Applied Biodynamics — Issue No. 101 (Autumn 2021)
शेयर गर्नुहोस्
Issue No. 101 addresses biodynamic practice through the lenses of community relationship, long-term orchard management, plant-based protocols, and remembrance. The issue balances narrative context with detailed, seasonally grounded procedures, particularly in orchard care and medicinal plant use.
Emily Sepulveda’s “Note From the Farm: No Fences, Good Neighbors” documents the Josephine Porter Institute’s agricultural context within a shared watershed and working landscape. The article emphasizes permeability rather than enclosure, describing how preparation making, crop production, pollination support, and equipment sharing occur across property boundaries. While not a technical manual, the article records operational realities such as shared tractor use, coordinated harvesting of chamomile and valerian for preparations, and ecological continuity across neighboring farms, framing stewardship as a repeatable social practice rather than an abstract value.
Marjory House’s “Biodynamic Orcharding in the Pacific Northwest” provides the most procedurally detailed contribution in the issue. The article documents the conversion of a Willamette Valley orchard from conventional organic inputs to exclusively biodynamic management. Seasonal tasks are described in sequence, including winter pruning intensity, sanitation of tools, fermented equisetum (BD 508) spraying timed before heavy rainfall, and the use of tree paste for wound healing. The article specifies spray droplet size, ground-focused application, and avoidance of sulfur interactions with silica preparations. Observational comparisons between hand-stirred and machine-stirred sprays are reported, noting differences in fungal and bacterial populations. Spring, summer, and fall practices are documented, including irrigation changes, use of horn silica (BD 501) for ripening, post-harvest sanitation, lime application choices, and pest management strategies such as vodka traps for shot hole borers. The orchard is presented as an evolving system refined through repeated observation across more than twenty years.
Abigail Porter’s “Heal Yourself, Heal Your Garden (Part 4): Yarrow” offers detailed handling instructions for Achillea millefolium. The article specifies growth conditions, harvest timing for leaves and blossoms, and preparation methods for teas, tinctures, poultices, powders, and fermented extracts. Explicit weights, volumes, fermentation durations, dilution ratios, and spray intervals are provided for garden applications, particularly for fungal disease suppression and soil strengthening. Medicinal cautions are included, such as avoiding use on deep puncture wounds. The article distinguishes between household medicinal use and agricultural application, maintaining procedural clarity.
Stewart Lundy’s “Yarrow: A Plant for Wounded People and Wounded Earth” complements Porter’s article by situating yarrow within compost practice and broader ecological remediation. The article documents yarrow’s role as BD 502, its mineral composition, and its contribution to compost vitality when aromatic flowering plants are deliberately added. Practical alternatives are described for situations where full compost preparation sets are unavailable, emphasizing starting with available materials rather than deferring practice.
The issue concludes with “In Memoriam: Vivian Struve-Hauk,” honoring the co-founder of Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary. The article documents her administrative, aesthetic, and organizational contributions, situating her work within applied stewardship of land, bees, and community without extending claims beyond recorded actions.
Articles
- Note From the Farm: No Fences, Good Neighbors (E. Sepulveda)
- Biodynamic Orcharding in the Pacific Northwest (M. House)
- Heal Yourself, Heal Your Garden (Part 4): Yarrow (A. Porter)
- Yarrow: A Plant for Wounded People and Wounded Earth (S. Lundy)
- In Memoriam: Vivian Struve-Hauk
Key Topics Covered
- Community-based stewardship without physical barriers
- Seasonal biodynamic orchard management practices
- Fermented equisetum application timing and method
- Tree paste formulation and wound treatment
- Hand versus machine stirring observational outcomes
- Yarrow harvest timing and preparation methods
- Yarrow fermented extract dilution and spray intervals
- Use of yarrow in compost preparation
- Memorial documentation of biodynamic community leaders
Citation
Applied Biodynamics, Issue No. 101, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Autumn 2021..
