Wolcum Yole!

outdoors shrouding my father’s lemon tree against the winter The longest night is nigh. The Winter Solstice – Yule – celebrates the sun’s return to the earth, escorted by the shortest day of the year. Light and dark, yang and yin. Darkness is not negative but necessary for gestation and growth. The seed needs the dark earth to sprout; the baby needs the darkness of the womb to grow. The longest day foretells the depth of winter, just as the shortest day heralds the height of summer. Stories and traditions from many cultures reflect upon the cycle of the seasons. Yule logs are burned and Christmas trees lit to illumine this darkest of nights. They symbolise hope and the belief that the sun’s (Son’s?) light will be reborn. Long before the birth of Christ, Yuletide was celebrated in pagan lands. Riddles were posed and answered, magic and rituals were practised, wild boars were sacrificed and large amounts of ‘spirit’ were consumed. Corn dollies were carried from house to house, carols were sung, fertility rites observed (girls standing under the mistletoe were subject to more than a mere kiss!) and divinations were cast for the coming spring. Many such customs, watered down, have entered mainstream Christian celebrations. On a mundane level, the regeneration of the earth is reflected in the philosophy of biodynamic, or Demeter, farming. Demeter was the Greek goddess of crops and the harvest. When her daughter Persephone, goddess of the eternal springtime, was abducted by Hades, lord of the underworld, Demeter, in her grief and anger, refused to play goddess until her daughter was restored to her. Without Demeter, no crops could grow and the resulting famine threatened to extinguish the human race. Eventually, Zeus, king of the gods, ordered Hades to let Persephone go. When Demeter and Persephone were reunited, Demeter asked her daughter if she had eaten anything while underground. Persephone admitted to having munched on a few pomegranate seeds. In consequence, she could not remain eternally above ground but would have to spend one third of each year in the underworld as the wife of Hades and two thirds of the year with Demeter. To this day, when Persephone resides in the underworld, her mother mourns and refuses to allow the crops to grow until her return. In keeping with the ebb and flow of the seasons, biodynamic farming is a process-oriented, sustainable and earth enriching system. It originated in 1924 when a group of farmers, concerned that their yields were down, decided to apply the soil-enhancing ideas of German philosopher Rudolf Steiner. The Demeter organisation was founded in 1928 to support and promote Steiner’s agricultural methods. The term ‘biodynamic’, originating from two Greek words, ‘bios’ (life) and ‘dynamis’ (energising or motive force), was created to encapsulate the essence of the method. The aim of biodynamic farming (and gardening) is to revitalise nature, grow nourishing food and advance the physical and spiritual health of humanity. A biodynamic farm or garden is organic but it is also considered a living organism with its own individual qualities and diversity of life. Reliance on home produced compost, manure and animal feed is a key objective and external inputs are kept to a minimum. Biodynamic Preparations (specially prepared herb, mineral and manure substances applied to compost, soil and plants) and natural fertilisers, such as cow dung, are used to regenerate the soil, which in turn produces healthy seeds, plants, animal feed, animals, and food for humans. Pest control relies on the intrinsic biological vitality of plants and their genetic and biological diversity, for pests only attack plants that are in some way weak. Nothing is force-fed; instead, plants are allowed to grow in accordance with their nature, depending on their own root systems, the catalyst of the sun, and the structure and health of the soil. Animals are tended in accordance with species-specific husbandry to ensure that their every need is met. For everything there is a season and crops are sown and harvested according to cosmic rhythms. Steiner’s followers found that carrots seeded after the full moon produce greater yields and have longer keeping ability, while potatoes seeded under the same cosmic conditions yield less. (That’s just one example.) To this end, the Demeter organisation provides an astronomical calendar to help farmers sow and reap in a timely fashion. As each farm is unique, the farmer must also observe the cycles of nature and act accordingly. The application of principles is more important than following a ‘rule book’. The biodynamic method builds a continual supply of fresh humus, regenerating rather than exhausting the earth’s resources. Its yoke is easy and its carbon footprint is light. Looked at holistically, a ‘biodynamic farm organism’ extends beyond its hedges to include the tangible and intangible forces working through it. These include climate, wildlife (from moos to microbes), light and warmth from the sun, the lunar cycle, cosmic influences from further afield, and human beings. From soil fertility to species-appropriate husbandry, from caring for farm workers to the timing of sowing and reaping – each element enhances the health of the whole. And in return, biodynamic farming produces many gifts from Mother Nature. Demeter plants are rich in nutrients and vitality. Because they are not force-fed, nutrients from the earth are fully assimilated into their structure in a balanced way. Animals are fed and cared for in accordance with their nature. As a result, biodynamic food, both fresh and processed, is delicious, nutritious, true to its essence and strengthening to those who eat it. Demeter wines are also gaining a reputation for taste and complexity. Some cosmetic and clothing companies use Demeter ingredients and raw materials. In the market place, biodynamic values are underpinned by rigorous Demeter production and processing standards. The Demeter label must be earned year on year to prevent sub-standard elements from creeping into the process. An entire farm, rather than individual crops, must be certified. As a unified system that respects diversity, it is second to none. The Hopsack carries some Demeter-certified food items and face and body care products, should you care to try them out. Staff will be only too happy to help you. Finally, in the spirit of Yule, it remains for me to wish you Happy Holy Days, One and All. Haiku by Kim Richardson in O’Sullivan, Maeve and Kim Richardson, Double Rainbow (Alba Publishing, 2005), p. 24 For more information on biodynamic farming, go to http://www.demeter.net/ or http://www.biodynamic.ie or search for ‘Demeter biodynamic farming’ online. Rhoda-Mary Posts: 33 Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:29 pm Top