Applied Biodynamics — Issue 074 (Autumn 2011)

Issue 074 is a systems-integration issue that explores how biodynamic practice adapts to urban, small-plot, and economically constrained environments, while maintaining methodological discipline. The issue combines an in-depth interview, institutional governance, applied technical guidance, and evaluative book reviews, emphasizing transferability, documentation, and scale-appropriate practice.

The feature article, “Putting a Spin on SPIN-Farming® and Taking Biodynamics to the City,” by Abigail Porter, presents an extended interview with Linda Borghi, a SPIN-Farming educator integrating biodynamic practice into urban agriculture training. The article documents SPIN-Farming as a business and production model designed for plots of one acre or less, emphasizing fast-growing, high-value crops, relay planting, standardized bed units, and diversified direct-market income streams. Quantified targets—such as revenue per bed per planting and projected gross income per half-acre—are presented as planning tools rather than guarantees.

Borghi’s biodynamic integration is described in explicit, starter-level terms appropriate to urban growers. Recommended entry practices include use of BD 500, BD 501, BD 508, Barrel Compost Preparations, and the Pfeiffer BD Field and Garden Spray. The article specifies that biodynamics fills a structural gap in SPIN-Farming by addressing soil fertility, plant vitality, and long-term resilience—areas not covered by the SPIN model itself. Observational outcomes reported include increased earthworm activity following preparation use, improved soil structure after compost application, and noticeable differences when planting calendar guidance is followed versus ignored, with deviations recorded for comparison.

The interview documents equipment scaling decisions, noting that even quarter-acre operations may employ larger sprayers and vortex brewers to support custom work or future expansion. Crop selection, planting density, and marketing channels are detailed, illustrating how biodynamics functions within tight spatial and logistical constraints. The article consistently frames results as observed correlations over time, not isolated cause-and-effect claims.

In “A Message from Our New Board Member,” Abigail Porter reflects on governance continuity and institutional stewardship. The statement situates board service as responsibility for safeguarding preparation quality, education, and long-term mission rather than introducing new technical material.

“Anecdotes and Antidotes – Biodynamics at Work,” by Hugh Courtney, provides quantified, decision-oriented guidance in response to practitioner questions. Topics include comparative use of biodynamic planting calendars; specifications for sprayer equipment and agitation methods; precise protocols for applying fermented BD 508 to compost piles with expected moisture-balancing outcomes; and scaled recommendations for composting horse manure, including tonnage calculations, preparation quantities, moisture targets, and timing. Each response defines limits and conditions under which adjustments are warranted.

The issue concludes with book reviews of newly received titles, including The Biodynamic Farm: Developing a Holistic Organism by Karl-Ernst Osthaus and Biodynamics in Practice by Tom Petherick. The reviews evaluate each work against practical fidelity to Steiner’s indications, usefulness for farm-specific decision-making, and clarity in translating the concept of the farm organism into operational terms. Critiques are specific, identifying where preparation-making instructions diverge from Steiner’s timing requirements and where photographic documentation strengthens understanding of community-supported farm models.

Across all sections, Issue 074 presents biodynamics as adaptable yet disciplined, capable of functioning in urban micro-farms while retaining evaluative rigor, documentation, and respect for scale.

Articles

• Putting a Spin on SPIN-Farming® and Taking Biodynamics to the  City (A. Porter Interviews Linda Borghi)  
• A Message from Our New Board Member (A. Porter)  Anecdotes and Antidotes – Biodynamics at Work (H.  Courtney) Book Reviews – Newly Received Titles: The  Biodynamic Farm:  
• Developing a Holistic Organism by Karl-Ernst Osthaus and  Biodynamics in Practice: Life on a Community Owned Farm,  Impressions of Tablehurst and Plaw Hatch, Sussex, England by  Tom Petherick (H. Courtney)  

Key Topics Covered

• Integration of biodynamics with SPIN-Farming business models
• Urban and small-plot biodynamic practice
• Quantified bed-based production planning
• Starter biodynamic preparation sequences for urban growers
• Equipment scaling decisions for small acreage
• Observed soil biology indicators following preparation use
• Use and comparison of biodynamic planting calendars
• Sprayer specifications and agitation constraints
• Fermented BD 508 application to compost piles
• Scaled composting protocols for horse manure
• Evaluation of farm organism literature and preparation fidelity

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue 074, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Autumn 2011.