Applied Biodynamics — Issue 082 (Autumn 2013)

Issue 082 combines institutional operations with technical reassessment of a core biodynamic preparation, grounding both in procedure, observation, and continuity.

In “JPI Has Expanded Its Operations,” Abigail Porter reports on the relocation and expansion of the Josephine Porter Institute in Floyd, Virginia. The article details the separation of functions between a centrally located storefront/office and a nearby farm dedicated to preparation production and burial. Specific operational practices are described: preparation pits sited on diverse terrain; transfer, reburial, and screening of preparations following seasonal cycles; and defined storage methods using crocks and peat moss-lined boxes. The piece enumerates the annual preparation cycle undertaken during the move, including burial and retrieval timing for BD 500, BD 501, BD 503, BD 504, BD 505, BD 506, BD 507, and BD 508, along with material sourcing (e.g., nettles, oak bark, yarrow). The article further documents logistics—order fulfillment continuity, energy use reductions via solar net metering, adjacency to other farms and a honeybee sanctuary—and outlines JPI’s strategy to support regional preparation centers and education while maintaining centralized quality control.

In “The Valerian Preparation (BD #507) Revisited,” Abigail Porter re-examines Rudolf Steiner’s indications for BD 507 through close reading of multiple translations of the Agriculture Course and through reported practitioner experiments. The article isolates the timing of application as the primary variable under investigation—specifically, whether BD 507 is most effective when applied to newly built compost piles or to finished, transformed compost prior to use. Practitioner reports are summarized with procedural specificity: application methods (sprinkling over a pile versus placing into a central cavity of finished compost), waiting periods before use, and observed outcomes. Reported indicators include compost texture, moisture retention, earthworm activity, plant vigor, flowering intensity, color development, and frost tolerance in sensitive crops. The article proposes a controlled experimental design using parallel compost piles and adjacent test plots, specifying variables to hold constant and measurements to compare, and calls for documentation of timing, conditions, and results.

Together, the issue presents biodynamics as operationally disciplined and experimentally revisable, emphasizing careful handling, seasonal timing, comparative trials, and shared reporting.

Articles

• JPI Has Expanded Its Operations (A. Porter)  
• The Valerian Preparation (BD 507) Revisited (A. Porter)

Key Topics Covered

• Expansion and relocation of biodynamic preparation operations
• Preparation burial retrieval and storage protocols
• Seasonal scheduling of BD preparations
• Operational continuity during institutional transition
• Valerian preparation BD 507 timing and handling
• Comparative compost application methods
• Observed compost and plant response indicators
• Proposed experimental controls for preparation research

Citation

Applied Biodynamics, Issue 082, Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Autumn 2013.