Summertime Preparation making
The yarrow preparation
Biodynamic preparation 502, also known as the Yarrow preparation, is a key component in biodynamic agriculture. It's made by stuffing the flowers of the yarrow plant into a stag's bladder, hanging it above the ground for summer and burying it for fall and winter. This preparation is used to enhance the composting process and is associated with sulfur and potassium.
What is it? Biodynamic preparation 502 is made from the flowers of the yarrow plant (Achillea millefolium). How do you make it? Collect yarrow flowers: Gather the flowers as they open, between June and August. Dry the flowers: Allow the flowers to dry. Prepare the stag's bladder: Obtain a stag's bladder, ideally from a hunter or butcher, and ensure it's not been rinsed. Moisten the flowers: Slightly moisten the dried yarrow florets with yarrow tea (made from stems and leaves). Stuff the bladder: Carefully stuff the bladder with the moistened yarrow florets. Seal and hang: Sew the bladder shut and hang it in a sunny location, ideally on a tree branch, throughout the summer. Bury: In the autumn, bury the bladder in the earth, often in a terracotta pot surrounded by healthy soil, where it will remain over the winter. Retrieve: In the spring, dig up the preparation.
How to use preparation 502
Compost enhancement: 502 is added to compost piles to help decompose organic matter and create a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It's believed to help regulate sulfur and potassium in the soil, promoting healthy plant growth.
Connection to Venus: Yarrow is associated with the planet Venus, and its influence on light and energy finds an affinity with the open and aware gesture of the stag’s antlers, which are connected to the bladder through the kidneys and the nervous system.
Preparation 502 is one of several compost preparations (including 503-507) used in biodynamic agriculture. These preparations are not meant to be used directly as fertilizers, but rather to stimulate and enhance the natural processes within the soil.
The Valerian preparation
Preparation 507, also known as the Valerian preparation, is a biodynamic preparation used in agriculture to enhance soil health and plant growth. It is made from Valeriana officinalis, a perennial herb, and is known for its ability to stimulate the phosphorus process in the soil.
How to make 507:
Harvesting and Processing: Valerian flowers are harvested, and the juice is extracted, ideally in the evening to avoid oxidation. The flowers are either finely chopped, ground, or bruised to release the juice. Allow to ferment and off gas for a few weeks; filter and bottle; keep in cool dark area, surrounded by peat moss.
How to use Valerian 507:
Compost Application: A small amount of the preparation is diluted in water and added to the compost pile, with some poured into a hole in the pile and the rest sprayed over the surface.
Phosphorus Mobilization: Valerian 507 helps make phosphorus more available to plants, which is essential for healthy growth.
Frost Protection: Valerian 507 can also be diluted in water and sprayed on crops and soil, particularly during periods of frost or when protection is needed. Protect blossoms from frost by spraying them with the diluted preparation.
Other methods for making Prep 507 : Infusion: The extracted juice is infused in water, preferably rainwater or snowmelt, which has been exposed to sunlight. The mixture is allowed to ferment for a few days. The fermented mixture is filtered through fine paper, and the resulting liquid is stored in a sealed bottle, away from light.
Warmth and Protection: It creates a "warmth mantle" around the compost pile, promoting beneficial microbial activity and protecting against temperature fluctuations. It can help plants cope with stress and improve their overall resilience. Valerian provides a layer of protection against frost damage, especially to blossoms. The diluted juice improves the quality of compost by stabilizing nitrogen and increasing microbial diversity.
