Biodynamic Preparations

Biodynamics is a management system which relies on inputs, or preparations, made from a range of commonly found farm by-products, minerals and herbs. The processes by which these materials are transformed are simple and non-invasive - the end-products are pure, clean, odourless, living and 100% natural.

Spray Preparations:

• Horn Manure (Prep 500) is made from cow manure, buried in cow horns in the soil over winter.  The resultant Horn Manure is used to bring in the calcium activity, bringing in the earthly forces to the soil and helping the soil to develop humus and structure and to attract earthworms and soil micro-organisms. Preparation 500 (35g per acre) is stirred for one hour and applied to the whole farm or garden at least in spring and autumn, in droplet form, late afternoon.
   
• Horn Silica Prep 501, made from ground up quartz crystal, brings in the silica activity, and is buried in the soil in the cow horns over summer. A tiny amount, ½ teaspoon per acre is used to take the light forces into the roots to aid photosynthesis and the uptake of minerals and trace elements from the soil, as well as increase dry fibre content and sweetness of the fruit or grass.  It also increases the sugar content of plant sap, sends extra sap to the soil to feed the micro organisms and helps develop resistance to insect attack and fungal diseases.  Stir for one hour and apply early morning, as a fine mist, to all crops and pastures over spring and summer.

• Prep 508, in Europe made from and known as Equisetum, is made locally from a decoction of casuarina leaves. It is sprayed out diluted to aid fluid balance in the soil and air and strengthen against fungal disease.

Compost Preparations:

• 502 Yarrow Prep stimulates the potassium, silica, selenium activating bacteria and helps combine sulphur with other substances.  Aids the soil in connecting to the planetary rhythms.
• 503 Chamomile Prep retains nitrogen and calcium, keeping them in the living realm and preventing loss to the atmosphere. Stimulates boron and manganese, as well as azotobacter activity – the best bacteria for making nitrogen in the soil.
• 504 Stinging Nettle Prep conveys intelligence to the soil, helping proper decomposition and chlorophyll formation, and stimulating iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur activity in the soil.
• 505 Oak Bark Prep helps pull the too strong earthly forces back into the soil, when the etheric (or water activity) is working too strongly, such as after lots of rain or at full moon, by balancing energies helping to protect against fungal diseases. Helps calcium and phosphorus work into the earth in a living form.
• 506 Dandelion Prep stimulates the potassium /silica bacteria in the soil to enable it to work more effectively with the growth forces. Silica makes the plants more inwardly sensitive. Can help increase flowering and filling of fruit out to tips eg cucumbers. Brings substance to our foods to nourish us. Also stimulates the magnesium, boron and selenium soil activity.
• 507 Valerian Prep stimulates the phosphorus process and mobilises the phosphorus-activating bacteria in the soil, as well as selenium and magnesium. Can assist the flowering process. Forms a warmth blanket around the compost heap. If sprayed onto blossoms in spring, it can protect against late frost.

  

All these preparations aid in the proper fermentation and breakdown of matter in the compost heap or liquid compost teas and keep everything in the living state.  They act as bio-stimulants to activate specific bacterial processes in the soil.  They help to organise and sensitise the farming or gardening entity.
The Biodynamic farmer or gardener would place the set of 1g Compost preparations in the compost heap, or in a liquid manure or tea such as fish emulsion, seaweed tea, comfrey tea or tea made from a problem weed on the property. 

Other Preparations:

• Manure Concentrate, or Cow Pat Pit (CPP), is another great way of getting the BD compost preps onto the land. It brings in the cow manure influence, plus basalt and calcium, in a form able to be utilised by the soil and plants, aiding fertility.  CPP makes a great compost tea, bringing bacteria and fungal activity, humus plus trace elements, and attracts a large variety of soil life. It can be applied weekly or monthly with the other soil preps – horn manure (500) and horn clay. CPP is also known as Barrel Compost or Barrel Compound.
• Horn Clay, made from clay, mixed to a  slurry and placed in a cow horn for spring to autumn (summer horn clay) or autumn to spring (winter horn clay) or the whole year.  10g per hectare is either stirred for one hour and can be sprayed out in droplet form, as you do the horn manure (500) on the soil, or mixed with the Horn Manure and sprayed out together. Horn Clay connects the actions of the horn manure and the horn silica.

Ensuring Success:

The Biodynamic Preparations are living substances and therefore need to be used and stored with care. Preparations need to be used within a few days of receiving them and must not be stored too tightly or allowed to dry out before use. They should be kept in a cool place, away from contaminants such as electricity.
BDFNQ, as a group, conducts preparation making days, generally in April and September, using locally grown and obtained resources to ensure the best possible result for our conditions. Due to supply issues, our preps are available only to members of BDFNQ Inc. Non-members can contact Biodynamic Agriculture Australia

Members are able to receive advice and purchase these preps by contacting the President on phone/fax 4097 8126. For reference purposes, please consult the list of available preps below - an invoice is supplied with preps (pay on invoice only).