Applied Biodynamics — Issue 076 (Spring 2012)

Issue 076 is a single-preparation, deep-focus issue devoted to Taraxacum officinale and the biodynamic compost preparation BD 506. The issue combines botanical, historical, ecological, and medicinal context with a technically explicit interview on preparation making, emphasizing material selection, polarity, timing discipline, and observed transformation.

In “Dandelion, Messenger of Heaven,” Abigail Porter presents a comprehensive portrait of the dandelion as a dynamic plant—one that actively modifies soil, mineral availability, and ecological balance. The article documents dandelion’s role as a pioneer species on disturbed soils, its deep taproot function in breaking hardpan and mobilizing minerals, and its capacity to accumulate potassium, calcium, trace elements, and heavy metals. Pfeiffer’s classification of dandelion as the plant analogue of the earthworm is cited, emphasizing humus formation, soil aeration, and nutrient transport.

The article situates dandelion historically as a cultivated food and medicine, detailing its use across European, Arabic, Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western traditions. Medicinal properties are described with specificity: liver stimulation, diuretic action without potassium depletion, chelation of heavy metals, and anti-inflammatory effects. Dandelion’s association with Jupiter is developed through botanical behavior (abundance, expansion), color (yellow), physiology, and traditional medical astrology, establishing the conceptual basis for its role in biodynamics without substituting symbolism for function.

Ecologically, the article documents dandelion’s role in phytoremediation, nitrogen mobilization, erosion reduction, and soil restoration. Observations include ethylene production influencing fruit ripening, attraction of pollinators, and its function as an early-season nectar source. The article consistently frames these characteristics as observable biological actions rather than abstract attributes.

The second major article, “The Dandelion Compost Preparation: BD 506,” is an extended technical interview conducted by Abigail Porter with Hugh Courtney. This section provides explicit procedural instruction for BD 506, including anatomical clarification, material handling, burial protocols, and evaluation criteria.

Courtney clarifies Steiner’s use of peritoneum and mesentery, explaining their anatomical relationship and functional distinction. The peritoneum is identified as the preferred sheath when its interior surface is correctly oriented toward the blossoms, yielding a darker, more humus-like transformation. Failure modes are described in detail: incorrect orientation produces foul odor, slimy texture, and incomplete breakdown.

Blossom selection criteria are specified precisely. Blossoms must be harvested on their first day of opening, identified by a firm central core (“bull’s eye”) approximately ¼ inch wide. Fully open flowers without a core are rejected due to over-ripeness and tendency to fluff during drying. Harvest timing is constrained to mid-morning through one hour before meridian noon, after dew evaporation. Drying requirements include rapid airflow, warmth without sun exposure, daily monitoring, and pest protection; long-term storage favors vacuum sealing.

Preparation assembly is described step by step: moistening dried blossoms with warm dandelion leaf tea; cutting peritoneal tissue into rectangles; sewing pouches with correct orientation; packing blossoms into firm pillows approximately six inches wide and three to four inches thick. Burial parameters include shallow pits (no deeper than eighteen inches), placement in fertile topsoil, hardware cloth for animal protection, fiberglass screening to preserve material integrity, peat moss buffering, and winter burial duration. Retrieval timing is identified as spring—preferably after Easter or near Ascension—though extended burial through the following fall is documented for educational purposes.

Post-retrieval processing includes screening through ¼-inch mesh, controlled drying if overly wet, and storage in glazed clay crocks surrounded by peat moss in a root cellar. Each handling step is justified by observed effects on texture, odor, and long-term stability.

The interview further documents experimental use of BD 506 beyond compost insertion, including seed baths and foliar applications. Courtney reports comparative yield observations in peas and beans using controlled treatments (water-only controls, single-preparation treatments, combined treatments), with plant counts conducted across multiple sampling stages. While explicitly noting these trials as preliminary and not formal science, the methodology—controls, replication, counting protocols—is clearly described, and results are framed as indicators for future research rather than proof.

Across both articles, Issue 076 presents BD 506 as a preparation whose effectiveness depends on biological timing, anatomical accuracy, material discipline, and careful observation, reinforcing biodynamics as a practice grounded in repeatable processes rather than generalized doctrine.

Articles 

• Dandelion, Messenger of Heaven (A. Porter)  
• The Dandelion Compost Preparation: BD 506 (A. Porter  Interviews Hugh Courtney) 

Key Topics Covered

• Biology and ecology of Taraxacum officinale
• Dandelion as a dynamic soil-modifying plant
• Medicinal and nutritional properties of dandelion
• Jupiter association and silica process
• Anatomical distinction between peritoneum and mesentery
• Correct orientation of preparation sheaths
• Blossom maturity indicators for BD 506
• Harvest timing and drying constraints
• Step-by-step assembly of dandelion preparation pillows
• Burial depth, soil conditions, and winter timing
• Evaluation of successful versus failed transformations
• Experimental use of BD 506 as seed bath and spray

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue 076, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Spring 2012.