Biodynamic agriculture

General characteristics

Biodynamic agriculture, or Biodynamics comprises an ecological and sustainable system of agricultural production, particularly of food for humans that claims to respect all creation. It is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, particularly eight lectures given by him in Schloss Koberwitz in Silesia, Germany in 1924 (nowadays close to Wroc?aw, Poland), shortly before his death. The term "biologically dynamic" or "biodynamic" was however not invented by Steiner, but by his adherents. It includes many of the ideas of organic farming (but predates the term) and has as a core focus mystical anthroposophical ideas of the soil and the life on and in it as a living, sentient system.

Related Topics:
Rudolf Steiner - Schloss Koberwitz - Silesia - Germany - 1924 - Wroc?aw - Poland - Organic farming - Mystical - Anthroposophical

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Steiner was convinced that the food in his society was constantly degrading, and he believed the source of the problem was artificial fertilizers and pesticides, however he did not believe this was because of chemical or biological properties relating to the substances involved, but for sprititual shortcomings in these substances. Steiners considered the world and everything living in it as primarily spiritual in nature, the physical and thus chemical or biological processes involved were secondary. He also believed that living matter was different from dead matter, a viewpoint commonly referred to as vitalism. Many of Steiners writings describe energy flows radiated from the earth akin to the so-called Odic force.

Related Topics:
Fertilizer - Pesticide - Chemical - Biological - Vitalism - Odic force

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Another aspect of the idea is that the farm as a whole is a living system, and therefore should be closed self-nourishing system, which the preparations nourish. Disease of organisms is not to be tackled in isolation but is a symptom of problems in the whole organism.

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