The Biodynamic Farm: Developing a Holistic Organism Paperback – November 15, 2010

Great beginning book for someone with little knowledge of biodynamic farming. Good learning tool for me! Highly recommend this one for newbies.

Before reading this book, my understanding of biodynamic farming was working with nature, instead of against it; diversifying the farm; becoming sustainable...that sort of thing. But this book relies heavily on the early 1900s philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, who tried to mix mysticism with science.Example, from p.35: "During the cow's complex digestive process, the contents of the four stomach and intestine are permeated with etheric forces as well as astral and spiritual forces which come from the cosmos." Page 36: "Animals have a group soul and a group spirit." Page 55: "As well as being great devourers of pests, birds gather the astrality (soul forces) collected by trees and shrubs from the air, and spread this to the neighboring crops..." Page 69: "a study of the forces coming from the cosmos at various seasons is necessary...The greatest effect can be seen when sowing during the thirteen Holy Nights of Christmas. Seed sewn during these days - if possible when the moon is in the appropriate constellation - produces the greatest power of regeneration."Oddly, the author doesn't back most of his claims with anecdotes or facts. He doesn't even explain many of his mystic beliefs. Perhaps this is the genesis of biodynamic farming, but it isn't something that most homesteaders and farmers today will find helpful.