Therefore, careful reading and understanding of nature is also a part of biodynamic gardening. For example, you should be aware of how plants grow in different types of soils, in different levels of sunlight, etc. You also can study cosmic rhythms as part of biodynamic gardening. Looking at the calendar Stella Natura can help you to better understand how to read and study cosmic rhythms as part of your biodynamic gardening experience.

One of the key points of biodynamic gardening is to help to keep the soil healthy. Biodynamic gardening recognizes that the soil is alive in its own way, and the healthiness of the plants in the garden really depends on the "health" of the soil. Therefore, one of the main stresses in biodynamic gardening is composting, working to build up humus and nutrients in the soil. In a way, compost is seen as a type of "medicine" for the soil of the earth.

Compost is made from natural plant and animal materials, and these materials are used to help draw new life forces into the healthy soil. There are certain ways to prepare your compost in biodynamic gardening, and these specific methods of preparation will help to organize any chaotic elements within the compost. Then, when the compost is ready, your soil will be able to be revitalized, healed, and ready to help grow healthy plants.

Compost is also tied into the idea of self containment and self sufficiency, which is also an aspect of biodynamic gardening. Self containment and self sufficiency are tied into the idea of having your waste turned into something productive, such as compost. For example, vegetable waste, manure, or food scraps that have vitality and energy should be used to help compost in your garden.

The stress on healthy and natural soil in biodynamic gardening means that no chemicals are used in the gardening process. Instead of being concerned about growing large crops, and consequently using chemicals and synthesized nutrients, biodynamics focuses instead on growing healthy plants with natural resources. The size of the crop doesn't matter in the end, just the overall health and natural state of the crop instead.

As you can see, biodynamic gardening is similar to organic gardening, but it also is much more. Organic gardening focuses on avoiding chemicals in the growing process of plants, but that is really the only similarity. Biodynamic gardening really focuses on understanding and reading the patterns of nature, in order to have nature's power come together to help create the best and healthiest plants that are possible! Although part of drawing on nature's forces includes the avoidance of chemicals, just like organic gardening, biodynamic gardening also focuses on creating healthy soil through composting. This is a great way to produce healthy crops and be environmentally responsible, so try growing a biodynamic garden this gardening season!