While Organic farmers concern themselves predominantly with the soil - in other words what's going on beneath their feet - Biodynamists also concern themselves with what's going on above their heads - in other words the sun, moon, planets and stars. Biodynamic growers feel that the influence the movement of celestial bodies relative to each other and to the Earth have a significant influence on how plants grow. This is not new. For instance, Hesiod when writing in the eighth century BC stipulated that wine be made according to a sign from the sky:

When Orion and the Dog Star move Into the mid-sky, and the Arcturus sees The rosy-fingered dawn. (Works and Days II: 609-17)

Biodynamics has its fair share of sceptics, but can anyone ignore the obvious influence of the moon on the world around us. The Biodynamic farmer follows cosmic rhythms, performing vineyard tasks according to a Biodynamic calendar..

The father of Biodynamics, Rudolf Steiner (of Steiner schools fame) saw that conventional crops were weakened by modern, commercial farming techniques. He suggested seeding compost with Biodynamic preparations made from wild plants like stinging nettle, dandelion, common horsetail, chamomile, yarrow, valerian and even oak bark. Once spread on the soil the Biodynamic compost preparations would re-energize flagging soils and the agricultural crops growing in it.

Steiner also developed a soil spray called Horn manure (cow manure buried in a cow horn for six months) to encourage soil microbes and stronger plant roots; and a spray for the atmosphere called Horn silica (ground quartz buried in a cow horn for six months) which helps plants photosynthesize.

Both these sprays help vines grow more strongly underground - deep roots are like strong foundations for a house - and more strongly above ground, as the vines reach up to the heat and light of sun, without which its grapes won't ripen.

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Monty Waldin has worked in wine production around the globe and contributed to such publications as Harpers, Decanter, Wine International and The Ecologist. His book Biodynamic Wines was published in 2004 by Mitchell Beazley.


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To many the above sounds a little far fetched, the influence of the moon is easy enough to comprehend, but cosmic compost is pushing it a little! But it works, just because conventional science can't explain it doesn't mean it isn't there. Spirituality or life forces don't play a huge role in the soil chemistry I was taught, but the results speak for themselves.

Although we can't see 'life forces' working, studies of Biodynamic composts and soils demonstrate that in comparison to organic or conventional compost the quantities of soil flora and fauna are staggering. Dr John Reganold (of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University Pullman) when referring to research carried out in 1993 in New Zealand says:

We were not saying that the conventional farms had bad soil per se, just that the Biodynamic soil was better. In terms of the chemical analysis of the....soils there was little obvious difference. But we found that the Biodynamic soil had better physical properties. ...Our conclusion was that Biodynamics did most to enhance quality.

Vines & Soil

I think this excerpt from Monty Waldin's ground-breaking book, Biodynamic Wines (Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library, 2004) says it all:

We put our glasses down and wandered into the vines. He* asked me what I saw there. I said his vines looked strong, erect, that they really meant business. He then asked me what I thought of the soil. It was springy underfoot, not hard and impenetrable like the vineyard I worked in. I could even put my hands in it, such was its looseness of texture. It smelt of the forest floor. Only then did Barre explain that he was Biodynamic.

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There are hundreds of Biodynamic producers worldwide and new additions all the time. Far from faddish, the jump into Biodynamics is not one to be taken lightly. The Biodynamic approach is holistic; the vineyard is regarded as a living organism that breathes out in winter and breathes in during summer, the soil, vines and surrounding environment are a sustainable living entity. The manure, compost preparations, sprays etc. should ideally be produced within the vineyard or from local sources. For example, cows can be kept on the vineyard for the manure needed for compost and for the Horn Manure, necessitating biodynamic cows, chickens, vegetable patches and even Biodynamic Wellington boots! This requires a great deal of maintenance. In addition to the evidence above, the big names in Biodynamics below add yet more weight to the Biodynamic case.

An introduction was edited by Monty Waldin. Monty Waldin has worked in wine production around the globe and contributed to such publications as Harpers, Decanter, Wine International and The Ecologist. His book Biodynamic Wines was published in 2004 by Mitchell Beazley.