Organic and Biodynamic Farming

Today I am enjoying my free day inside with a book and the internet - it is pouring outside. This is the first time I have seen rain like this in Provence, which is indeed rare.

Unfortunately this means I will not prune trees for several days, as the trees will be slippery and thus less safe to climb. I did enjoy the pruning very much, although there was also other work to do. The wild boar was destroying all the lavender and thyme, so I moved those closer to the house where the dog is keeping the boar away. I worked on this the whole day yesterday in the warm rays of the sun and with the pleasant fragrance of the plants around me.

I have also stirred (or should I say 'boosted'?) a substance with cow dung - this very much reminded me of the rituals with the holy cow and its excrements in Nepal - which was, after creating vortices for 1 hour in the substance (at 37 °C), to be sprayed over the land to fulfill the requirements of being a biodynamic organic farm (I did not do very well on the stirring I think, the owner took over to do it all by himself in the end). This is indeed a farm that is not only organic but also follows the Demeter standards which include rituals like this and planting according to an astrological calendar. Though I am not convinced this makes any difference for the end product compared with products produced at regular organic farms, there is certainly demand for the product and there is even a department devoted to biodynamic farming at the University of Kassel.

I enjoy the fact that I now eat only organic food and practically vegetarian (I am still not at the point where I can enjoy the taste of meat), and I find the food delicious. I eat a lot of lentils, beans, chick peas, olive paste (indeed!), nuts, rice, goat cheese, and even gluten-free pasta. As much as possible is bought organic - even the shampoo and dishwashing soap.