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| BioDyamics http://byfarming.backyardmagazines.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=89 |
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| Author: | chillidude [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | BioDyamics |
Does anybody here practice, or believe in, biodynamics for their garden ? I firmly believe in gardening organically and adopting permaculture concepts wherever I can, but I am truly having trouble swallowing the principles behind biodynamics ( the parts that aren't conventional organics ). I'm not trying to criticise it in anyway, if you find it works for you, then great, I just don't understand why it's any different (better ?) to conventional organic gardening. |
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| Author: | Granny Smith [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I surprise myself that I've never thought about biodynamics for the garden.  Plenty of stories about biodynamics in farming. Does it involve the buried cowhorn like for paddocks? Or just spreading their special microbes, etc (something 500?) on the soil?  Fascinating topic. Can't wait to hear from someone who knows. |
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| Author: | chillidude [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Granny Smith wrote: Does it involve the buried cowhorn like for paddocks? Or just spreading their special microbes, etc (something 500?) on the soil? Yep - both of those, and more. |
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| Author: | earthbound [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I think that the basis and foundation of biodynamics is incredibly interesting and holds great value in modern times. Most people get so hung up on very minor aspects of biodynamics like the buried cow horn, and stiring 500 times in one direction, then 500 in the other etc. Too many people get hung up with the symantics. If you look at the practices, many of them have sound logic behind them. Bury the dung in a cow horn? Some websites and books may tell you that the horn acts as an antennae capturing cosmic forces. Reality? Who knows there's probably microbes within the horn that aid in the break down of the manure stuffed into it, or perhaps a reaction between the manure and the horn material that aids the bacteria. In making the BD 500 spray you must mix it in a particular vessel, and it should be done at a particular time of year. Yep, mixing in a vessel made from the wrong material (perhaps aluminum) may kill off the good microbes, doing it at a particular time of year probably relates to the temperature of liquid for maximum microbe grown and reproduction. Stiring it 500 times one way then the reverse. Once again, some literature tells you it's creating a deep vortex to attract energies, then changing direction creates chaos within the mix. Another way of looking at it is that you mix it really well and it aerates the mixture as well. There's quite a bit of mystery surrounding Biodynamics but in recent years, modern methods have started to dispel much of the mysticism and replace it with simple reasoning and modern scientific methods. I saw a biodynamic farm on tv where they were mixing up bd 500 in huge tanks (looked just like fish tanks  ), pumping and aerating the mix, watching the temperature keeping it at the ideal temperature for the microbes. Whether it's suitable or achievable at a backyard level I don't know.. If you play around enough with manure tea and liquid fertilizers, and practice organic techniques, your probably on a fairly similar path. |
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| Author: | chillidude [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
earthbound wrote: If you play around enough with manure tea and liquid fertilizers, and practice organic techniques, your probably on a fairly similar path. That was my assumption, but I was/am curious to know a bit more about it - thanks Joel |
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| Author: | earthbound [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Found this site.. http://www.backyardbiodynamics.com But not a huge amount of information. |
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| Author: | Granny Smith [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I looked up a few sites and as far as the idea of using only what comes from the property to put back onto it, I have pretty much been doing that without realising that it was a biodynamics principle. That is, mainly using manure (cow, horse, llama,chicken) as fertiliser along with compost and ash (potash) from the big burn of fallen branches each year after the fire ban is lifted. Sad to say, we disposed of some cow horns a few months ago when our steers were de-horned. DH took them to the tip Is it literally cow horns that are used, or would steer horns be OK? It seems such a precise science maybe they wouldn't be suitable.
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| Author: | dufflight [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Getting the diversity in the soil takes years. We can add mulch and manure but the micro activity takes a long time to get going. I inoculated the legumes that I planted for green manure do mainly to the fact that even tho the bacteria is naturally occuring, it may not be in the soil so no nitrogen fixing. Another reason to add AP water and worm juice\compost tea to the dirt garden. |
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| Author: | earthbound [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Some people get seriously into their compost/manure teas. I watched a video somewhere on the net once where a guy had MASSIVE veggies, really really huge. He put it all down to his special liquid tea he made . All natural from what I remember.. |
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| Author: | Granny Smith [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I'm not so sure about massive vegetables and fruit. I know people put great store in them, but I'm more impressed by flavour. Strawberries are a good example. Pumpkins that are are huge must not be meant for eating as they would spoil before it could all be eaten. I'm happy with my japs and butternuts. |
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| Author: | earthbound [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Here's the video about the guy growing massive veggies and his secret is compost tea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2mnf_rfjI&NR=1 |
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| Author: | dufflight [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I remember seeing that one before. But don't they also have long days and volcanic soil. Wonder if a gourd could be used to hold fertilizer instead of a cow horn. If its for the slow release bit. |
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| Author: | chillidude [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
earthbound wrote: True - but a great little day-by-day guide to planting with the moon ! http://backyardbiodynamics.com/daily-planting-guide/ - have you seen this one Faye ? |
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| Author: | Granny Smith [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
I'd like to hear from people who garden by the moon - are you one of them, Faye? My life is spent between Perth and Benger each week and I also have some part-time work, so I have to garden when I can. I'd really like to know whether planting by the moon makes a great deal of difference. Are there any comparative analyses? My friend with an asparagus farm tells me that they harvest much more when there is a full moon, but I'm more interested in the pruning, planting, sowing, weeding cycle. |
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| Author: | dufflight [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: BioDyamics |
Greenharvest has a cheap moon calander that you set for the new moon date for your location and month. Then usually I look at it 2 days after I'm ment to plant.
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