As I was already super thrilled to experience and delve into farming and that to organic farming coupled with pristine experience brought to the classroom by our mentor Konrad and Jelena and alleviated further by course participants, each of whom were having experience in farming. Participants of the course are a dynamic group of people with fair gender representation, varied perspective as each being from different part of the globe. There existed a fair mix of professional interest with people from organic farming, industrial farming , animal husbandry, research, organic entrepreneurship, media, PGS functionary, veterinary scientist, policy makers. We were by design transported to a bio dynamic farm for our First Face to Face (F2F as we call it)
Dr. Rudolf Steiner and his principles conveyed through his 1924 lectures and more were studied discussed and hotly debated in the class. It was what we saw these practices on the farm that made it more and more interesting and in no time we were engrossed in the bio dynamic practices shown by the farmers’ and our field trainer. Every member of our group volunteered to take part in the practice at the bio dynamic farm.
It was my quest to find answers to question of why bio dynamic farming that sprung up before me answers, answers with which I too was surprised. It was a aha moment when I tried to understand the value enshrined and I tried to decipher what the principles of Bio Dynamic farming are trying to convey to us. Based on the lectures of Dr. Rudolf Steiner and what is interesting to understand is how rooted these are in the existence of our universe and the existing elements of all life form. All the farm practices are in synchronization with the cyclic path of the moon through each zodiac over a period of days covering all 12 signs every month. The basis of this practice is the movement of moon and this is an established geographical event that has been happening since the creation of our universe. Bio dynamic is taking the most consistent element of nature i.e. the movement of celestial bodies and formulating the farm practices of preparing soil, sowing, putting manures, harvesting, preparing composts… When we connect our farming and cultivating practices with all Constellations we are connecting with nature, with climate & atmosphere, with the environment and the agriculture produce we are creating is feeding a human being, live stock who is also an element of the universe.
The importance of physical presence of the farmer on the farm land, animals, livestock are necessary to maintain bio dynamic farm as a complete self sustainable living farm with a life of its’ own.
Cows have formed an integral part of farming community globally and has been more significant for an Indian farmer and for its’ cultural and religious significance. Cow is one of the basic elements of bio dynamic farming which cannot be segregated from bio dynamic farming. Cow dung, cows’ urine, cows’ horns (lactating cows’) forms the essential elements of almost all bio dynamic cultivation input preparations’ like cow horn manure (BD 500), cow horn silica (BD 501), cow pat pit (CPP), Bio Dynamic composting, Bio pesticides, bio dynamic liquid manures, Compost tea.
Bio dynamic farming practices has the capability and can undo the harm that has been done by indiscriminate industrialized farming over a century by restoring soil quality in the form of humus, thereby increasing its fertility. With adoption of these practices around the globe, people also recognizing the importance to consume healthy and sustainably produced things. It is just a matter of building capacity to realize and explore the full potential of bio dynamic farming as a sustainable practice to effectively contribute to the health and life of soil by activating soil life forms.
Photo courtesy Dr. Pranav Kumar, Hiten Kakkad, Mahendra M Manivaasan, Chantal Mentz
Location: SARG http://www.sargindia.org/
ORGANIC LEADERSHIP COURSE (2017/18) INDIA BY IFOAM – ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL
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Nice article -Praveen. It was great time to visit this place..
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