Why biodynamic gardening makes sense

UK Telegraph
Tom Petherick
Thursday, September 17, 2009

Last week, eight of us spent a morning filling a 3ft-deep, brick-lined hole in my garden with fresh cow manure. We treated it with seven specially fermented compost preparations and covered it with a wet sack and a wooden board to keep the weather out.

We had just made the biodynamic preparation known as Cow Pat Pit. In three months, no more than a pinch of this power-packed composted manure will be added to a 75-litre drum of water, stirred for an hour, then sprayed on the garden as an autumnal elixir.

Welcome to the world of biodynamics that has engrossed me after a lifetime of organic gardening. It does not mean that I have deserted the organic camp: on the contrary, it is not possible to garden biodynamically without having proper organic husbandry as a base, but it does mean that as a biodynamic practitioner I am incorporating an extra dimension that is not normally taken into account when gardening organically.

This extra dimension is best understood if we look at the word “biodynamic” and see that, derived from the Greek, bio means life and dynamic means force.

Biodynamics sets out to work with the influence of the invisible energies and forces that exist, as well as those we can see around us. And the purpose of biodynamics, as laid out by the Austrian Rudolf Steiner in his eight lectures on agriculture in 1924, is to deepen our understanding of the life forces that underlie nature’s processes in order to produce food of the highest quality.

On a practical level, Steiner’s intention was that farmers should try to work towards allowing soil and plant life to become more receptive to such energies by the use of certain compost preparations and field sprays.

Steiner had his reasons for this – he foresaw the waning vitality of the earth and predicted a time when it would become increasingly difficult for us to grow food (both of which are fairly evident to us today if we take chronic world soil erosion and global warming as examples). The use of the biodynamic preparations would, in his view, strengthen the connection between the cosmic and the terrestrial, that is, the heavenly and the earthly – the stars and the soil.

There is no doubt that organic gardening and farming, which depend on building and maintaining soil fertility and managing land ecologically, are systems that have restored our understanding of the importance of soil health and its relation to human health. The organic approach sets out to achieve and hold the balance just as it is found in nature. We mimic this in organic gardening by growing a diverse range of plants and feeding the soil, and therefore the plants, with compost and other organic matter. The difference is that the practice of biodynamics acknowledges the existence of, and sets out to work with, realms that lie beyond the visible.

Three years ago I started gardening with biodynamic methods. I entered Demeter, the biodynamic certification scheme, and began using the preparations, such as Cow Pat Pit, which are requirements of that scheme. I also began to use the biodynamic planting calendar, the second element of biodynamics, which has to do with the cosmic timing of activities in the garden and which has evolved since Steiner’s time. The calendar has recently come into public awareness since Tesco and Marks & Spencer revealed that they use it to decide when to invite critics to taste their wine ranges.

Interestingly, much of the timing for work to be carried out according to the biodynamic system is to do with the movement of the moon. This is another reason why biodynamic methods are beginning to reach a wider audience. We all know of the moon’s influence on the tides. When I began working with biodynamics and carrying out tasks when the moon was moving through particular constellations, it quickly became apparent that there was more going on than I had first thought.

Changes became noticeable immediately: root systems were different, with many more fibrous feeder roots on certain plants, particularly brassicas, extended seasons of growth before going to seed, improved germination, stronger flavour, deeper flower colour, higher water content… I could go on.

But more than all of this, and this is the hardest thing of all to convey, the feel of the garden changed. It became more alive, as I began to allow for the fact that the forces of nature are active on many levels and that many of them have a direct effect on plants. I may not be able to see them all, but they have influence and they are part of the miracle that is life in our universe. Full article here…

Sustainable palm oil gets boost in China

World Wildlife Fund

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Beijing, China – Major China-based producers and users of palm oil have announced they intend to provide more support for sustainable palm oil, an important boost for efforts to halt tropical deforestation.

The public statement, made at the 2nd International Oil and Fats Summit in Beijing on July 9, committed the companies to “support the promotion, procurement and use of sustainable palm oil in China,” as well as “support the production of sustainable palm oil through any investments in producing countries.”

China is currently the world’s largest importer of palm oil, accounting for one third of all global trade. Increasing demand for palm oil, which is used in everything from soap to chocolate bars, is causing considerable damage to fragile rainforest environments, threatening endangered species like tigers, and contributing to global climate change.

Palm oil producers and buyers making the statement included Wilmar International, IOI Corperation, KLK Berhad, Kulim Malaysia Berhad, Asia Agri., Premier Foods PLC and Unilever PLC. Oxfam International, TransAsia Lawyers, and Solidaridad China were signatories.

“Given the massive of volumes of palm oil now being purchased, any move China makes towards using sustainable palm oil will have a big influence on protecting tropical forest resources in South East Asia and other areas,” said WWF-China Country Representative Dermot O’Gorman.

WWF helped set up the international Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2004, with the aim of establishing global standards for sustainable palm oil production and promoting the use of products containing sustainable palm oil.

WWF-China first introduced sustainable palm oil to Chinese companies in 2004, and continues to encourage the country’s buyers, producers, and traders to participate in RSPO.

Sustainable palm oil received a massive boost in November 2008 when Dr. Huo Jiangguo, President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs and Native Produce, attended the RSPO annual conference in Indonesia and announced that China supported the drive for more sustainable palm oil products.

“Industry in China acknowledges that sustainability is one of the key criteria of ensuring competence in the global market,” said Dr. Bian Zhenghu, vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce during his opening address to the forum.

“The roundtable encourages the entire industry chain to make a move towards sustainability, and also gives Chinese stakeholders a big opportunity to play a significant role achieving the aims of RSPO,” Dr. Bian said.

In conjunction with the summit, CFNA and WWF China organized a dialogue on promoting sustainable palm oil in China. More than 100 participants from government and industry attended the summit. Representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia and Europe presented findings on the growth and impact of sustainable palm oil development in key producing countries and trade regions. At the conclusion, the names of pioneer signatories to the Statement of Support for promoting sustainable palm oil in China were announced.

New S.F. Food Policy Boosts Local Farms

GreenBiz.com
Tilde Herrera
Friday, July 10, 2009

San Francisco has adopted what may be the country’s first county food policy that aims to improve access to healthy food while supporting local agriculture and reducing shipping-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Mayor Gavin Newsom issued an executive directive Wednesday ordering all departments to survey the land under their control in order to create an inventory of land that can support community gardens. All city-purchased food for city meetings, schools, jails or homeless shelters must be grown locally with sustainable farming practices. Food vendors with city permits must also meet these requirements.

“The stark reality is that hunger, food insecurity, and poor nutrition are pressing health issues, even in a city as rich and vibrant as San Francisco,” said Mayor Newsom in a prepared statement Wednesday. “From the alleviation of hunger, to the need to support local and sustainable agricultural practices, these recommendations form a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing pressing needs in all sectors of the food system.”

The policy must be put in place within six months, and only applies to city departments, not citizens or businesses, according to Joe Arellano, a spokesman from the mayor’s office.

The policy has its roots in the recommendations of the San Francisco Urban-Rural Roundtable, a group of stakeholders who worked to create what they call a “sustainable food shed” plan for the region.

When asked how the cash-strapped city would pay for higher-quality organic food, which may carry a price premium, Arellano said the potential savings are two-fold. Food purchased locally saves money through reduced shipping distances and costs, which also trims greenhouse gas emissions. Healthier food may also save the city money on healthcare in the long run: “The city spends a lot of money treating people for diabetes, obesity, heart disease,” Arellano said. By promoting healthier food and better eating habits, “we can reduce costs on the back end.”

A study released today from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy pegged the economic cost of obesity due to health care costs and lost productivity in San Francisco at more than $1 billion. Obesity costs the state an estimated $41 billion annually.

San Francisco launched a pilot program last July that created the Victory Garden near City Hall to test the feasibility of turning unused space into an organic food production zone, Arellano said, noting that First Ladies Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver have embraced the concept. Before that, the city funded gardening projects at local schools to incorporate these learnings into curricula. Arellano suspects the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will take a lead role in future community garden projects, along with local nonprofits, which have in the past entered into contracts to take over gardening responsibilities.

Other aspects of the new San Francisco food policy include augmenting food stamp purchasing power with philanthropic funds. The city began working with farmers’ markets in 2002 to allow the use of food stamps; an ordinance passed in 2007 requires food stamp acceptance. The program has been a success: Food stamp sales have increased more than 20 percent annually since 2003, while April and May sales have grown by between 70 percent and 75 percent compared to the year before.

There is also a trade mission aspect to help local restaurants and food vendors find farms from which they can buy produce directly, which Arellano sees as a way of creating awareness among local restaurants. Already the city’s composting program, which just became mandatory in June, sends tons of food scraps to local farms and wineries, which in turn produce famous wines and high-quality food sold and consumed in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Revelry by the River” Honors Some, Inspires All

ENN.com
M Molendyke
Friday, June 5, 2009

On a balmy summer night this week, the kind perfect for reflecting on the beauty and vitality of nature, supporters of Solar One gathered to champion just such a vision at the Revelry by the River event.

Solar One stands as a center for environmental conservation and learning, and since 2004 has been reaching out to students in the city to promote green learning and living. “Solar One is a leading environmental organization that addresses issues of sustainabiliy in the urban environment through the many programs we offer. These include our K-12 enrichment courses that focus on renewables, sustainable design, water ecology and horticulture; our green collar job training programs in building performance, PV (solar) installation, deconstruction, horticulture and youth green entrepreneurship; our solar advocacy program; and our solar powered arts festival” said director Christopher Collins in a statement made to ENN.

The fundraising efforts held on Tuesday June 2, 2009 were in support of the Solar Two project, Solar One’s big brother. Solar Two will be New York’s “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center”, the city’s first carbon- neutral, net- zero energy use building. “Solar 2 will showcase state-of-the-art green building design and technology while operating as a thriving center for diverse environmental activities” outlined executive director Christopher J. Collins in a Director’s Letter given to attendees. In the same address, Collins also noted that “Solar 2 will embody our organization’s mission to provide people of all ages with the vision, knowledge and resources to achieve an environmentally
sustainable future.”

Chaired by H. Hartley du Pont and Jane Steiner Hoffman, the event brought together leaders from the conservation community as well as the most environmentally committed of the New York glitterati. Among the attendees were Governor George Pataki, actresses Lake Bell and Brooke Shields, and Real Housewives of NYC’s Alex McCord. “Revelry By The River” took time to hand out three honors to outstanding contributors to Solar Two and other environmental causes.

First, bank HSBC was honored for its $100 million contribution to a variety of environmental causes as well as its commitment to being carbon neutral (it reached this goal in 2005). Accepting the Sustainability Achievement Award, Vice President of Human Resources Suzanne Brienza thanked Solar One for introducing HSBC as a “corporate leader in doing the right thing”.

Actor Matthew Modine accepted the Environmental Stewardship Award in recognition of his founding of the Bicycle For A Day initiative, a foundation committed to promoting increased bicycle use for the dual benefit of reducing auto emissions and promoting human health and fitness. Said Modine in his acceptance speech, “there should not be a building in the US that does not incorporate the technology and knowledge that we have today” in order to promote green living.

Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, granddaughter of Robert Kennedy, charmed the supportive crowd with her lighthearted acceptance of the Young Environmentalist Award for her work with the Waterkeeper Alliance and her recent appearance in the film Grand Canyon Adventure. Opening with a joke to illustrate that “solar power is no laughing matter”, Kick thanked her family and the audience for their support in her environmental efforts. ENN spoke to Kick before the ceremony, where she expressed her ardent support of public officials who encourage environmental conservancy in legislation and noted that “there should be more stringent laws” to prevent air and water pollution.

As the sun set over the New York City skyline, guests departed with the themes of the night in their minds: Education, conservancy, and the inspiration to do the right thing. The event was a “huge success, both financially and in terms of our overall mission of education on the issues of sustainability in the built environment” remarked Chris Collins.