Last week I posted a link to a piece critical of the practice of biodynamics. I was thrilled with the responses it generated, it’s heartening to have readers feel so passionately about a topic that they are willing to defend their beliefs tooth and nail. Now I get the bully pulpit to rebut some of these arguments.
If you re-read both the original article and my commentary, you’ll never see anyone criticizing organic methods or farmers putting care into growing their crops; disbelieving in of biodynamic agriculture isn’t a vote for “industrial tomatoes” (an example two commentators bizarrely felt was analogous). Agriculture relying on sustainability and the passionate work of the farmer to coax the best of his crops utilizing scientifically proven principles is the way forward.
I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings, but do you want to know what’s wrong with biodynamics? It’s not the organic approach, or even being tune with your vines – I get that. But burying ox heads, deer intestines, and calves skulls to stimulate cosmic forces in wine or some such nonsense. What’s the harm you might say? Because it’s bullshit – and it crosses the line into superstition and giving up self determination and control. It’s as foolish a belief as worrying that a black cat crossing your path will somehow inspire the universe to bring retribution to you.
I’m not saying that there isn’t merit in some of the techniques, I’m sure there is, people better experienced growing things than me say there is. But the part of the system I am qualified to comment on is coincidentally total nonsense, the role of astrology, cosmic supernatural energies being imparted into the plants and the overall new age idiotic spirituality of the method. I’m sorry, but if you believe this crap you probably failed grade three science. Lets be clear, any tangible benefits accrued by crops grown biodynamicly isn’t from the fairies and pixies imparting cosmic energy into the plants as Steiner would have you believe, but rather good organic stewardship coupled with chemical inputs disguised as mystical preparations. The astrology is pure red herring to impart a sense of spiritual wonder less sceptical audiences clearly love.
Thanks for reading.
~KT
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Besides, these practices anger Cthulhu. We wouldn’t want to do that!
The moon and astrology do indeed play a role in vineyard practices. Biodynamic or not a lot of gardeners plant according to moon phases to benefit from an increase in sprouting and astrologically the ancient signs are indicators of when there is more water in the soil and therefore fertile. Biodynamics as practiced by most serious winery’s are very practical. Planting manure in bulls horns hmm… sounds an awful lot like fertilizer doesn’t it.
Your lack of grasp on this matter is annoying, moreover it is a shame that your silly comments make it onto a website where sometimes, emphasis on sometimes, you sound like an authority. It would be another issue altogether if you had linked and then critiqued the Nicholas Joly manual which is much more practical and even offers anecdotal evidence towards the use of such “bullshit” practices.
http://www.youtube.com/marquiswinecellars