Rudolf Steiner and biodynamics

Tom Morris

Thinker
T
Joined
May 6, 2004
Messages
155
Here's a little story from yesterday that may pique the interest of some of you. I was upstairs listening to the radio and a programme came on about a Camphill community in Scotland called Newton Dee farm. The Camphill communities are Christian communities for people with learning disabilities. That's all fine and everything.

But as I listened to the programme, one of the people mentioned some of the principles used to run the agricultural side of the community. That principle was called 'Biodynamics', and when questioned about it he mentioned something about 'homoeopathic' treatment, and the name of a "philosopher/scientist" called Rudolf Steiner.

I found RSArchive, a website with lots of information on this guy, then followed the links and found this page which has more details on Biodynamics. It mixes the 'natural' rhetoric of the sCAMmers with some common sense points about agriculture:
Just as we need to look at the magnetic field of the whole earth to comprehend the compass, to understand plant life we must expand our view to include all that affects plant growth. No narrow microscopic view will suffice. Plants are utterly open to and formed by influences from the depths of the earth to the heights of the heavens. Therefore our considerations in agriculture must range more broadly than is generally assumed to be relevant.
Click to expand...

There's more information at some of the following links:
What is biodynamics?
The biodynamic vegetarian
The biodynamic farm
The biodynamic garden
All from the UK Biodynamics page.
Rudolf Steiner's Biodynamics lectures
If you google for "camphill biodynamics", there are lots of references of these places using them.

My gut reaction? This sounds like bull. Still, I'll be interested to see what you lot make of it. :D

(Edit: Suffice to say, the radio programme accepted these claims without any investigation at all, not even an ounce of scepticism... Surprised? No, me neither.)
 
Well, the producers of the radio show weren't there to launch an investigation of woowoo claims--they were just there to do a human interest piece on Newton Dee Village.

It's not their job, IOW.

So if someone they're interviewing goes off on a tangent about the way they only use turnip seed that is guaranteed not to have been tampered with by reptilian aliens, all the radio guys are gonna do is murmur a noncommittal, "Oh, really?" and continue on with the interview. They're not gonna stop and say, "Oh my God are you CRAZY???" and then get to the bottom of it. It's not their job.
 
I know that, but it was just the straw that broke this particular camel's back.

From what I can gather (which isn't much as the websites aren't very good at letting on what they actually do), it seems that this is basically homoeopathy and other miscellaneous all-natural woo-woo-ery applied to agriculture.
 
Hope they have better luck than the Soviets did with Lysenkoism and 'winter wheat'.

*nasty chuckle*

--Toasty
 
Unfortunatly it's caught on in some of the vinyards in northern California. It's more of a combination of astrology and homeopathy and organic agriculture.
For example
Some days, because of the alignment of the planets, are better to pick on than others.(Despite the rain that might ruin your harvest if it's not picked in time.)
And the less said about the poo in a horn the better
http://www.randi.org/jr/082004nonsense.html

And the net result, from someone who manages the vinyard and has to put up with this. Half the grapes at twice the price. It won't be very popular for long, once people start going bankrupt.
 
Huntsman said:
I dunno,

I bet they'll be able to market the wine made from "biodynamically grown grapes" at twice the price, if someone were unscrupulous enough.

Especially in California.

:)
Click to expand...
You're too late: meet Frey Vineyards.

During the 1990s, led by Luke Frey, the Freys converted to Biodynamic methods and are now certified by Demeter, as well as by CCOF/NOP. “Biodynamic farming is more than just compost preparations and soil and crop care,” says Luke, “the inner self is an integral part of Biodynamics. Everything we are as humans, everything inside our selves, is reflected in the outside world. With Biodynamic farming, the developmental needs of people are addressed. The heart is involved in the work, not just the intellect.”

< snip >

The Freys sell certified Biodynamic wines, which make up about 11% of Frey sales, as well as organically certified wines. The dual certification of their vineyards, by both the NOP accredited California Certified Organic Farmers and by Demeter allows this. The winemaking is not yet certified by Demeter, as the Biodynamic winemaking standards are apparently not yet finalized.

Frey Biodynamic wines do not carry the NOP organic label, nor do they use the term “organic wine”, as Demeter, the Biodynamic certifier, did not seek accreditation by USDA NOP. Therefore if one wants to label as Biodynamic, the NOP organic label can’t be used.
Click to expand...
Here is where they explain what they mean by "biodynamics".

What is Biodynamic® farming?

The oldest system of organic agriculture, started in 1924 by German philosopher Rudolph Steiner, which views the farm as a self-sustaining organism within the surrounding ecosystem. The name comes from the Greek word "bio," which means life-energy. It emphasizes animals as part of the farm ecosystem. Many Biodynamic® farms are dairies or farms that raise other animals. Most Biodynamic® farms are in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and are certified by the Demeter organization, founded in 1928. Biodynamic® standards are generally a bit stricter than organic, especially with regard to what is added to the soil. Biodynamic® farming supplements organic methods with homeopathic-like preparations and sprays produced on the farm to enhance and regulate plant growth, compost production, and soil fertility.

What system does Frey Vineyards utilize?

Both organic and Biodynamic®. For all Frey Estate Bottled Wines (wines made from our own vineyards, not from our growers), the Biodynamic® system is used. Our 1996 Chardonnay, 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1997 Merlot, and 1997 Zinfandel were the first U.S. wines made from biodynamically certified grapes. More recent vintages are available now. They are certified by the Demeter Association, an internationally recognized Biodynamic® certification agency, located in Aurora, New York. The labels for our Biodynamic® wines are printed on 100% bamboo grass paper through an elemental chlorine-free process and printed with soy-based ink.
Click to expand...
I like that "homeopathic-like preparations"... :D


And the finished product?

http://www.freywine.com/freywine/wine-list.html

Their "Biodynamic" wines have won the following prizes:
2002 Biodynamic® Zinfandel
Bronze: L.A. County Fair Wine Competition
Bronze: Florida State Fair, International Wine Competition
Rated "Highly Recommended," Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2002 Biodynamic® Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: L.A. County Fair Wine Competition
Rated "Recommended," Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2002 Biodynamic® Petite Sirah
Gold: Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver: New World International Wine Competition
Silver: North of the Gate Competition
Bronze: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Rated "Highly Recommended," Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2002 Biodynamic® Merlot
Silver: 25th Annual Mendocino Wine Competition
Bronze: Indy International Wine Competition (Indiana State Fair)

2001 Biodynamic® Pinot Noir
Bronze: Grand Harvest Wine Competition, Santa Rosa, CA
Bronze: L.A. County Fair Wine Competition
Rated "Recommended," Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2001 Biodynamic® Chardonnay
Bronze: El Dorado County Fair Wine Competition

2001 Biodynamic® Zinfandel
Bronze: Indy International Wine Competition (Indiana State Fair)
Rated "Highly Recommended," Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2001 Biodynamic® Petite Sirah
Bronze: Monterey Wine Competition
sold out

2001 Biodynamic® Merlot
Bronze:San Francisco Wine Cometition
Bronze: L.A. County Fair Wine Competition
Bronze: Orange County Fair Wine Competition
Bronze: El Dorado County Fair Wine Competition
Bronze: Mendocino Wine Competition
sold out

2001 Biodynamic® Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver: New World International Wine Competition

2000 Biodynamic® Cabernet Sauvignon
Rated "Recommended", Beverage Testing Inst., Chicago IL

2000 Biodynamic® Merlot
Bronze: Indy International Wine Competition
Bronze: Atlanta International Wine Summit Competition
Bronze: Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition

1998 Biodynamic® Petite Sirah
Bronze: El Dorado County Fair

1997 Biodynamic® Merlot
Bronze: Orange County Fair Wine Competition, California

1997 Biodynamic® Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition, California
Bronze: Indy International Wine Competition (Indiana State Fair)
Click to expand...
Looking for their prices, it takes you to a "secure" ordering page, which has a Yahoo URL.

http://store.yahoo.com/freywine/biodchar19.html $12.25/bottle
http://store.yahoo.com/freywine/biodzin19.html $12.25/bottle
http://store.yahoo.com/freywine/biodcabsauv1.html - $13.00/bottle
http://store.yahoo.com/freywine/bime20.html $19.00/bottle
http://store.yahoo.com/freywine/biodpetsir19.html $13.50/bottle

I'm no oenologist, but $12 to $19 a bottle seems a bit pricey for something that's only winning bronze medals at the county fair, and all it has going for it is the "Biodynamics" label, but maybe that's just me.
 
I was offered some of this at a restaurant last week and I asked what it was but the waitress didn't know. Glad I didn't order it now. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom