If you don't know what biodynamic agriculture is, this is the best concise description of Biodynamic Agriculture that I've found. Basically, it "works with the energies which create and maintain life".
In the current evolution stage of planet Earth, even without the harmful effects of human activities of our time, it is necessary to use practices that heal and rejuvenate the declining vitality of the natural world. We practice biodynamic because we strive to grow food that nourishes and heals the human body and supports the development of the human soul. We are inspired to produce food that is full of vitality. Food that is medicine.
From a consumers perspective, biodynamic is organic on steroids.
Organic agriculture standards are determined by the government's NOSB (National Organic Standards Board), and the standards are continually being eroded by agribusinesses that want a piece of the organic monetary pie but don't want to provide an organic product in return. There are over 100 chemicals - many of them dangerous - which are approved for organic farming. Originally, these were meant to be reviewed periodically, and eliminated if natural alternatives became available, but the standards board has removed the 'sunset' provision and they are now here to stay forever.
Don't get me wrong - organic is still MILES better than conventional, which allows thousands of chemicals to be used - but there s a better option: BIODYNAMIC.
- Biodynamic agriculture uses NO GMOs and NO CHEMICALS!
- Biodynamic agriculture must use clean water (organic certification does not test the water).
- Biodynamic agriculture cannot be subverted by agribusiness.
In addition to using no chemicals and no GMOs, biodynamic farming improves the soil. The longer biodynamic methods are used, the more productive the land becomes.
Conversely, the longer one farms conventionally, the more the soil is depleted until nothing will grow in it. True organic agriculture (not the sham organic described above) lies in between these two extremes.
Animals on biodynamic farms
with minimum stress. They're all 'pasture raised'.
Fortunately, there are several biodynamic farms in this area and I support them all. As much as possible, I use our biodynamic CSA farm's products, and buy other biodynamic products online.
If you'd like to find a Biodynamic CSA near you,
You can learn more about Biodynamic certification here: DEMETER Association, Inc. (Demeter - pronounced DEM'-eh-ter - is the certifying body.)
PLEASE! Support biodynamic agriculture (by purchasing biodynamic products)!
Look for the Demeter seal:
Look for the Demeter seal:
For more information, contact The Biodynamic Association
Small farms that cannot afford certification but do farm
biodynamically will often reference Rudolph Steiner on their websites
and other promotional material. Steiner's name is another way to find
biodynamic products when you're shopping. I will periodically do a
Google search on 'biodynamic' or 'Steiner' to see if any new sources
have emerged. There are three CSAs in our area that farm biodynamically
but are not certified. If you know your farmer, certification is not
necessary.
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