Applied Biodynamics — Issue 005 (Fall 1993)
Comhroinn
The opening article “The Season of Michaelmas” by Gisela Franceschelli frames autumn as a period of visible plant decline that stimulates inner human will and conscious engagement. For a deeper understanding of biodynamic principles, you can explore our biodynamic farming guides. While seasonal in tone, the article explicitly links Michaelmas to the strengthening of resolve required to meet increasing external demands. The seasonal transformation of plants—leaf fall, color change, and seed completion—is presented as an observable phenomenon that mirrors the human need for disciplined action rather than passive contemplation. This aligns with practices described in our introductory resources.
The core of the issue is the extended “Interview with Steve Moore” by Nicholas Franceschelli, documenting over ten years of biodynamic practice on a 60-acre lemon, avocado, and vegetable farm in Carpinteria, California. Moore holds formal training in agricultural engineering and environmental systems analysis and provides detailed, longitudinal observations grounded in management decisions, soil response, pest pressure, and economic viability. He discusses the transition from conventional to biodynamic management, which is detailed in our comprehensive product range.
Moore describes stepwise adoption of biodynamic practices, beginning with Pfeiffer starter and progressing to consistent annual use of BD #500 horn manure, BD #501, compost preparations, Barrel Compost, and BD #508. He reports observable changes including improved soil structure, reduced aphid pressure, delayed fungal disease onset, and enhanced compost quality. For those interested in preparing these remedies, our preparation protocols provide detailed guidance.
Spray programs are described with specificity: seasonal timing, moisture conditions, equipment used, spray pressure, droplet size, acreage coverage, and sequential practices. Limitations and failures are explicitly discussed, including persistent gopher pressure, incomplete pest control, and weather constraints. These insights can be complemented by our detailed resource on biodynamic preparations.
Moore repeatedly emphasizes that biodynamics builds upon sound farming fundamentals, as outlined in our biodynamic farming handbook. The issue concludes with “Recipe for Making BD #500” by Hugh Courtney, which provides the most technically explicit preparation protocol published to date. The recipe details materials, seasonal timing, soil selection, screening, packing density, and yields, with a clear warning that outcomes depend heavily on handling and site conditions. For practical details, visit our product page for BD #500.
Together, these articles demonstrate biodynamics as a practice rooted in longitudinal engagement, procedural rigor, and transparency about limitations. For further reading, our biodynamic farming resources offer comprehensive insights.
Articles
- The Season of Michaelmas (G. Franceschelli)
- Interview with Steve Moore (N. Franceschelli)
- Recipe for Making BD #500 (H. Courtney)
Key Topics Covered
- Michaelmas as a period of disciplined agricultural will
- Long-term empirical biodynamic farm transition
- Comparative soil response under chemical and biodynamic management
- Detailed spray programs for BD #500, BD #501, and BD #508
- Sequential spraying as an experimental practice
- Explicit discussion of pest control limits and failures
- Step-by-step protocol for making BD #500
- Material selection and handling constraints in preparation quality
- Seasonal variability in preparation burial and retrieval
Citation
Applied Bio-Dynamics, Issue 005, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Bio-Dynamics, Fall 1993.