Article: "What's Special About Biodynamics".

Date:   2/20/2010 1:41:04 AM ( 14 y ago)

April 14, 2017 -

The "science" in support of "Biodynamic Food" also includes the spiritual science at the disposal of Rudolf Steiner who "believed that the introduction of chemical farming was a major problem. He found that seeds had dramatically less vitality and that land that previously grew the same crops year after year now had to rotate crops in order to avoid problems. Plants which formerly gathered their own nutrients and minerals from the earth now had become dependent on the dead chemical fertilizers for their minerals and as people ate these weak plants they also lost their will."[7]

Steiner's "belief" regarding "chemical farming" and his findings of decreased vitality in seeds, soil, crops and human nourishment remains as a harsh testimony against the unregenerate nature of conventional agriculture. However this is not simply a matter of inferior agricultural practices. There is the additional problem of the "lost will". Steiner had made additional statements about the consequences of inferior nutrition upon the spiritual development of individuals including the very members of his Anthroposophical society. I believe the impact in that context was upon the Solar Plexus Center. In the "lost will" effect mentioned in the preceding paragraph the impact would be in the Heart Center.

February 20, 2010 -

"There is substantial scientific evidence based on years of research indicating that biodynamic food is superior to organic. Crop yields are higher for biodynamic cultivation. Also, chemical analysis demonstrated among other things, better soil quality, higher organic content and microbial activity, more earthworms, better soil structure, and thicker top soil. Biodynamic produce has much more vitality and more concentrated nutrient value. Additionally, research indicates that biodynamic produce has better flavor, keeps fresh longer. Anecdotally, a strong connection exists between eating biodynamic food and increased vitality, reduced allergic reactions and improved overall health. Biodynamic agriculture brings healing to the earth from all the damage it has experienced and from human intervention putting nature out of balance. Even organic farming does not have the healing characteristics of restoring life. At the heart of Biodynamics lies recognition of basic principles at work in nature which form the basis through which balance and healing take place. Biodynamic farming means healing and revitalization of the Earth."[1]
By Marika Torok, CSA Newsletter, February 2006

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September 9, 2012 -

Also:
"New Evidence Confirms the Nutritional Superiority of Plant-Based Organic Foods,"[2]

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February 1, 2015 -

A day or so ago I was introduced to a new friend of one of my housemates who lives among oak trees that she said had oak tree disease. I became inspired to search for a biodynamic remedy. In the process of searching I discovered a biodynamic research center in Denmark and immediately thought of a former house-mate's friend who lives in Denmark and sent her the link plus an inquiry as to whether she has been introduced to Biodynamics!

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September 15, 2016 -

"... We are facing a crisis of confidence in the USDA organic program. People are losing faith, turning to 'local' over 'organic', because they no longer trust what the organic seal stands for. ..."[3]

The "organic seal" is financially attractive to non-organic large commercial growers because of the ready-built market that they can have immediate access to simply by having this seal. This is now the case with the big hydroponic growers. Hydroponics does not share the soil-based foundation of the farmers who co-created the original Organic Standards and for Hydroponics to continue to be allowed access to the soil-based Organic Standards is undermining the "confidence in the USDA organic program"! Consequently the traditional Organic Farmers in the United States of America now need the support of the American people to save the Organic Standards from continued compromise.

Hydroponic and aeroponic productions are prohibited in the "Canadian Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrient Management and Greenhouse Standards".[4]

Organizations that signed a petition for a moratorium against the inclusion of hydroponics as an acceptable agricultural standard for Organic labeling purposes include:

Cornucopia Institute,
Biodynamic Association,
Demeter Association.

Individuals who have signed the Moratorium Letter include:

Thea Maria Carlson Co-director Biodynamic Association;

Robert Karp Co-director Biodynamic Association, founder New Spirit Farmland Partnerships,
Former Executive Director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, former board chair of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute;

Stephan Schneider Farmer, Board member Biodynamic Association, President Hawthorne Valley Farm;

Daphne Amory Board member Biodynamic Association, Inspector for Demeter USA;

Gregory Georgaklis Board member Biodynamic Association, Founder Farmers To You;

Peter Littell Board member Biodynamic Association, President of Biodynamic Farmland Conservation Trust;

Terry Brett Board member Biodynamic Association, Co-owner Kimberton Whole Foods;

Jim Fullmer Co-Directer Demeter USA;

Jean-Paul Courtens Farmer Roxbury Farm, former president of the Biodynamic Association, Teacher.

The following is from the "MEMORANDUM TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD" published by the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service - dated July 21, 2016:

"In 2010 the National Organic Standards Board passed a recommendation onto the National Organic Program called Production Standards for Terrestrial Plants in Containers and Enclosures. This recommendation was the culmination of more than a decade of work by the NOSB, and was the final recommendation of the Board on this topic. Six years later, the NOP felt that there were a few points relating to hydroponic production that were left ambiguous, and so created the Hydroponic and Aquaponic Task Force. The Task force formed three Subcommittees: one was to describe 'organic hydroponic' production and discuss the ways in which it aligns with OFPA (Organic Foods Production Act) and the USDA organic regulations, one was to discuss alternative labeling, and we ('the 2010 Recommendation Subcommittee') accepted the task of providing clarification and further support for the position taken in the 2010 NOSB recommendation and consider the alignment of soilless production systems with organic law and regulation.

The Federal Register Notice announcing the formation of this task force had simple objectives:
'There are two main objectives of the task force: (i) To describe current hydroponic and aquaponic production methods used in organic production, and (ii) to assess whether these practices align with OFPA and the USDA organic regulations. The task force will prepare a report advising the NOSB on proposed standards or guidelines for hydroponic and aquaponic methods in organic agriculture. The report may be used to inform the NOSB on recommendations concerning hydroponic and aquaponic systems and for possible guidance or rulemaking by the NOP.'

Observing that the framework of organic farming is based on its foundation of sound management of soil biology and ecology, it became clear to the NOSB that systems of crop production that eliminate soil from the system, such as hydroponics, cannot be considered as acceptable organic farming practices. The 2010 Subcommittee of the Task force came to the same conclusion. Similar to the NOSB in 2010, we based our conclusion on historical founding principles of the organic farming movement, regulatory text in the Organic Foods Production act, Regulatory Text of the USDA National Organic Program, good soil management practices, and international organic standards.

The organic farming movement began in the early part of the twentieth century, pioneered by farmers and academics who were responding to obvious problems with 'modern' agriculture (where little organic matter is added to the soil) such as depletion of soil fertility and structure, decline of livestock health caused by low feed quality, soil erosion, etc. The basic premise of organic farming was that agricultural soil needs continuous restoration by means of adding manure[9] and/or compost, managing cover crops and crop residue, and adding natural rock powders. The earliest organic certification programs based their standards on this premise. OFPA and the NOP regulatory text did an excellent job of representing this heart of the early certification programs by using the word 'must' or 'shall' (rather than 'may') in the sections regulating soil management.

Organic farming practices are centered on the basic principle of feeding the soil rather than the
crop. This simple slogan rests on the idea that the successful management of soil is all about taking care of the organic fractions; the living organisms, the recently dead and decomposing organisms, the slow to decay organic matter, and the very stable organic matter often referred to as humus. The key to an organic farming system is to build and maintain these interactions. It is through the interaction of the organic matter fractions with the mineral fractions that a productive and sustainable soil system is developed and maintained. In an organic farming system the bulk of the crop's nutrients comes from complex organic molecules being fed into these organic fractions, and some portion of the material and mineral fraction being converted to nutrient forms available for plant uptake. Some of the organic material becomes part of the organic fraction of the soil, building the soil. Section 6513 (b)(1) of OFPA states, '...foster soil fertility, primarily through the management of the organic content of the soil...'..."[6]

Posted a comment at "Plant Your Dream"[5]

It is time now to truly "plant" your organic dream/s if you have any spirit of support for preserving the integrity of organic foods - not only though our American markets but globally as well!

Also today - I was invited to consider becoming the chef-teacher for an Swiss-French eco-touring service that was started by a former teacher who had recently moved from Oregon to Switzerland. I replied saying that although I had given up flying by commercial airlines (as of Summer 2001) I was still interested in supporting her business. I made a couple suggestions including that (IMO) a local chef would be preferable as they can have a direct connection with the local growers and thereby better represent the locally grown in "farm-to-table" culinary.

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December 22, 2017 - a great introduction for new-comers![8]

The rest of my comment at this linked article:
I imagine that what is presented here re: the "'co-opting' of organics" could spark people's interest to want to know more. I've been blogging on this particular topic and my blog also includes: "How Biodynamic Farming Spawned Organic Farming": https://www.curezone.org/blogs/fm.asp?i=2346773

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Notes:

[1] https://sites.google.com/site/spiritualfoodcsa/aparigraha/why-biodynamic-food

[2] http://www.organic-center.org/science.nutri.php?action=view&report_id=126

[3] http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=49b011e822aefbbeb68709181&id=6d58cca62d&e=d273047ed0

[4] National Standard of Canada Organic Production Systems http://www.cog.ca/uploads/GeneralPrincipelsandManagemetnStandards_2015.pdf

[5] http://www.curezone.org/blogs/c/fm.asp?i=2335188

[6] "Summary of 2010 Subcommittee Report", p. 2:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2016%20Hydroponic%20Task%20Force%20Report.PDF

[7] http://www.book.xlibx.info/bo-economy/3567427-1-authors-jon-phillips-phd-assistant-professor-food-marketing-and.php

[8] https://www.biodynamics.com/blog/reflections-biodynamics-and-organics
Especially the fifth paragraph - which I said "could be quoted on a large full-color handmade poster".

[9] For an introductory "easy" read on the importance of manure for "agricultural soil restoration":
https://www.biodynamics.com/blog/reverence-and-awe#

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Related: "Tilapia Has Both Nutritional And Environmental Drawbacks.":
http://www.curezone.org/Blogs/fm.asp?i=1807075

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Keywords:

biodynamic food, biodynamic agriculture, soil quality, food vitality, food allergies, health, Biodynamic farming, healing, Earth, oak tree disease, spiritual food, organic standards, hydroponics, soil restoration

 

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