Dear friend,
We have been working in biodynamics here at Marabino since 2008. However, what does it mean, exactly? Over and over again I have realized how much confusion there is around this much debated term, hence the idea of trying to clarify a bit.
It is an agricultural practice that has existed for over a hundred years, conceived by Rudolf Steiner, philosopher and scientist who developed anthroposophy as a science of the spirit. Steiner theorized the basis of biodynamic agriculture in 1924 during a series of conferences in response to the concerns of a group of farmers who feared the harmful consequences of chemical fertilization. Biodynamic agriculture does not limit itself to promoting the growth of plants according to the principle of yield, to draw only profit from their cultivation, but goes beyond because it cares about the health of the Earth, attempting to give new life to the land to bring it back to its original health.
Through a broadened vision of the events of nature, “agricultural organisms” are formed where the earth, plants and animals can live in balance, supporting each other and together becoming a healing factor for the landscape. These organisms are biodynamic companies. In practice, the biodynamic farmer uses tools and preparations based on animal, vegetable and mineral substances in homeopathic doses to accumulate the cosmic forces of the earth and give a stimulus to the life of plants. This means paying attention to the lunar phases and the movements of the planets, to sunlight and moonlight, forces that come from the universe of magnetic/gravitational origin that positively influence the growth of plants and the fertility of the soil. To make these forces tangible I often refer to the ability of the moon to influence the tides as an attractive gravitational force, the same occurs in a similar way with respect to the lymphatic flows of plants. Each biodynamic preparation is born from elements present in nature, with precise effects that aim to improve the health of plants. When I arrived at the company in 2008 I tried to introduce the staff to biodynamics, talking to the older winemakers I discovered how in the past they always took into account the lunar rhythms for sowing and pruning. I convinced them to return to these agricultural practices, using the lunar and planetary calendar according to the biodynamic method.
By the way, in the next newsletters I would like to write a short in-depth article each time on the main preparations and the most widespread practices, so familiar here in Marabino.
The use of the calendar, for example, takes into account lunar and planetary rhythms, elements that affect all of us. It is not always easy to apply it precisely, however we try to respect these “windows” as much as possible, especially in the pruning, sowing and shredding of green manure. Our company is integrated into the landscape between olive groves, orchards, hedges, aromatic plants, small animals, green manure and vegetable garden, thus ensuring greater biodiversity across the entire company surface. The photovoltaic system makes us autonomous from an energy point of view, and all the water used in the cellar returns to nature, filtered and purified through the water phytodepuration system.
But what exactly does it mean to be a sustainable farm? Organic farming, which fortunately is gaining more and more ground, represents an important step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural production. However, it is important to recognize that even within this approach, there are significant nuances and differences. Organic farming often simply replaces synthetic chemicals with natural alternatives, without necessarily challenging the models of intensive production and resource exploitation. In this sense, organic farming can become a method that allows for intensive cultivation and good land use, based on the principle of integrated plant protection.
Here a fundamental conflict arises: on the one hand, there are biological interests, which aim to promote the health of soil, plants and ecosystems; on the other hand, there are economic interests, which often focus on short-term productivity and profit. This conflict can lead to compromises that weaken the very essence of organic farming. For example, some organic farms may use intensive practices that, although they do not use synthetic chemicals, can still have negative impacts on the environment and biodiversity. To overcome this limitation, it is necessary to adopt a more holistic and sustainable approach, which considers not only the health of plants and animals, but also the health of the ecosystem as a whole.
Our philosophy is to create a unique organism that generates life, where the earth, plants and animals can live in balance and harmony. That’s why biodynamics is not just an agricultural method, but a way of thinking and living in harmony with nature. Biodynamics contributes to creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food system, and we are proud to be part of this journey.
See you soon,
Pierpaolo Messina