moonGROW - Organic gardening by the moon and zodiac signs

What is a Biodynamic Garden?
By: Arlene Wright Correll

A biodynamic garden is one that will provide for its own needs.

Along the grand scale of a biodynamic garden or farm it offers spirituality where one uses compost made of homeopathically applied herbal preparations along with mineral and manure based sprays for application on one’s plants. This is a garden or farm where one also keeps bees to help with the pollination of ones plants and orchards.

When a gardener decides to apply biodynamic farm techniques to a small garden then he or she should remember that one can do exactly that by researching the history, science and mystery of this type of gardening which goes back as far as the Mesopotamia era.

Biodynamic gardening can be fun and it certainly is good for the planet and for your garden and your family’s health because a biodynamic garden need not feed the whole world or a neighborhood, it can simply be a means of feed yourself and your family. Done well you will probably have great organic produce to share with your neighbors or sell at your local farmers market.

Optimum yield from minimum space

One of the benefits of biodynamic gardening is getting the most optimum yield from the minimum space.

A biodynamic garden used no fuel demanding tools such as tractors, rototillers or other things; it also uses no highly processed chemical fertilizers and no toxic pesticides. At this point you may be starting to realize that a biodynamic garden will be labor intensive.

Raised beds

Raised beds will be a must in your biodynamic garden since they offer the gardener the room to reach into the planting area without stepping on them. Most raised beds are about 5 feet wide which allows less space for walk ways and they are usually 4 or 5 inches high with edges on a 45° slope and most beds are approximately 2 feet deep which allows them to be double dug. “Double Dug” means working your dirt down to 2 feet with hand tools.

Use leaf shade for mulch

The plants are arranged so as they grow their leaves barely touch each other creating leafy mulch that will keep down the weeds.

Plant seed plants

If you are planting seeds then use the guide on your seed package. Use heirloom seeds that the seeds can be saved from for next years planting as you will let each vegetable or flower you plant have a few plants that can go to seed for exactly that reason.

Compost in advance

Further more one will need a good compost pile usually prepared a good 3 months prior to adding to your gardening area.

Water daily

Then one will need to arrange for daily watering in order to simulate gentle daily rains.

Companion planting

Companion planting is also considered in a biodynamic garden such as planting potatoes near beans will help control the Mexican bean beetle. You will find that Bibb lettuce will produce a better taste when planted nearby spinach. Many flowers and vegetables do very well when used with companion plants. I always plant marigolds around the edges of my tomatoes to keep down the bugs.

See: Companion planting chart

Most plots of 5 ft wide and 20 ft long will provide a full years supply of vegetables for one person. This is a good measure when deciding how much to plant for your family.

Author Arlene Wright Correll Resource: Resources: Excerpted from Helium Article by Arlene Wright-Correll http://www.helium.com/tm/903293/biodynamic-garden-provide-needs

Article Source: What is a Biodynamic Garden?
Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

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What is a Biodynamic Garden?By: Arlene Wright Correll