The Effective Use Biodynamic Preparations Spring into Summer

The Importance of the Biodynamic Preparations and How to Apply Them

In this day and age, when we are experiencing extremes of climate and an array of artificial substances, pollution and frequencies all around us in the environment, it seems of paramount importance to protect our gardens and natural environment more than ever from those detrimental influences.

How best to employ our “preparations”?

The Biodynamic Preparation Seed Baths
We can start this process right from the word go and pre-soak our open pollinated seeds in the biodynamic preparations 500 and 502-507 (E. E. Pfeiffer and M. Künzle).

Follow these indications:

• Horn manure prep. (500): Spinach, Perpetual Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beetroot, Fodderbeet
• Chamomile prep. (503): Peas, Beans, Radish, Cabbage family
• Oakbark prep. (505): For all the Lettuce and Beans
• Valerian prep. (507): Carrot, Onion, Leek, Celery and Celeriac, Chicory, Cucumber, Tomato Aubergine and Pepper

Seedbath procedure:
For preparation 500 – dissolve a teaspoon of the Horn Manure and for the Valerian -1ml of 507 – in lukewarm rainwater (or filtered water) and stir respectively and hour or 15 minutes.

All other preparations are dissolved in lukewarm rainwater (or filtered water) and leave to stand for 20-24 hours, before soaking the seeds in them.

Soak Seeds:

• Beans: 10-15 minutes; sow straight away or as soon as possible the same day.
• Cabbage family: 30 minutes: dry on cloth or kitchen towel and sow right away.
• Radish: 15-30 minutes: dry on cloth or kitchen towel and sow right away.
• Peas: up to 2 hours: put into a cloth for 24 hours afterwards. This insures the fastest germination of the peas.
• All other seed varieties: Soak for 1 hour and then dry on a cloth or kitchen towel and sow the same day.

The maximum time seeds can be kept after sowing is for two days in a moist and dark place.

When is the best time to apply the biodynamic preparation 500-Horn Manure?

The 500/Horn Manure is applied, when cultivating the soil before sowing, after sowing and the next day – afternoon or evening is the best time. We can apply it also when pricking out plants or transplanting them.  Apply 500/Horn Manure when plants are experiencing extreme weather and the plants stop growing. Enhances growth above and below the soil. If used with the Valerian preparation (507) it has been shown that root development in drought conditions is enhanced considerably.

Always spray the biodynamic Horn Manure preparation (500) at least once in the growing season before using 501 (Horn Silica). Used correctly this silica preparation will enhance the yield, maturation, ripening, nutritional quality and storage. It will protect our plants from extreme weather, pests and diseases and enhance the yield by 20%. (see https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycae021 for research on preparation and microbiome support for plant growth)

This will also help to bring silica from the soil into a bio-available form to create humus and in plants more fibre, a stronger epidermis (skin) and a cuticula (wax layer) on the surface of the plants (see image-what is a cuticle). In turn we will be better nourished, the silica will strengthen our semi-permeable membranes in the gut, blood-brain barrier and the connective tissue, fascia and retina of eyes.

If the preparations 500 and 501 are applied respectively three consecutive evenings and mornings on the plants, they will be even more effective.

When is the best time to apply the biodynamic preparation 501, the Horn Silica?

The 501 (Horn Silica) is applied in the morning before the sun reaches 30 degrees in the sky or not later than 2-3 hours after sunrise. Each one of our vegetables varieties are bred and selected to develop one part more dominantly which we then eat.  We identify root, leaf, flowering and fruiting vegetables. For example: In the parsnips, carrots, radishes and beetroots the top of the roots are thickened and show a distinct colour. We have loose leaved or a heading vegetables as in the lettuce, spinach and cabbage family.  Flowerbuds as in cauliflowers and broccoli and also fruiting vegetables like in the cucumber and tomato family.  We can call those parts of the plants we eat the “fruiting parts” or “edible parts” of the plants. We can anticipate the metamorphosis of growth into these fruiting or edible parts of the plants we grow when the plant grows as expected. When we can see from experience that they are ready to expand or change colour and grow into those parts of the plants we tend to eat, we apply the preparation 501-Horn Silica.

In a home garden when we might have many varieties of vegetables growing, we can find an average time for all vegetables to be sprayed all at the same time with the Horn Silica preparation.  With plants which constantly produce leaves, flowers and fruits as we can observe in the cucumber and tomato family, we can apply the preparation 500 and 501 every month alternating between the two to give the continued support to the growth and fruiting impulses in the plant.

For many biodynamic gardeners it has become a lifestyle to meditate while doing the preparation work and put our positive intent into the liquid we stir with the preparations to enhance their effect and the cosmic and elemental forces they are bringing into balance. We are also increasing the combining and oxygenation of the preparation and the water when we stir the preparation bringing energy into the mix before spraying it on the garden.

See also tips on our Gardening Club facebook page – the Gardening Club is free to join see https://www.biodynamic.org.uk/garden/free-online-club/ or become a member for even more benefits and support https://www.biodynamic.org.uk/get-involved/membership-giving-legacies/join/

You can buy all the  Biodynamic Preparations from our web shop here
Reccomended reading:  The Biodynamic Preparations – Heart and Soul of Biodynamics £4.95 plus P&P