Steiner's BD and the Forest

[Robin Duchesneau]

Bonjour and hello,   This one..., I hesitate to deliver, but I request opinions...   On the topic of biodynamic forestry... (yes, it's a long and complex post, but so should be all good efforts...)   For a very long time, and even more since I've worked at C-DAR WWF in BC, I've pondered the question of the practicality of Rudolf Steiner's Bio-Dynamic method for forests.  First, I should say that I'm a fan of Steiner and I think that his spiritual method is a very important contribution to the spiritual and practical knowledge of man (women) kind.  And thanks for Ferdy for having the vision.   About BD and forests.  Yes, I've seen BD preps sprayed in the forest (I should admit having sprayed some myself) , and yes I'm aware of research in Europe and other places relevant to the subject.   But still, I do not fully agree that Steiner's preparation should be used 'ad-lib' in nature as 'the ultimate cure for all ecosystems'.   Yes, I think Steiner was a very perceptive man (also clairvoyant) who developed a deep understanding for a new holistic healing of agricultural soils, and more so..., but NO I do not think that his methodology can be 'blindly' applied to any ecosystem.  Hence... the forest.  I think that it might be destructive to introduce BD microorganisms that do not belong in a forest.   Let me explain:   I believe that Steiner proposed various plants (... yarrow, nettle, dandelion, ... cow shit.... and so on with all the esoteric methods...) as a means to bring back 'plant forces' to starved monocrop agricultural landscapes.   This makes sense, since anyone who has half a brain will observe that these plants grew beside these artificial manmade sites (AKA human crops).  It is only modern propaganda that has told us that plant species were WEEDS.   For heaven sakes:  WHY WOULD NATURE PRODUCE NEGATIVE PLANTS!   (... similarly, forest fires and insect outbreaks are also part of the forest system, but the industry and govt. brainwashed us to think they are bad... only to serve the forest industry's pocket book $$$.... anyway...).   Thence,  since I believe in Steiner's approach, I've given myself the task of finding a 'parallel spiritual holistic method for the forest'.  (perhaps impossible...)   As such, a method should be clear and precise.  I propose the following (and please comment, as this is very new...)   1)  We must find which PLANT SPECIES mediate the health of the forest ecosystem (... this is site specific, meaning what is true in Australia will be different in Canada and so on...).  Plants should be site specific and have a successional relevance...   2)  Since in BD Steiner had a strong focus on compost (incubating the pile with BD preparations for appropriate decomposition), I think that FOREST HUMUS should be a focus.   Seem like a tuff one, but not really...  Humus management is a question of input of organic content, temperature, water, and methods.   Methodology is what we are concerned here... right?   In a forest we must understand how humus regulates root temperature, fungus, bacteria, and other forces that gives the soil its productivity.  ( n.b. productivity should not be only be about tree crop production... this is not HOLISTIC).  This can be done with above ground light management, species selection, and sprays.   3) Homeopathy.   Only because we have VERY VERY VERY large surfaces to cover.   The question is what 'composted plant species' will we bring to the water element in order to eventually spray the soil.   Or alternatively, what plant species should we propagate on a site so that 'nature decomposes, and rain water leachates its forces into the forest soil'.  Then we should seed forest sites with various plant species (is anyone following at this point?... Can you see the parallel with BD prep and this method... this method being more 'natures doing'...).   4) Which plant species mediate the forest dynamics?   Here in Canada, in the boreal forest for example (only because BD forestry should be site specific), after a forest fire, various 'weeds appear'.  For example, fire weed and grasses will dominate in the first few year as will the shrubs (willow, hazel nut, green alder,... and so on).   The point being that forest ecosystems are in constant temporal change.   It is far more complex then agriculture fields that have a 1 yr. rotation.  Thus, we need to think LONG TERM (one rotation is 80- 1000 yr.).   5) Planets.   Since I'm not a clairvoyant, I do not know which tree belong to which planet.  And since Maria Thun did not use tree species when she developed her planting calendar, I have no clue.   Having said that, I could imagine seeding tree species according to intent.  For example, if we have a shallow soil and we need a strong root system, then perhaps we should seed the trees when at new moon.  Conversely, if we need shoots (wood fiber), leafs (photosynthesis), or fruits (seed crop), then we could seed at different times.  Or if we need grass species for organic content, or strawberries for whatever...  Hello!  Can you imagine the protocol to study this?   I fear our society is not up to the challenge.     6) Animals and other life beings...   Forests are not only about trees...   What should BD forestry consider?  Well... good soil and crop management should take care of micro and various macro species.  But, we need spatial and temporal considerations.   Wildlife corridors, and water issues...   7)  Social.   This is the BIGGY.   We cannot have a capitalistic approach for BD forestry.   Industry cannot fit into this paradigm (or not at the current state of affairs).   For now, I see small adventures...  For example,  BD woodlots, or BD forest CSA's, and BD forest GREENHOUSES.  The latter, is a must.  We cannot go on planting FAKE trees in forests.  Do you know what they do to the greenhouse trees?   Fake seasons, chemical fertilizers, and so on...  Yes, I have ideas for change... but not here and now...   Ok!  That's enough for now....  Has anyone followed up to this point?   Please comment, as this topic is far from complete and needs good intent...   Yours,   Robin