Making biodynamic compost is a fundamental part of the biodynamic method of farming.
After constructing a compost windrow, BD Preparations 502-506 are placed in the compost pile, five to seven feet apart, in holes poked 20 inches deep. BD 507, liquid valerian, is placed in a hole as well as sprayed or hand-watered on the outside layer of the compost.
Methods of Constructing and Maintaining Compost Piles
While all biodynamic agriculture uses BD compost preparations, the way the compost piles are created and maintained may vary from farm to farm.
- Static pile method. The static pile method is traditionally used in biodynamic farming. Materials are gathered into a windrow, with layers of brown (carbon) and green (nitrogen) materials alternated. The windrow is inoculated with BD preparations, sprinkled wtih a small amount of soil and topped with straw, and left alone for six months to a year.
- Aerated static pile. In this method, the static pile has ventiliation pipes inserted into it to increase oxygen supply to the pile. This makes compost mature more quickly.
- Turned compost pile. The piles are turned using a compost turner. The main advantage to this is that the time to compost maturity is 2-3 months instead of six months to a year.
