Applied Biodynamics — Issue 057 (Summer 2007)

Issue 057 brings together practical household production, landscape rehabilitation, and coordinated experimental action, with a consistent emphasis on observation, documentation, and comparative evaluation rather than abstract theory.

In “Feeding a Family, the Biodynamic Way,” Leonard Ablieter presents a longitudinal, household-scale case report describing the transition from non-agricultural life to sustained biodynamic food production. The article documents concrete practices—compost construction, cover cropping, fencing, selective preparation use, crop rotation choices, storage methods, and seasonal timing—alongside constraints such as limited labor and equipment. Outcomes are reported qualitatively but comparatively: increased yields relative to prior years, improved storage longevity, reduced pest pressure over time, and marked differences in flavor and keeping quality compared with purchased organic produce. The account functions as a multi-year observational record, with explicit notes on what was tried, what was omitted, and where results were uncertain.

“Healing a Wounded Woodland,” by Maria Mihok, is a site-specific field narrative describing restorative work on heavily logged forest land. The article distinguishes phases of intervention—physical remediation (debris removal), extended observation, and later application of biodynamic field spray and tree harmonization tools. Reported outcomes are qualitative and spatially referenced: changes in perceived site coherence, animal and plant response, and differential effects across treated and untreated areas. The author explicitly frames results as experiential observations rather than universal prescriptions and notes the importance of time sequencing and restraint.

In “New Sequential Spray Initiative for Michaelmas,” Jennifer Greene outlines a coordinated, time-bound sequence of preparation applications intended for properties with an established biodynamic foundation. The initiative specifies order, timing, duration of stirring, and conditional options, and explicitly cautions against applying the sequence where foundational preparations have not been used. The article calls for written reporting of conditions and outcomes to enable comparison across sites, emphasizing adaptation to local climate rather than uniform execution.

“Worldwide Communal Biodynamic Spray Initiated,” by Christy Korrow, documents the organization and execution of a globally coordinated St. John’s Day spray sequence. The article records preparation order, stirring times, optional inclusions, and the rationale for sequence coherence across sites. It includes editorial commentary acknowledging protocol variation while maintaining shared intent, and it invites comparative reporting to assess resonance and divergence.

“Participating in the St. John’s Day Worldwide Spray Initiative,” by Nancy and Gordon Poer, provides a field report from an operational ranch. The account specifies volumes mixed, equipment used, acreage covered, sharing of prepared sprays with neighbors, and safety considerations. Observations are reported descriptively and temporally (during and after application), without claims of universal causation.

Across the issue, repeatability is approached through shared variables and reporting, not through claims of guaranteed outcomes.

Articles

• Feeding a Family, the Biodynamic Way (L. Ablieter) Healing a  Wounded Woodland (M. Mihok) 
• New Sequential Spray Initiative for Michaelmas (J. Greene)  Worldwide Communal Biodynamic Spray Initiated (C.  Korrow)  
• Participating in the St. John’s Day Worldwide Spray Initiative (N.  Poer, G. Poer)

Key Topics Covered

• Household-scale biodynamic food production over multiple seasons
• Compost systems and preparation use under labor constraints
• Comparative observations of yield, flavor, and storage life
• Site-specific woodland remediation and phased intervention
• Observation-first approach prior to preparation application
• Sequential spray initiatives with defined order and timing
• Local adaptation within coordinated global actions
• Specification of stirring duration and application windows
• Field-scale reporting of equipment, volumes, and acreage
• Invitation to shared documentation and comparison

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue 057, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Summer 2007.