In the 1800’s in the U.S., the Shakers exemplified an organic, sustainable approach to gardening. They were the first producers of commercial seed in America. Their philosophy of gardening incorporated all that we think of today as environmentally sound, organic gardening. Lorraine Harrison, in her book, The Shaker Book of the Garden, writes: “if we nurture our soil, diligently tend our plants, and respect the fellow creatures who inhabit our plots, the result is likely to be not only a productive garden, but one of organic, sustainable beauty.” She goes on to write that it is a model “we might usefully apply to the rest of our lives.”
This philosophy today, is what organic farmers live by. The words “...a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted...” from Ecclesiastes have true meaning to the farmer who lives and works closely with the land. The earth has its own rhythms and all processes and systems work to those rhythms - the dawning of the day, the closing in of night, the phases of the moon, the journey of the stars, the seasons of the year - all have an effect on farming.
Biodynamic gardening was first taught by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920’s. The philosophy encompasses a totally holistic approach to agriculture recognizing all the natural influences on plant growth. The philosophy of biodynamic farming teaches that “...the light of the sun, moon, planets and stars reaches the plants in regular rhythms. Each contributes to the life, growth and form the plant.” Steiner maintained that by understanding these rhythms we can time our agriculture to make the best use of them.
Farmers live in harmony with nature’s rhythms – it is that knowledge and sensitivity to the environment and all that surrounds them that enables these folks to nurture and tend the land with such care and love.
It behoves us all to educate ourselves on the many unseen influences on plant growth.
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