Applied Biodynamics — Issue 020 (Summer 1997)

Issue 020 (Summer 1997) concentrates on methodological reliability under conditions of scale, complexity, and institutional strain. Across articles, the issue repeatedly emphasizes observation discipline, equipment choice as a variable, and the necessity of structured social initiatives to support biodynamic practice beyond individual farms.

“Occultation Update” by Hugh Courtney continues the work introduced in the previous double issue by extending the sequence of Moon–Saturn occultations into early 1998 and noting the immediate emergence of a subsequent series involving Jupiter. The article provides specific dates for upcoming occultations, positioning them as shared observation points rather than predictive claims. Regional weather observations are discussed cautiously, with the author noting variability across locations and the absence of consistent patterns at the time of writing. The article reiterates that the practical value of occultation awareness lies in coordinated observation and recordkeeping, not forecast certainty, and encourages growers to document weather, soil, and crop responses in relation to the listed dates.

“Stirring Vessels and Sprayers, Part 2,” also by Hugh Courtney, addresses equipment-related sources of error in biodynamic preparation handling. The article evaluates commonly used large-volume containers, identifying practical limitations such as leakage, unknown prior contents, off-gassing, and material degradation. Oak barrels, plastic barrels, and fabricated vessels are compared in terms of durability, contamination risk, and usability. The article explicitly acknowledges that mechanization becomes unavoidable as acreage increases but insists that stirring must retain active human attention, deliberate reversal, and full exposure of the preparation to water. Mechanized stirring is presented as a compromise requiring vigilance rather than a shortcut that replaces engagement.

“Developing a Hydraulic Stirring Machine” by Stephen Storch documents the construction of a tractor-powered hydraulic stirring system intended to integrate stirring and spraying into a single workflow. The article details the practical constraints that motivated the project, including repeated manual stirring, time pressure, and labor fatigue. Design decisions are described in functional terms: selection of hydraulic over electric drive, material choice for the stirring vessel, control of stirring speed, and incorporation of a reversal mechanism. The machine is reported to handle significantly larger volumes than manual systems and to allow preparation application under favorable soil conditions without excessive delay. Observational indicators of adequate stirring are described qualitatively, and the article presents the machine as a replicable response to scale rather than a universal solution.

“Odyessy of a Seed Initiative: An Interview with Nathan Corymb,” conducted by Kathryn Dagostino, examines biodynamic seed work as a long-term infrastructural undertaking. Corymb’s training history is traced through biodynamic communities and formal seed work in Europe, highlighting the lack of structured seed training in North America at the time. The interview documents year-round seed production embedded within vegetable systems and describes attempts to form cooperative seed initiatives, including organizational challenges and fragmentation. Corymb contrasts static seed preservation with living seed culture, arguing that continued cultivation and selection under farm conditions are essential for maintaining varietal vitality. The interview frames successful seed initiatives as dependent on ethical collaboration and durable organizational structures rather than individual expertise alone.

The issue concludes with “Newly Received Publications,” in which Hugh Courtney introduces three titles newly added to the institute’s offerings. Each book is positioned as supporting observational capacity and conceptual understanding relevant to biodynamic practice, particularly in relation to plant form, development, and practical field application.

Across its articles, Issue 020 reinforces that biodynamic effectiveness depends not only on preparations themselves but on the systems—technical, observational, and social—within which they are used.

Articles

• Occultation Update (H. Courtney)  
• Stirring Vessels and Sprayers, Part 2 (H. Courtney) Developing a  Hydraulic Stirring Machine (S. Storch)  
• Odyssey of a Seed Initiative: An Interview with Nathan Corymb  (K. Dagostino)  
• Newly Received Publications: Grasp the Nettle by P. Proctor,  The Metamorphosis of Plants by J. Bockemühl and A.  Suchantke, New Eyes for Plants by M. Colquhoun and A. Ewald  (H. Courtney)  
• Observations & Experiments 

Key Topics Covered

• Extended Moon–Saturn occultation sequence and emergence of Jupiter occultations
• Shared occultation dates as coordinated observation points
• Equipment limitations affecting large-scale stirring and spraying
• Comparison of vessel materials and contamination risks
• Human attentiveness as a requirement in mechanized stirring
• Hydraulic stirring machine design responding to scale constraints
• Integration of stirring and spraying workflows
• Qualitative indicators used to judge adequate stirring
• Biodynamic seed initiatives as long-term infrastructure
• Challenges in cooperative seed organization
• Living seed culture contrasted with static preservation
• New publications supporting plant observation and biodynamic method

Citation

Source: Applied Biodynamics, Issue 020, Josephine Porter Institute, 1997.