Biodynamic Gardening: A Deeper Approach To Sustainable Living

while building vibrant, mineral rich soils for generations to come.

By: Nannette Chisholm

This article was first published in Estes Park News, July 26, 2019. We’ve brought it back because we believe it is even more relevant and important today.

As a gardener with the Estes Park Community Gardens, I always appreciated that our gardens are fully organic, giving us the opportunity to bring high quality food to our tables while respecting our precious environment.

However, there is another method of sustainable farming and gardening that takes organic practices a step further, called Biodynamic Farming. Biodynamic Farming aligns with the organic farming standards of eliminating chemical fertilizer and pesticides and using sustainable techniques to build soils and plant health. However, it goes a step further to include practices that honor the unseen forces of nature that affect soil and plant health, thereby creating a deeper ecolog- ical balance on the farm.

Biodynamic methods originated in Eu rope in 1924, when farmers began notic ing a marked decline in their crop and animal health due to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. An Austrian scientist and philosopher named Rudolph Steiner proposed a method of farming that would treat the entire farm as a self-contained biological organism. In looking at the relationships between the animals, crops, soil, farmer and the forces of nature, Steiner proposed that farms using biodynamic techniques would produce much healthier crops

The word Biodynamic was coined by combining the words biological and dynamic. The biological practices of the farm align with all the common organic farming techniques such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and using natural fertilizers and pesticides, among others. The dynamic practices, however, are what begin to differentiate biodynamic farming from organic farming. These practices take into account the natural forces that affect plant growth and development, such as planting certain crops according to the lunar phases and making special preparations that add microbial, mineral and homeopathic herbal treatments back to the compost, soil and plants. There are nine specific preparations that are made and used on a biodynamic farm, much like the homeopathic medicines humans might use to boost their health. Herbs such as yarrow, chamomile, and valerian are the basis for some, while ingredients such as quartz, cow manure, and oak bark provide the basis for others. How is all of this relevant to us as backyard or community gardeners? If you want to dive more deeply into making your backyard garden a sustainable ecology, you might consider planting and harvesting during the optimal moon phases, or using techniques such as companion planting and crop rotation to discourage garden pests and increase soil health. You can also find local biodynamic farms to buy your plant starts and heirloom seeds from in the spring.

On the Front Range, we have a few local options. I have bought many of my plant starts from Aspen Moon Farm, a Certified Biodynamic Farm in Hygiene, CO, and these plants have proven to be extremely healthy and robust. I love how vital the plants are, and I appreciate using heirloom seeds that are saved locally. I also like supporting biodynamic farms because this approach matches my own philosophical and spiritual beliefs about how we as humans can not only rely on the land to feed us, but we can be true stewards in the process.

To learn more about the Estes Valley Community Garden, visit our website at evcg.org.

Nannette Chisholm is retired from an 18-year career as a Reiki Master, Massage Therapist and Energy Medicine Practitioner in Estes Park. She earned her Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Systems Design in 1991 and approaches all her life’s interests with a deep reverence for humanity, nature and bringing balance to the whole.

Check Your Reservations For Elevate Partner Fundraising Dinner

Partners wants to make sure your Elevate Partners Reservation online came through to reserve your spot!

If you have already registered online for Elevate Partners Fundraising Dinner and did not receive a confirmation email then your registration may not have been submitted.

Please go back in to: poweredbypartners.org/elevate/ by 2/28/2023. When registering, please be sure to scroll all the way down and hit the red register button to complete the process. Look for a confirmation email to ensure you get your spot!

If you are not able to register online, please email: kwhitacre@poweredbypartners.org or call 970-577-9348. We will need your first and last name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and guest's first and last names.

Beverly K. Booe Early Childhood Education Program Now Open For Enrollment

Mom's Cafe!

Beginning Monday, March 6th at 10:30 am

Join us Mondays for a time of connection with fellow moms as we go through the book 5 Love Languages. Childcare will be provided!

Register with EVICS to let us know you are coming so we can have enough snacks and sitters.

Held at the EVICS Family Resource Center 1182 Graves Avenue, Unit A 970-586-3055

Kind Souls

To Jason and his lovely companion, thank you so much for helping me when the wind blew me over in the Safeway parking lot on Monday, the 20th. Had you not been there to lift me up, I'm not sure I could have gotten up in that wind. Thank you for being the Good Samaritans that you are.

Celeste Fraser

Model Railroaders Meeting March 1

The Estes Valley Model Railroaders will be meeting on Wednesday, March 1 from 6:00 – 7:30 at the Estes Valley Library Hondius Room. After a brief business meeting, the program for the evening will be March Madness!

This will include the membership participation in sharing any Show and Tell Railroad Items and/or sharing any Tips & Tricks for Modeling, Electronics, Track laying, Scenic solutions, Tree making, Structure building, and more! Visitors are always welcome to attend our meeting. If you have any questions on the Club, our annual Rails in the Rockies September Model Railroad Show, please contact us at railsintherockies.org.

The Beverly K. Booe Early Childhood Education Program at the Bennett building at YMCA of the Rockies is excited to announce open enrollment for toddler and preschool classes starting fall 2023.

Registration for YMCA summer day camp for all ages opens on April 6. The Early Childhood Program provides a student-centered environment equipped with outdoor opportunities and materials, enhancing each individuals curiosity, empathy and development. Programming through the Beverly K. Booe Early Childhood Education Program enriching opportunities including lifeguard-supervised preschool swim time, daily hikes and nature-based, outdoor cur- riculum, individual child assessments and child progress updates and parentteacher communications via the Tadpoles app. The Toddler Program is available for children ages 1-3 years and the Preschool Program is available for children ages 3-5 years.

To ensure all children have access to preschool, opportunities for scholarships are available. Universal pre-k applications are now open, be sure to apply quickly to ensure a spot.

For more information, to schedule a tour or register, contact the Preschool Director, Liz Price at eprice@ymcarockies.org or call 970-586-3342 ext. 1137.

Live Music Tribute To Peter, Paul And Mary Coming To American Legion

American Legion Post 119 presents Magic Dragon, a live music tribute to the hit recordings of Peter, Paul and Mary on Saturday, April 1, 7 p.m.

For many, the songs recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary evoke memories of youth and feelings of nostalgia. Estes Park now has a tribute band which encourages that nostalgic experience. Magic Dragon is a live music group designed to temporarily transport the listener back to those simpler (yet tumultuous) times. Care is taken to accurately reproduce the overall feeling and sound of the hit recordings we remember hearing on the radio.

Magic Dragon is composed of Steve Tice on upright bass and vocals, Brad Fitch (aka Cowboy Brad) on acoustic guitar and vocals, Melinda Morris on vocals and Mark Rashid on acoustic guitar.

The concert will be hosted by Estes Park’s American Legion Post 119 - open to the public and a welcoming place to spend a Saturday evening. In addition to community and family activities, Post 119 is committed to providing a support network for veterans and their families.

Come early for heavy appetizers and Happy Hour drinks starting at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for appetizers only, $20 for the concert only, or $35 for both. Available at esteslegion.org or by calling (970) 5866118.

Some Peter, Paul and Mary Trivia

In 1961, Albert Grossman developed a plan to commercialize (and capitalize on) the politically charged folk music of the era. He scouted coffee shops and folk venues of New York City to find singers with “youthful good looks and a non-threatening demeanor.” Mr. Grossman eventually selected Noel Paul Stookey, Mary Travers and Peter Yarrow as much for their appearance as for their musicianship. The icing on the cake was the addition of music director and arranger Milt Okun, a classically trained, versatile musician who was pivotal in developing the trio’s signature three-part harmonies and overall sound.

More Peter, Paul and Mary trivia will be shared at Magic Dragon shows. esteslegion.org or (970) 586-6118

Trail Ridge Quilters Support Estes Park Health

The Trail Ridge Quilters presented a check for $8,928 to the Estes Park Health Foundation on February 15, 2023. The quilters interest group is sponsored by Estes Park Newcomers Club and has operated since 1997. The current leader Donna Bryson reports, “The quilters are so proud to raise money to support our community hospital.”

The Trail Ridge Quilters meet weekly to create unique quilted items. They host multiple sales in Estes Park over the summer and fall, with all proceeds benefitting the Estes Park Health Foundation. These monies purchase equipment specifically requested by hospital departments, or go to the Foundation to pur- chase bigger-ticket medical equipment for the hospital. This year’s donation will help provide needed items for the hospital’s EMS (ambulance), Home Health Care, and Rehabilitation departments with an additional sum will going to the Foundation for updated fluoroscopy equipment.

If you bought items last year, big or small, from the Trail Ridge Quilters, congratulations! The money you spent is helping our community hospital provide better health care to you and your neighbors with updated equipment. The Quilters hope you enjoy your beautiful quilts and thank you for your continued support.