Biodynamic Barrel Compost Concentrate in the Vineyard

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to get out on our tractor at Lowe Vineyards and spray 10 hectares of vines with what is called “Biodynamic Soil Activator”. Unfamiliar as to what this was before coming to Australia, I was curious to explore its benefits.  


In my previous post I talked about the principal behind biodynamics and explained the preparations. So to simplify this for you, all of the preparations are made as individual ingredients that contribute to a compost pile or a compost concentrate, then sprayed in the vineyard either as a foliar spray or soil spray. 

The “Biodynamic Soil Activator” is a form of compost concentrate including prep 500-508, and we purchase this through a company called Biodynamics 2024. We purchase this because currently we do not make our own preparations on site, but are at the beginning stages of managing our own preps and creating our own compost at Lowe Wines. 

So…how does this all happen? Well, here is a breakdown to help you better understand the process:

 

What are we spraying?

  •  Barrel Compost, a mixture of preparations 500-508, with horn clay included. The rate we use is 250g per hectare. (Many of you may think this is an extremely low rate but remember that biodynamics is very homeopathic.) After calculating how much compost we need we then use a flow form mixer for about an hour to dissolve it in water, it will now be ready to spray on the vines.
Handful of Biodynamic Soil Activator before mixing

When are we spraying it?

  • We don’t just spray on any ordinary day, but use the Biodynamic Calender to determine when the Moon is opposite of Saturn, and spray on that day in  late afternoon. You might now be wondering why we spray when the Moon is opposite of Saturn? Approx. every 27.5 days the Moon and Saturn are at opposite sides of the Earth. The moon forces inhibit calcium processes which are connected to propagation and growth forms. Saturn forces bring in the silica processes, which are connected to the stimulus of growth in the root, leaf, and fruit. It is believed that spraying at this time helps the vine resist fungal disease and insect infestation.

Why are we spraying it?

  • At this stage in the growing season we do a foliar spray of the compost in order to enhance soil biology and vine health to stimulating growth. 

How do we spray it?

  • We fill up the boom after using the flow form, and go out in the vineyard and spray with the nozzles directed at the fruiting zone. Only spraying every 2 or 3 rows. Drive speed of tractor is around 8km/h and PTO speed is aimed at 330.
        
Flow Form Mixer and Tractor with Spray Boom
Flow Form mixing water and Biodynamic Soil Activator.
I hope this helps you better understand why we practice Biodynamics. My goal is to help clear the air and make you understand the significance behind our farming practices, and why we do it.


Cheers Friends!

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