The year 1986 marked the start of our Aloe Vera plantation, located in the Brazilian State of São Paulo . We knew that caring for the environment is of extreme importance, therefore we opted for the organic method of farming. Not using chemical fertilizers or toxic pesticides was the first step in putting “culture” back into the word “agriculture”. Then, a few years ago, with the help of the Biodynamic Institute in Botucatu, SP, we began converting the plantation from organic to Biodynamic.

One of the objectives of Biodynamic farming is to create a total organism or living entity of the farm. The four realms, soil and water, plants, animals, and human beings live in harmony, ecologically integrated. Ideally, the farm should produce all its own basic needs, forming a cycle moving from feed for animal to manure for fertilizing the vegetable garden and fruit trees.

Another important aspect of Biodynamic agriculture is the use of the Biodynamic preparations. Dr. Rudolf Steiner, a great 20 TH  Century thinker, philosopher, author, scientist, lecturer and teacher, recommended there preparations in an agriculture course given by him in 1924. The preparations consist of small doses of plants, minerals or manure prepared according to Rudolf Steiner’s instructions, for the purpose of bringing about a communiation between the soil forces and plants with dynamics of the moon, sun, planets and stars. The goal is to revitalize the earth.

Our ancestors were actually very aware of this delicate interaction between earth and universe. To all of us, the influence of the moon is dramatically visible in the high and low ocean tides. A German master gardener, Maria Thun, studied the effects of the universe on earthly planting for over 50 years. To this day, she and her son publish an annual planting calendar. We have been using this calendar ever since we began planting a vegetable garden in Brazil 22 years ago.

In order to use the biodynamic preparations, they must be dynamized as follows: A small quantity of the preparation is mixed in a barrel with a large volume of water, usually 150 liters . This mixture must be stirred rapidly in a circular movement to bring about a vortex reaching to the bottom of the barrel. Each time the vortex forms, the stirring must be suddenly reserved to form a new vortex from the opposite direction. This alternating stirring must be done for an entire hour. Immediately following, the dynamized preparation is sprayed onto the plantation.

Four years ago, a few years after the conversion from organic to Biodynamic farming, we were granted the Demeter Seal, recognized world-wide. This qualication also recognizes the lawful and humanitarian treatment of our co-workers.