Gardening for Life: The Bio-Dynamic Way (Art & Science)

Biodynamic techniques are based on the recognition that plants are intimately connected with and depend on soil that is alive and vital. Through nurturing and caring for the soil, you will be able to grow quality produce that has vitality and more flavor.

Sharing its principles, methods, and techniques with organic farming, biodynamic agriculture also acknowledged that plant growth is affected by planetary influences, such as the waxing and waning of the Moon.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or new, this book offers accessible tips on:

• Favorable times for planting, harvesting, and growing
• Ways to combat pests and diseases
• Building soil furtility ― crop change and rotation
• How the planets and stars affect plant growth

This is a practical guide for anyone who wants to garden or farm in true harmony with the forces of nature.

Maria Thun (1922–2012) was born near Malburg, Germany. Her father had a small farm and the children took part in the farm work. In the early 1940s Maria Thun met her future husband Walter Thun, who introduced her to some biodynamic farmers and Maria became greatly interested in these farming methods. She continued to experiment with sowing during the 1950s with many types of crops to see whether the movement of the moon had the same effect on all crops. From her observations she divided passage of the moon through the zodiac into four: root days, leaf days, fruit days and flower days, each indicating which type of plant is best sown on each specific day. Her annual sowing and planting calendar is published in eighteen languages.