My interest in biodynamic agriculture spawned from two places. The first was from frequent visits to the Napa and Sonoma Wine Countries for wine tastings and culinary consumption. After a few visits I realized that some of the better tasting wines came from a string of wineries that shared something in common - they practiced biodynamic farming. The wine industry has really embraced biodynamics because the results can be tasted in their product. For wines a premium has been placed on quality and uniqueness of a particular wine which comes from the terroir (a sense of place and the unique characteristics of the land). Some of my favorite biodynamic wines are Robert Sinsky from Napa and Quintessa from Rutherford in Napa Valley and Quivira from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma.
The second place that furthered my interest in biodynamic agriculture was my significant other, who as a young child was schooled at a Steiner-Waldorf School. While biodynamics has been around for centuries, the father of Steiner-Waldorf - Austrian philosopher, educator, and scientist Rudolph Steiner - pioneered the establishment of Biodynamic Agriculture. The Steiner-Waldorf School promotes children to use experiences to nourish and develop their mind, body, and spirit. A similar approach is taken with biodynamic agriculture.
Biodynamic agriculture is a way of life that promotes self-sufficiency and self-containment. Those who practice biodynamics have a deep, holistic understanding of ecology. The farmers are intimately connected to the land and discover its particular uniqueness and individuality as the farm develops into its own. It differs from conventional agriculture which often promotes a commodity mentality pushing quantity over quality. Conventional agriculture also uses external and unnatural additions, where biodynamics do not.
Biodynamic farms compost all waste, utilize cover and bumper crops, promote green manure and crop rotation. Farmers use homeopathic methods to encourage beneficial insects and growth. Soil tilling and erosion are also minimized. Biodynamic agriculture also takes the energy of the earth and sun, as well as timing farming and harvesting practices with the phases of the moon.
Biodynamic agriculture in its truest form preserves and encourages the integrity of all things, that live and that are produced on that land, in the most sustainable way.
