The word "biodynamic" comes from the Greek words "bio," meaning "life," and "dyn," which means "force," and was coined in Europe in the late 1920s following Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course. The biodynamic method is a holistic, ecologically sensitive, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food production, nutrition and even life. It looks at the farm as a self-sustaining, living organism, focusing on farm vitality.
The cornerstone of Biodynamic agriculture is the promotion and cultivation of nutrient-rich soil which in turn produces nutrient-rich food. This is achieved by abandoning the harsh, often toxic chemical supported practices of large scale factory farming and replacing them with a collection of holistic practices including consistent crop rotation, the planting of trees and shrubs within the farmland to create biodiversity, incorporating cover crops grown specifically to add nutrients back into the soil and eliminate exposure and nutrient degradation, in addition to the regular application of microbial rich compost to amend the soil.
It is important to understand that there is a fundamental difference between soil and dirt. Dirt simply describes a surface level substance, while SOIL is a living organism made up of a diverse collection of natural elements including fungi, organic materials and bacteria. Soil is naturally reoccurring and has been in creation since the beginning of time on earth and beyond. In a single handful of healthy soil there are more microbes than there are people on earth. It is a complete and self-sustaining ecosystem in and of itself.
On a biodynamic farm planting and harvesting are structured around lunar and astrological rhythms that play a role in the life-cycle of the plants, in the same way that the lunar cycle affects the tides and vitality of the ocean. It looks beyond the traditional farming seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter and into the deeper nuances and cumulative effects of the forces that influence all life on our planet.
One of the most unique aspects of biodynamics is the use of herbal microbial "preparations" to facilitate a healthy soil ecosystem and sturdy crops. There are nine different ones, all with different purposes, and advocates of the Biodynamic way of farming hold that the benefits of using these preparations (or "teas" as they're sometimes called) is one of the key differences between Biodynamic farming and other methods of sustainable or regenerative practices.
By using all-organic compost and soil amendments, no-tillage practices, crop and grazing rotation, cover cropping and a focus on nurturing and enlivening the soil and resources we have on hand locally, Biodynamic farming practices not only produce better, more nutrient-rich food, but also provides a path to recovery from a multitude of ecological crises we are facing today. It protects against soil degradation and the release of harmful carbon emissions into the air, by sequestering the CO2 and reabsorbing it back into the ground where it is meant to be.
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Biodynamic, Regenerative, and Holistic agriculture are all terms that describe a similar agricultural process that views the entire farm as a singular, living organism based on the four elements of air, earth, fire, and wind. This farming methodology focuses on consciously co-creating with the natural rhythms of these elements to better the farm from the soil up.
While Organic farming practices can strengthen the soil more than non-organic, or conventional, practices, there is much neglected in terms of the sourcing of farm materials leaving room for doubt on how "natural" the products of these farms are. All in all, Organic is a step above Conventional farming, however Regenerative or Biodynamic farming is the best approach for consumers and the planet itself.
Rudolf Steiner is seen as the grandfather of Biodynamic farming after his series of lectures in 1924 sparked an interest in solving devastating problems caused by the use of chemical fertilizers in Europe. Steiner taught that this new, but also very classic, approach to farming would revitalize the soil and reintroduce nutrients to both food and animal crops all while protecting them from pests and danger. The term Biodynamics can be interpreted as: "Bio" meaning "life," and "-dynamic" signifying a "force promoting change."
According to Demeter USA, "in order for a farm to refer to itself as Biodynamic, it must have achieved certification through Demeter by adhering to the Demeter Farm Standard for a minimum of three years if conventionally farmed, or a minimum of one year if organically farmed. The entire farm must be certified, not just a portion of land within the farm. Farms are inspected annually to ensure that the Standard is being met. The Demeter Biodynamic® Farm Standard reflects the Biodynamic principle of the farm as a living organism: self-contained, self-sustaining, following the cycles of nature. It provides the legal definition of BIODYNAMIC in the US marketplace. Sections of the Farm Standard include necessary elements of the farm organism, soil fertility management, crop protection, greenhouse management, animal welfare, and the use of the preparations. Biological diversity within the farm landscape is emphasized, and requires that a minimum of ten percent of the total farm acreage be set-aside as a biodiversity preserve. The Farm Standard is historically significant because it dates back to the beginning of the modern sustainable farming movement, and captures key agronomic principles not comprehensively addressed within any other agriculture certification system."
Organic certification is mostly concerned with what's excluded: synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs. But that focus on exclusion has left room for manipulation — as big agriculture has moved into the organic space, the label has been stretched and diluted, often falling short of the promise it used to carry. What you leave out only tells part of the story.
Biodynamic certification asks a bigger question. Rather than checking a list of prohibited inputs, it evaluates the entire farm system, inside and out, as a single living organism — the soil, the animals, the biodiversity set-asides, the nine preparations, even the timing of planting. Where organic applies to individual practices, biodynamics applies to the whole farm and everything it touches as one interconnected system going significantly further than simply organic certification alone requires.