“Half
the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the
imagination.”
Mrs. C.W. Earle
Hello
Fellow Gardeners,
Certainly
at this time of the year there's very little gardening going
on except in the imagination. Fortunately, this is the time
of year that the seed catalogs start arriving in the mail box to
help the imagination along. And once you get on the seed catalog
mailing list there will be no shortage of these imagination
boosters.
Last
week's goal was to decide what you want to grow in your garden, so
now it's time to start preparing your seed order. We won't be
doing any planting until March but it's best to order your seeds
early so the ones you want won't be out of stock. Since our goal
is to grow the purest, most vital food we can, I am going to
recommend that you buy biodynamic seeds. For those of you who are
not familiar with biodynamics, let me explain.
What
Is Biodynamics?
The
term biodynamics sounds like some high-tech agricultural process.
In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is an acknowledgment of the
basic principles at work in Nature and the application of those
principles to the growing of food. The impetus for this movement
was provided by the scientist, philosopher and mystic, Rudolph
Steiner. Steiner’s 1924 Agriculture Lectures outlined the
process that was to become known as biodynamic farming. His
predominant message was, "Heal the soil." The forerunner
to organics, biodynamics is the only agricultural process that
actually increases rather than depletes our natural topsoil
reserve.
In
addition to rejecting the chemical solution to the problems that
agriculture was experiencing, Steiner emphasized the importance of
cosmic, telluric (earth-related) and spiritual influences on the
production of healthy, life-enhancing food. Like the farmers who
adhere to the Farmer’s Almanac, Biodynamic farmers and gardeners
believe in the rhythmic influence of the sun, moon, planets and
stars on the growth of plant life. Ground preparation, planting,
cultivation and harvesting are done according to these rhythms.
The natural, soil-enriching preparations developed by Steiner and
his followers produce a humus-forming organic fertilizer that
energizes the soil and the plants that grow in it. Biodynamic
farmers believe that healthy soil and a respect for the natural
forces that influence plant growth will produce more complete and
vital food for the nourishment of man and animals. Theirs
is a spiritual mission to produce the purest, most vital food
for humankind.
We
will discuss the biodynamic preparations and how to use them on a
small garden as we get into the growing season. The main source of
biodynamic seed in the United States is Turtle Tree Seed in
Copake, NY. You can view all their products online at (www.turtletreeseed.com)
and order from Turtle Tree by mail, fax or phone. If you prefer to
sit by the fireplace and page through a catalog, they will be
happy to send you one.
As
you will see, there are several different varieties of most
vegetables and herbs. So read the descriptions carefully before
you make your final selections. I suggest that you order some
marigold seeds along with your vegetable and herb seeds. In
addition to beautifying the garden, they repel certain harmful
insects. The following Turtle Tree seeds have consistently worked
well for me in my Pittsburgh garden, but please don't limit
yourself to these varieties.
beans
– Provider, Aunt Ada's Italian, Scarlet Runner
beets – Feurer Kugel
broccoli - Umpqua
carrots – Danvers, Scarlet Nantes
cucumbers – Marketmore
lettuce – Ermosa, Mikola, Oakleaf
peppers – Early Red Sweet, Anaheim
radishes – French Breakfast
Swiss chard – Rainbow
tomatoes – Super Lakota, Brandywine
spinach – Butterflay
By
the way, when you order seeds from Turtle Tree you're also
supporting the Camphill Village where they're grown. Camphill
Villages are intentional communities for adults with developmental
disabilities. To learn more about these wonderful communities
visit http://www.camphill.org/.
From
the Soil to the Soul
In
biodynamic farming and gardening we consider the soil to be a
living organism. Rudolf Steiner recognized the necessity of
healthy soil to nourish our bodies and the connection between a
truly well-nourished body and a healthy spirit.
When asked, “How can it happen that the spiritual impulse,
and especially the inner schooling, for which you are constantly
providing stimulus and guidance bear so little fruit? Why do the
people concerned give so little evidence of spiritual experience,
in spite of all the efforts? Why, worst of all, is the will for
action, for the carrying out of these spiritual impulses, so weak?”
Steiner replied, “This is a problem of nutrition. Nutrition
as it is today does not supply the strength necessary for
manifesting the spirit in physical life. A bridge can no longer be
built from thinking to will and action.”
Steiner went
about teaching the farmers how to heal the soil so the bridge
could once again be built.
This connection is clearly recognized in the Essene Gospel of
Peace:
“We
worship the good, the strong,
the
beneficent Earthly Mother
And
all her angels,
Bounteous,
valiant
and
full of strength;
Welfare-bestowing,
kind
and
health giving.
Through
her brightness and glory
Do
the plants grow up from the earth,
By
the never-failing springs.
Through
her brightness and glory
Do
the winds blow,
Driving
down the clouds
Towards
the never-failing spring.
The
Earthly Mother and I are One.
I
have my roots in her
And
she takes her delight in me.
According
to the Holy Law.”
The Essene Gospel of Peace Book Two, page 44
So,
check out the Turtle Tree website (www.turtletreeseed.com),
order your seed catalog, and and start exercising your gardening
imagination. .
Until
next week,
Peace be
with you,
Rose
Mirabai Lord