Biodynamic farming strives to heal the Earth by prohibiting the use of
chemicals, hormones or antibiotics. It started in 1924, in what is now
Poland, when a group of discerning farmers began to notice the negative
effects on its farms from the use of chemical fertilisation - crops were not
yielding the sort of harvest that pre-industrial farmers had become used to.
So Rudolf Steiner came up with a solution to this question and set out his
answers in a series of lectures promoting a purer, more holistic method of
farming.
John Ehrlich of Alderlea Farm, Vancouver Island, came across Steiner’s
lectures on agriculture while studying international politics and
agricultural policy at university. He finished school and spent the next
four years apprenticing on different farms practising this special approach
to farming. Ehrlich was captivated by the idea that a farm should work
towards becoming self-sufficient and self-sustaining by creating a healthy
mix of livestock, pasture, crop and forest land. The human dimension was
also integral to this sustainable agriculture and Ehrlich realised he could
serve the world more fully by focusing on and serving the small community
around him.
It is the spiritual and holistic elements of biodynamic farming that make it
unique and set it apart from other farming methods, including organic
farming. The theory is that the plant world is influenced by the planetary
rhythms of the moon, planets and stars and hence a powerful relationship
exists between the cosmos and the earth. To an amateur like myself,
translating the biodynamic sowing and planting calendar looks fairly
complex. Not so for farmer Ehrlich, as he explains: “The best time for
sowing seeds is a week before the full moon, when the moon reaches its full
potential as a source of power.”
Let me explain. The half dozen Dexter cows and the three calves born in the
field during my stay provide the on-farm production of the natural
fertiliser. The cows manure is composted in an unconventional way and then
put back onto the land.
Manure is put into a cow's horn and buried underground on the farm for a
period of six months. This is referred to as BD 500, one of a series of farm
preparations set out by Steiner. John excavated his cache of buried horns on
a summer’s morning. The smell, texture and deep rich earthy colour of the
horn manure was quite beautiful and it was exciting to witness the essence
of what this farming method is all about.
“We strive to create and build a diversified and integrated farm that serves
the entire community who depend on its fruits. This not only includes the
people who eat the food, but it extends to the soil life, the plants and
trees, the livestock and wildlife, and the children who learn about
agriculture and farming,” says Katy Ehlrich.
We had already risen early, at 4.30am, to prepare the field spray for the
crops by adding ground quartz crystals (BD501 - quartz crystals are placed
in a cow's horn and buried in the earth for a season) to three gallons of
water. Stirring by hand to create a vortex, clockwise and then
anti-clockwise, John explained that this had to continue for a full hour
before the preparation was ready to spray on the crops. "The field
sprays are working to enhance and make the very most of this cosmic and
earthly polarity that is so successful in creating plant growth," says
John. These preparations can be made on the farm or acquired from the Josephine
Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics.
I asked John how a farmer can safely protect his crop without resorting to
more conventional solutions. He told me that his only pest problem currently
was wireworm or the click beetle, as a result of turning over new pasture.
These pests are nature’s intention to quicken the decomposition of the
grasses, unfortunately it impinges on Alderlea’s potato harvest. Steiner
recommended exposing water to the two-week waning moon and drenching the
field with it. This solution works. John and Katy have planted a variety of
different flowers around the borders of their crops to both deter and
attract different insects.
Harvesting on Alderlea Farm begins at 5.30am each morning. The dew covered
crops are harvested before the intense heat of the day begins. John and Katy
supply fresh vegetables weekly to more than 70 families who have all signed
up as shareholders on the farm.
“Being a shareholder establishes a mutual and supportive relationship between
us and the consumer and creates a direct link between consumption and food
production,” says Katy. The farm is part of a CSA (community supported
agriculture) scheme and receives a grant from the community Food
Security Program of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. It was
created to raise the awareness of food security as well as increasing the
access to healthy local food. As one shareholder explains, “it means
everyone has access to nutritious, life-giving, environmentally and
culturally appropriate food. It marries up urban and rural communities."
Education is also at the forefront of this food community. Katy and John host
volunteers from the CSA community and have developed their own apprentice
programme for those wishing to learn more about biodynamic farming. Many of
their volunteers have come through a programme called Wwoof
(Willing Workers on Organic Farms). In exchange for their working day they
are given a place to live and eat their meals with the family.
At 6am everyone comes together, as Katy explains the order of the day. Seeds
are sown in the farm's own potting soil made from the farm's own compost,
peat and other natural ingredients. The sowing, tilling and weeding begin
once the peas, beans, basil, beautiful big crisp lettuces, carrots, beets,
kale are all harvested to fill the large brown paper bags in which
vegetables are distributed.
At midday there is a real sense of achievement when bags are ready for
collection. They are delivered with a newsletter and recipes to help
customers with some of the less familiar crops.
Alderlea Farm rests at the heart of the fertile Cowichan Valley, which
produces asparagus, wild mushrooms, honey, balsamic vinegar, artisan
cheeses, cider and local wines. Glenora Gold Maple Syrup fresh from a
neighbouring farm, is the perfect compliment to a short stack of pancakes at
breakfast. Coleslaw is made from farm-fresh shredded cabbage, carrots and
chopped fresh parsley, a perfect compliment to a roasted chicken.
Their committment to the biodynamic method of farming has earned Katy and John
the title of Best Horticultural Producers by the Certified Organic
Associations of British Columbia in Canada. It is a deserved award for a
dynamic couple who are breathing new life back into the land.
Alderlea Biodynamic Farm, Demeter Certified Vegetables, Pastured Lamb
and Poultry John and Katy Ehrlich 5086 McLay Road, Duncan, BC, Canada V9L
6S1 johnkaty@shaw.ca
Hungary Lane Farm
A mixed bio farm working with sheep, pigs, poultry, arable crops and vegetable
fields.
Sutton Bonnington, nr Loughborough Leics LE12 5NB (01509 673897)
Biodynamic Fortnight runs from 6-21 October. for more information visit the
Biodynamic Agriculture Association's website:
www.biodynamic.org.uk or call 01453 759501
Sarah Lyon belongs to Slow Food Rutland
and Lincolnshire
Sheer madness
MGB, Carmarthen, Wales