Introduction
For 25 years I've been fascinated by one approach to tending the land.
Biodynamic agriculture and horticulture, also known as biodynamics or
BD, has a strong foundation of organic husbandry and the results are
increasingly valued both ecologically and gastronomically. But the
defining biodynamic techniques are currently off the scientific map: 'preparations' are
potentised and
spread on the land or put in compost, planting is
done after considering the position of the Moon Sun and planets,
and weed or pest peppers
are created to mitigate their damage! Hmmmm....
For these 25 years I have been caught in this tension between feeling
in my gut that something was 'right', but not finding it easy to use
my rational filters to evaluate the means to these wonderful ends.
I assume I am not alone in having this dilemma.
I recognise the limited
nature of statistics but those same rational
filters crave carefully analysed experimental data as a 'reality check'.
However, researchers have not, yet, come to a unanimous
conclusion. For this reason I considered it a reasonable idea to collate
experiences that people have had when planting by the stars.
Few of
us can and will devote ourselves to sufficient diligent experimentation
like Lili
Kolisko or Maria
Thun. However, we might each be
able to do a little as part of a bigger team. (1000s
of Maria
Thun's calendars are sold each year around the world,
and that's just one
of the calendars out there.) In this way we might
achieve conviction ourselves and perhaps be convincing for others.
Considera offers itself as a central collation and analysis point
for these results. This is one of Considera's motivating
aims.
I am now familiar with biodynamics, and have become fond of
it: partly because of its focused eccentricity, partly because
it has taken personal investment even to come to a rudimentary grip
with biodynamics, partly because that investment has exposed a very thorough
foundation to biodynamic practices, and partly because it seems to be
very effective at a time when benign effectiveness in agriculture is
sorely needed.
Therefore,
having enabled this site to collate and evaluate star-plant
experiences, Considera
offers the same for pest
and weed peppering, and has uncovered a lot of interesting
work concerning the use of potentised
preparations
for the soil and its creatures. This has lead on to
a whole new
initiative which
strays outside the current boundaries of biodynamic agriculture.
All this is a bit presumptuous since no one has asked
me to offer my thoughts on the web and I am no one's expert. But I
fancied the challenge, gave myself permission, and now think something
good may come of it ....
"In all these matters, I can only give indications, but as
you see, these indications are capable of direct practical application.
And as there is still the prevailing judgment - I will not call in
prejudice - that all things must subsequently be verified, good
and well! Set to work and verify them. If you do
the experiments rightly, you will soon see them confirmed." Dr
Rudolf Steiner, Lecture 6 on Agriculture.
