(photo courtesy of barrysfreephotos.com)

Biodynamic farming is gaining ground as enthusiasts work to make their farms not just organic to the point of becoming self-sustained environment. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are shunned. Great efforts are made to recycle and use only what is available on the farm to develop and sustain rich soil capable of growing produce full of flavor and nutrients. Organic matter is mulched and worked back into the soil. Cows are kept to provide fertilizer, water gets recycled, and the habitats of wild birds and animals are protected. Wild birds can be relied upon to eliminate unwanted insects.

Though biodynamic farming may be a new concept to many of us, it’s been around for some time. The Austrian philosopher, scientist and artist Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) laid the foundations for biodynamics in a series of lectures he gave in 1924. There are elements of mysticism in Steiner’s writings, but biodynamic farming embraces practices that make for keeping the land healthy for people and crops. The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association (BDA), a non-profit organization open to the public, was formed in the U.S. in 1938 in order to foster, guide, and safeguard the Biodynamic method of agriculture. Biodynamic farming is far from unique to the U.S. Organizations dedicated to promoting biodynamic practices are well established in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain.

In the U.S. today there are as many as 50 wine growers who have adopted biodynamic practices. Almost half of those growers are in California. Vintners believe biodynamic methods lead to the best grapes and therefore the best wines. Some made the conversion because they felt the grapes produced from depleted soil and onslaughts of chemical fertilizer just weren’t good enough to make great wine. Converts have found their efforts paying off. The best of the biodynamic wines have caught the attention of sommeliers and fetch premium prices. A 2004 Tribute from the Benzinger Family Winery made with cabernet and petit verdot grapes will set you back $80. The wine makers say that using strict biodynamic methods they produce wine that really tastes of the land from which it comes.

To read an article from insidebayarea.com on biodynamic farming & wine gowers go to: Biodynamic farming gains ground in the wine world

To visit the web site of the Biodynamic Association in the U.S. go to: Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association