Compost Biodynamics
Biodynamics, an increasingly popular form of organic agriculture, boasts a high level of sophistication in its compost. Germany in the 1920's saw Dr. Rudold Steiner developing this state of the art horticulture compost techniques. The system considers all possible factors that could effect the growth of a plant including:
- Air circulation
- Soil condition
- Sunlight
- warmth
- companion planting
- water
- Astronomical positions during planting
Australia farms over a million hectares using biodynamic compost methodology, over 90% of all of the biodynamic growing done in the entire world. A student of Steiner, Alex Podolinsky, moved to Australia in 1947 and worked with local farmers to refine the biodynamics process in a way that would be condusive to low labour and broadacre farming. His acheivements set Australia on the path to its current position as biodynamics farming leader.
The main objective of biodynamics consists of increasing soil fertility. Biodynamic farmers use a substance known as 500, a biodynamic compost, to perform this task. 500 is a specially prepared cow manure derivative compost that is created when the manure has been transformed to colloidal humus during a composting process that requires it to be buried for a set amount of time. The colloidal humus compost is mixed in a special way and sprayed on planting fields. It is believed that biodynamic colloidal humus compost be the most powerful fertilizer known. Claims include that the compost stimulates root activity, microbial activity, and contributes to further humus production during future composting. Also, it is said that a single handful is enough compost for an entire 1 acre plot and that the food is healthier and tastier.