What positive institutional milestones did JPI report in Issue 027?

A $60,000 Rudolf Steiner Foundation loan helped JPI complete its new building, invest about $8,000 in computer equipment and more than $10,000 in preparation inventory, and receive its occupancy permit on February 2, 2000. New staff joined while preparation work, seminars, research, and education continued.

How does JPI describe making a weed-seed pepper?

JPI describes a biodynamic weed pepper as a species-specific preparation made from the target weed’s reproductive material—usually seed, or a rhizome for a spreading perennial. Its documented methods include complete ash, char, gentle toast, and wet putrefaction. Issue 027’s ripe-seed ash method collects mature target seed, burns it completely, grinds or rubs the ash with clean soil or sand, and scatters the mixture over the target ground.

What role does Issue 027 give BD 508 in a weed-pepper program?

Courtney gives BD 508 horsetail a preparatory role: spray the horsetail tea on the soil before species-specific ashing, especially where wet conditions strengthen the lunar influence associated with weed reproduction. He presents BD 508 as the first step that prepares the ground for the weed-pepper treatment.

Biodynamie appliquée archive

Applied Biodynamics — Issue 027 (Fall 1999)

Q: What four-year thistle result does Issue 027 cite from Lilly Kolisko?

Kolisko’s account says thistles still grew after two years of annual treatment, but their seeds began to deteriorate. In the third year thistles were very scarce, and after four years of repeated treatment they disappeared completely from the treated area. Issue 027 presents this as a positive multi-year weed-ashing result.

Issue 027 documents the “BD Preps” trademark dispute, JPI staffing and building changes, and Hugh Courtney’s first detailed article on weed ashing and BD 508.

30 décembre 2025 Published by The Josephine Porter Institute Download PDF

Featured archival image for Applied Biodynamics — Issue 027 (Fall 1999)

Issue 027 presents JPI’s growing institutional capacity and the first installment of Hugh J. Courtney’s practical series on weed ashing, or biodynamic “peppering,” with BD 508 horsetail as a preparatory soil treatment.

Download Issue 027 PDF

“Biodynamics Under Attack?” records JPI’s defense of the long-used term “BD Preps” as shared biodynamic language when another party sought a private trademark. JPI, the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, and Demeter submitted objections through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The editorial also documents strong forward movement. A $60,000 Rudolf Steiner Foundation loan helped complete JPI’s new building, fund about $8,000 in computer equipment, and support more than $10,000 in preparation inventory. JPI received its occupancy permit on February 2, 2000, welcomed new staff, and continued preparation work, seminars, research, and education.

Hugh J. Courtney’s “Ashing or BD ‘Peppering’—A Function of Lunar Forces” describes species-specific weed peppers made from the target weed’s reproductive material—usually seed, or a rhizome for a spreading perennial. The issue records several established methods, including complete ash, char, gentle toast, and wet putrefaction.

For the ripe-seed ash method, collect fully mature seed of the identified target weed, burn it completely, then grind or rub the ash with clean soil or sand and scatter the mixture over the target ground. Courtney describes JPI’s fire-platform method using hardwood charcoal and a slow burn through the blue-flame stage before the cooled seed and wood ash are collected.

The article cites Lilly Kolisko’s thistle work as a positive multi-year result. Thistles still grew after two annual treatments, but their seeds began to deteriorate; in the third year the thistles were very scarce; and after four years of repeated treatment they disappeared completely from the treated area. The account identifies seed deterioration as the first visible stage of the process.

Courtney gives BD 508 horsetail a foundational role before species-specific peppering. He presents horsetail tea sprayed on the soil as a way to moderate the strong lunar and moisture conditions associated with weed reproduction, preparing the ground for the subsequent ash treatment.

Maria Thun’s timing guidance links each weed with the lunar constellation under which it germinates most strongly and calls for annual repetition over a four-year cycle. The series continues in Issue 028 with further dilution and application detail.

Articles

Biodynamics Under Attack? (H. J. Courtney)
From the Editorial Desk (H. J. Courtney)
Ashing or BD “Peppering”—A Function of Lunar Forces (H. J. Courtney)

Key Topics Covered

JPI’s defense of shared biodynamic terminology and completion of its new building.

Species-specific weed peppers made through ash, char, gentle toast, or wet putrefaction.

Ripe-seed collection, complete burning, grinding with soil or sand, and field distribution.

Kolisko’s four-year thistle result and Maria Thun’s species-specific lunar timing.

BD 508 horsetail as the preparatory soil spray before weed ashing.

Repeatable Practice

Identify the target weed and collect fully ripe reproductive material, keeping each species and batch distinct.
Choose the issue’s complete-ash, char, gentle-toast, or wet-putrefaction method and record the method used.
For the ripe-seed ash method, burn the seed completely, grind or rub the ash with clean soil or sand, and distribute the mixture over the target area.
Apply the species-specific timing described in the issue and repeat the annual treatment through the multi-year cycle.