INTRODUCTION OF BIODYNAMIC FARMING:

Biodynamics is a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutrition. This method of organic farming emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationship of the soil, plants and animals as a self sustaining system. Biodynamics is thus not just a holistic agricultural system but also a potent movement for new thinking and practices in all aspects of life connected to food and agriculture.

Biodynamic farming - to create a diversified, balanced farm ecosystem that generates health and fertility as much as possible from within the farm itself. Preparations made from fermented manure, minerals and herbs are used to help restore and harmonize the vital life forces of the farm and to enhance the nutrition, quality and flavor of the food being raised.

Biodynamic methods work toward the development of the farm or garden as a balanced and sustainable unit. They include organic practices such as crop rotation, recycling through composts and liquid manures, and increasing plant and animal bio diversity. Special plant, animal and mineral preparations are used. The rhythmic influences of the sun, moon, planets and stars are recognised and worked with where possible. These methods lead to a natural reduction of pests and diseases in plants and animals, and an increase in the nutritive and health giving value of food produced.

BIODYNAMIC PREPARATION:

The biodynamic (BD) preparations are numbered 500-508. These are best interpreted as homeopathic treatments applied to the soil or compost, whereby small amounts have a tremendous impact on soil enhancement, fertility and vitality.

 The BD 500 preparation (horn-manure) is made from cow manure (fermented in a cow horn that is buried in the soil for six months through autumn and winter) and is used as a soil spray to stimulate root growth and humus formation. The BD 501 preparation (horn-silica) is made from powdered quartz (packed inside a cow horn and buried in the soil for six months through spring and summer) and applied as a foliage spray to stimulate and regulate growth. The next six preparations, BD 502-507, are used in making compost. 

Finally, there is BD preparation 508 which is prepared from the silica-rich horsetail plant (Equisetum arvense) and used as a foliage spray to suppress fungal diseases in plants. 

The BD preparations are listed below:

• No. 500 Cow horn Manure
• No. 501 Horn Silica
• No. 502 Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium)
• No. 503 Chamomile blossoms (Chamomilla officinalis)
• No. 504 Stinging nettle (whole plant in full bloom) (Urtica dioca)
• No. 505 Oak bark (Quercus robur)
• No. 506 Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale)
• No. 507 Valerian flowers (Valeriana officinalis)

Biodynamic preparations have influence on soil structure and micro-organisms enhancing soil fertility and increasing biodiversity. And intended to help moderate and regulate biological processes as well as enhance and strengthen the life forces on the farm. The preparations are used in homeopathic quantities, meaning they produce an effect in extremely diluted amounts. As an example, just 1/16th ounce a level teaspoon of each compost preparation is added to seven to ten ton piles of compost. 

 BIODYNAMIC PREPARATION TRAINING at  our Kollimalai Resource Nursery

A. BD 500 Preparation (Cow Horn Manure)

• Fresh dung from well fed Lactating cow packed in ringed cow horns
• Buried in Sept/November open end down  -  Lifted in February/March
• Bury in good fertile BD treated soil & COMPOST for best results
• In a shady area or covered with straw

Benefits of regular Application

• Improves soil structure & humus creation.
• Increases Worm activity
• Develops root formation & nodulation/Phosphobacteria
• Int. research showed 25% less water required for BD soil

B. BD 502 - Yarrow (Achillea millefolia) Preparation

METHOD OF PREPARATION

• Take Yarrow flowers at Mid-day; Ascending moon
• Pack them into a Stags bladder
• Hang up from March to September
• Bury in September

FARM & GARDEN USES

• As one of compost preparations
• Collects POTASH to itself in deficient soils
• Allows access to micro nutrients locked in soil
• Making SILICA, LEAD, COPPER, MAGNESIUM, 

BORON, CHLORIDES OF POTASH PHOSPHATES, homeopathically

• High in calcium  & Folic acid
• Root excretions help adjacent plants resist disease
• Spray yarrow tea on fruit days on fruit trees.
• Use for spraying rye, grass seed, flax fiber, fruit bushes

C.  BD 503 – Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Preparation

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Take dried flowers of chamomile at air/night time with Ascending moon
2. Stuff flowers into fresh cow’s intestines.
3. Tie one end of the intestine and at the other end push the flowers in using a funnel and a stick.
4. When the intestine is full tie up that end. Don’t compress the flowers.
5. Bury in Sept/Oct- Autumn  & leave in soil until Feb/Mar- Spring
6. Store in glazed mud pot, covered & in cool dark  place 

FARM & GARDEN USE

1. As one of compost preparations- promotes a good breakdown of proteins in the compost to humic plant nutrients.
2. Good companion plant for cabbage
3. It assimilates calcium and stabilizes nitrogen (N) within the compost & increases soil life.
4. Stimulating plant growth.
5. Spray chamomile tea on carrot: 1gm-10litres to increase sucrose (sweetness) & dry matter
6. Deters cabbage white butterfly
7. Tea prevents seedling wilt: pour 10lt. boiling water on 1 gm flowers

D.  BD 504 - STINGING NETTLE (Urtica dioica) Preparation

METHOD OF PREPARATION

• Gather nettle leaves & allow to wilt
• Pack them into a simple mud pot or the earth
• Bury in September & mark the spot
• Bury for 12 months but check contents after 6 mths .
• Store in glazed mud pot, covered & in cool place

FARM & GARDEN USE

• Raises sugar content in tomatoes
• Mediates IRON for plant chlorophyll, provides MAGNESIUM, SULPHUR, CALCIUM
• One of richest sources of chlorophyll & protein
• Excellent mineral & iron boost for compost
• Increases Vitamin C & sugar content in Tomatoes
• Regulates the activity of manure in the compost
• All round tonic & growth promoter for plants
• Excellent spray for potatoes: 10gm leaf boiled in 10 lt. water: spray on leaf day’s pm. after 2nd leaf appears.  (Phytophthera).
•  Plant with bush fruits to increase yield
• Insecticidal spray- mildew, black fly,, plant lice. Particularly aphids

E.  BD 505 – OAK BARK (Quercus rubra)

      METHOD OF PREPARATION

• Collect oak bark & grate it.
• Pack into the skull of any domestic animal retaining the lining membrane of the skull
• Bury in a marshy place in the autumn/September
• Collect in the spring/March
• Store in glazed mud pot, covered & in cool place

      FARM & GARDEN USE

• In the compost it enables soil conditions which can prevent & combat all plant diseases
• Use as a separate spray on land which is particularly vulnerable to fungus attack
• Spray is good for oats, lettuce, potatoes, dahlias
• Dampens down growth forces thus reducing  plant susceptibility to disease/fungus

F.  BD 506 – DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)

       METHOD OF PREPARATION

• Gather flowers before sunrise to prevent seeding or use dried flowers
• Prepare for fermentation in cow’s mesentery
• Bury in the ground in September
• Gather in March
• Store in glazed mud pot, covered & in cool place

       FARM & GARDEN USE

• Balances SILICA & POTASSIUM in the soil
• High IRON, COPPER, MAGNESIUM, CALCIUM foliar feed
• Attunes plant to its environment
• Spray improves flavour of tomatoes
• Rich pollen food for bees
• Tonic & strengthener for all birds & animals

Links:

• Earth Trust's Facebook Page

Reconnect children with Nature: Seeding the importance of conservation of the unique shola forest at the right age group in an enjoyable way.  

Organic agriculture follows the laws of nature. The below mentioned 88 Eco Club students and 10 teachers from 8 rural   Eco Club schools were exposed to 3 different Shola and grassland forests in Nilgiris. (Wet evergreen montane forest)

While the waste biomass accumulates, the children begin to discover and to learn the basic principles of organic agriculture. A field trip to an area of indigenous forest (Tropical montane evergreen forest/ shola and grassland forest) provides the springboard. Here they witness a self-sustaining integrated eco-system with natural mulch, humus formation, mixed species, diversity of wildlife and so on. As a comparison, they then visit an exotic forest of pine, eucalyptus, or wattle. The differences are apparent: only one species, no birds, sunlight burning the open forest floor, hard ground, little humus.

The eco-club members can easily grasp the parallels between shola forest and organic farming, and between exotic forest and conventional farming.

The Learning: 

• About the natural forests soil health
• Shola Biodiversity (Plants &animals) Soil, Multitier system, Natural mulch, Water holding capacity of the soil, diversity of the plant species and animal species in the forest ecosystem.
• Importance of Shola & Grassland vegetation 
• Preliminary study on enumerating the grassland species to observe the species diversification
• In addition we expose them the impact of monoculture (Eucalyptus, Acacia, Pine etc) and invasive (Cytisus, Cestrum, Ulex, Eupatorium) 

 RESULTS

At the end of the programme a quiz was conducted to refresh what they have learned from the shola forest experience.

• This programme was an eye opener for the students and teachers. It gave first hand information and experience on the Shola forest
• Students were able to realize the urgent need for the conservation of biodiversity
• They were able to distinguish native and alien plants
• Helped to identify active students for our follow up programme
• Teachers understood the seriousness of conservation issues
• Established good rapport and better understanding among students and teachers 

Sr.No       Name of the school              No of students     No of Teachers          Place 

1           P.U.M.School ,Kollimalai                11                          1        Glenmorgan  Forest

2              P.U.M.School, Thenalai                  12                          2        Glenmorgan  Forest

3              P.U.M.School, Sogathorai                9                          1        Glenmorgan  Forest

4              M.M.School, Attadi                        12                          1        Kodanadu Forest

5              M.M.School, Bandisolai                  21                          2        Kodanadu Forest

6              P.U.M.School, Kilkowatty                 9                          1        Pykara Forest

7              P.U.M.School, Adasolai                    9                          1        Pykara Forest

8              P.U.M.School, Odaikadu                   5                          1        Pykara Forest

                                        Total:     88                       10

Links:

• The Earth Trust Website