship to plants, those mindful of the death and rebirth of the Sun and its perpetual sacrifice tend to notice more during this annual window.

A few action items addressed now can greatly improve what comes next.

Now is the time to employ biodynamic preparations to influence the health, vitality, and abundance of your future gardens. An application of a tea made of Equisetum arvense BD # 508, the horsetail herb, will help prevent detrimental fungal and disease in your crops. Horn Manure applied this time of year helps build healthy root systems and increase soil microbiology. The barrel compound or cow pat pit is used to boost overall vitality and give your plants a jumpstart on the growing season.

The newly improved Buffalo Soil Activator contains all nine Biodynamic preparations and is one of the simplest and easiest ways to boost soil and plant health. It is important to kick-start garden health, especially this time of year when new life is emerging.

Biodynamic seed treatments are a simple way to enhance the quality of future crops.

The impulse of biodynamics can best be activated at the beginning of a plant’s life cycle.

Introducing new possibilities of life through the powerful action of the biodynamic preparations is a simple process. Try watering new seedlings with your Barrel compound or bd 500. Plants respond rapidly to these treatments, especially when they are young.

From the beginning, we sense a plant’s potential. A Goethean approach would have us think this plant through from beginning to end: from seed to plant, back to seed again. In dormancy, the seed awaits its future in equanimity, waiting for the right conditions to occur. Temperature, day length, and moisture. All needs to be right for ideal germination. We foresee the potential as it awaits the ideal condition. As a new plant begins its life after germination, it is open to all the influences of nature.

This is where we can impart certain qualities into plants. Using equisetum at the beginning of the plant’s growth cycle will already do much to prevent future fungal infestations. Plants such as tomatoes benefit greatly from applications of plant tea.

An application of horn manure BD #500 during the next couple of weeks will help the root systems of plants establish themselves.

For better soil health, now is the best time to activate your land, soils, and crops with biodynamic preparations.

Next week, in the San Joaquin Valley of California, will begin the unearthing of Biodynamic preparations buried last autumn. Stuart has already started unearthing preparations in Virginia. Take a look at the beautifully transformed chamomile preparation

For healthy gardens and abundant yields:

Go Biodynamic

For Life!