Today, February 25, marks the birthday of Rudolph Steiner, who was born 147 years ago (1861). Rudolph Steiner was a german philosopher, scholar, educator, playwright and social thinker. He is credited as the founder of Anthroposophy, the Waldorf education system, the School of Spiritual Science and anthroposophical medicine. He fought for ethical individualism, brought eurythmy to the masses, became the poster child for esotericism and Adolph Hitler declared war on him in 1921. His invention of Bio-Dynamic Agriculture began a slow movement into the organic farming movement that we have today. Bio-Dynamic Agriculture is what makes him notable here.
Biodynamic Agriculture (BD ag) - Due to the decrease of soil and food qualities brought on by fertilizers and improper farming methods, Steiner began a series of 8 lectures to farmers at Silesia, Germany in 1924. The basis of the lectures spoke of composting, utilizing ‘on farm’ manures as fertilizers, extensive crop rotations and working the farm as one large organism. Steiner prescribed nine different soil preparations to aid fertilization which became the cornerstone of biodynamic agriculture. Associating astrology and moon cycles with specific applications was also a major part of BD ag.
Steiner’s advise was put into practice almost immediatly and soon the term Biodynamic was trademarked and a certification process was implimented in order to retain its strict order. In 1938 the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association was founded in New York state. Today, BD ag is practiced in 50 countries. Its concepts have been widespread and it later spun into organic gardening and farming. Today, wines that are made using the Biodynamic process are a wine purists top choice and is a sector of the wine market that is gaining great popularity.
Although it is difficult to point to Steiners influence on ecology exactly. His holistic approach towards gardening is one shared by many environmentalists. It is safe to assume that he had a huge effect on todays “new” concepts of eating locally, reducing fertilizers and pesticides, growing organic foods and living an overall more sustainable lifestyle. If he were alive today he would be a great environmentalist and in great demand, as his 85 year old ideas now have a captive audience. Rudolph Steiner died shortly after his Biodymanic lectures in March of 1925.
http://www.biodynamics.com/ Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
http://www.angelicorganics.com/ CSA in Northern Illinois that practices BD Ag.
http://www.ecoworld.com/home/articles2.cfm?tid=388 Article on Biodynamic Wines
http://www.amazon.com Search for Steiner Books
