Biodynamic Beekeeping
Last friday I attended a seminar on beekeeping, organised by Biodynamiska Föreningen (the Swedish biodynamic association) together with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. I wouldn’t have gone if the latter hadn’t been involved, given what I already know about biodynamics.
In case you’re not familiar with the term “biodynamic”, or belong to the majority of people who think it’s a synonym for “ecological” (or possibly “holistic”), let me disillusion you. Biodynamics has ecological/organic agriculture as its foundation, but adds an absolutely insane mess of superstitious nonsense gathered from the hallucinations of Rudolf Steiner.
The practitioners are extremely tacit about this, however, which is probably because biodynamics was invented as part of anthroposophy, and anthroposophers are notoriously good at hiding their religious agenda. Just like no one seems to be aware that waldorf schools are actually religious indoctrination-centres, people are equally unaware that when practicing biodynamics, you’re supposed to take the position of the planets into account when sowing. Oh, and did you know that filling the skull of a pet with pieces of oak bark and burying it in the autumn somewhere where a lot of rainwater flows past will produce a compost additive that adds calcium to the earth in ideal form?
Now, thankfully, you can’t convert anyone to anthroposophy by making sure to always plant the crops on a fruit-day (as opposed to a root-day) - there will be no essence of Steiner in the resultant bread to slowly turn people’s minds - so I’m not nearly as opposed to biodynamics as I am to waldorf schools, at least so long as no animals are involved. Treating sick animals with homeopathic remedies is arguably worse than treating humans, as it’s not voluntary and the placebo effect is out of play. What I really dislike, however, is the dishonesty in their advertising: Omitting the truth is also a kind of lie. (Illustrative of how good they are at hiding the truth is a recent article in Dagens Nyheter about ecological food, where the above mentioned biodynamic association is mentioned without so much as a hint that they’re something other than just “ecological”.)
Workers clearly not paying attention to astrology.
The beekeeping seminar wasn’t much different. There were some good talks presumably organised by the Board of Agriculture - on chemicals in agriculture, the problems associated with honeybee breeding, and on allowing bees to organise their hive the way they want - but there were also a couple of people invited to talk about “Demeter beekeeping”. Demeter is the chosen brand name for all kinds of biodynamic products.
Their talk was actually quite alright, although I can’t say they said anything particularly revolutionary. It was mostly just common sense. For instance: Bees want to swarm, so producing artificial swarms is a good way to keep them happy without losing the swarm.
The only times I could detect the biodynamic approach was some talk about how bees are the only animals that build “from heaven to earth” (which isn’t true, as bees may build from the ground up as well - and off the top of my head I can name wasps and swallows as other animals that build “downwards”), how they smell “heavenly”, and how fresh wax is “immaterial”. Also, at one point there was a rant about how “the scientists” don’t “want” to research for instance formic acid’s effect on bees because they don’t “want” to know the truth. This was immediately followed by lamenting the lack of money to research homeopathic remedies against bee diseases. It is of course unthinkable that “the scientists” might have the same monetary problems as the homeopathers…
Although at the time I was quite relieved to realise they were pretty much keeping quiet about the weirder aspects of their beekeeping, in retrospect, it annoys me. I suspect a lot of people - including the woman from the Board of Agriculture - got a very good impression of these Demeter beekeepers and the methods they represent. No one seemed to react to their mention of homeopathy, indicative of how people simply cannot get their heads around the fact that it’s been shown, over and over again, that it doesn’t work. Perhaps it’s the case that beekeepers are so distressed about the varroa invasion that at this point we’re ready to try anything.
Still, in the end me and my father came out of the seminar feeling pretty inspired, so it can’t have been all bad. Inspired to do what, exactly, I’ll come back to in future posts!
Mmm.. honey! My favourite! However, I don’t really agree with you that Waldorf schools are pools of indoctrination, although they no doubt talk about the benefits of anthroposophy. But if you send your kids there, you are already aware of this.
I do like Demeter products, but maybe I’m buying the whitewash of the fact that they are planted in season, when they should be.
Comment by Lady Fi — Tuesday, January 27, 2009 @ 15:12
First of all all waldorf schools will obviously be different. Some are crazier than others. Secondly, plenty of parents who send their kids to waldorf schools only have a very vague idea of what anthroposophy is really about. They’re attracted by the idea of their kids being allowed to be creative (which they aren’t, really) and grow at their own pace (again, not quite true). They’re not told about the gnomes and fairies, they’re not told about the spiritual evolution of the human race, etcetera.
As for Demeter products - they’re wonderful! My parents, who are every bit as skeptical and atheist as I am, frequently go to a local biodynamic bakery/grocery store to buy vegetables and such. They grow better varieties in real soil, the fruit is allowed to ripen properly instead of being sprayed with ethene, and so on. But these results can be reached without all the crazy - for instance, by growing your own food, which my parents also do. And, like I said, I would avoid any animal Demeter products, as biodynamic animal keeping involves stuff like homeopathy.
Comment by Felicia Gilljam — Tuesday, January 27, 2009 @ 15:23
hi there just wanted to mention that i am a waldorf graduate. i’m not religious at all and i still got enormous benefit out of a waldorf education with out being brainwashed or “indoctrinated.” i appreciate your opinions on waldorf and biodynamics,but it would be nice if you wouldnt spread misinformation about these subjects as its clear from many of your comments that you probably havent considered or even reviewed the full story. Ciao
Comment by limbo — Wednesday, March 11, 2009 @ 03:03
How sad it is to condemn Waldorf education, BD agriculture, and Anthroposophy out of hand without having, apparently, actually tried any of them. Our son received an excellent education through the Waldorf system in three countries. Hie entry into university placed him well ahead of his peers and his breadth of knowledge and competence have obvious noticeable benefits on a daily basis.
We farmed using BD methods in two countries with remarkable results noticed by neighbours and our local veterinarians alike. Contrary to your statements homeopathy and BD methods have been proven to be both effective and successful at a multitude of treatments and management techniques.
My husband, ever the cynic, doesn’t “buy into” the esoteric elements behind Anthroposophy. He uses BD methods and supports Waldorf education for one simple reason: they work and he sees positive results. Which at the very least shows he is more open-minded and scientifically oriented than you since he has investigated over many years first-hand before discounting things he cannot understand.
Comment by cvg — Thursday, April 9, 2009 @ 15:27
am in Waldorf teacher training currently, and it seems clear to me that you do not understand what anthroposophy is. It’s disappointing that you would place something on the web that is so uneducated. Yes, anthroposophy is strange, and it honestly it takes some getting used to. What I have found is that the big goal is to live in a state of equinimity (a Buddhist sort of approach) in an effort not to harm those around you with your words or actions. This is especially important when dealing with an unrully child in a classroom. That is the big underlying thing I have found. In my class of teacher trainees there are 5 students who were in Waldorf schools as children and they are new to the concepts of anthroposophy. THere is also a big focus on nature and seasons, which as a biologist I am sure that you can appreciate, but from a scientific method approach. I pose this question to you-why can’t life be created solely in a test tube? What is the missing element?
Comment by Jennifer — Sunday, April 26, 2009 @ 19:39
Hi Found your site surfing the web, and just had to say I have had great success with homeopathy, both animals and myself/mother (ill since young age, and now nearly 85) and various acquaintances, many of whom were completely sceptical, and probably still are (though cured) I am not a homeopathist, have no “axe to grind” just relate my own experiences.
It cannot just be a placebo effect. My first 2 Great Danes, before I discovered homeopathy and was using normal treatments via the vets died at 6 and 3 since using homeopathy my dogs live to 11 and 12.
There are too many other instances to relate, but I felt I just wanted to let you know some people are getting positive results
Comment by Susan — Monday, May 4, 2009 @ 22:13
Totally agree. Great post!!
Comment by juanse — Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 00:47
But did you know bees (rather the bee collective, the beehive) have a very highly evolved group soul? Yes, it’s true.
Steiner held 9 lectures on bees, actually! It’s a whole book! And talked a lot about bees in other places too.
Re Jennifer’s comment above: Who wouldn’t appreciate nature and biology? But nature isn’t exclusive to waldorf, and biology (like, that science thing!) is not a huge part of waldorf… Unless you count painting and reading poems as biology. (Nothing bad with painting and poems, but I wouldn’t classify it as biology…!)
-z
Comment by zooey — Friday, October 9, 2009 @ 16:28
You have the right to your own opinion; it’s just too bad you had to share it with the world. For those of us who ACTUALLY think that biodynamic agriculture works (even if you put aside the spiritual aspect, you can see results) your blog coming up on google as the first page is a disgrace to the movement.
Comment by Monique Blais — Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 01:40
Monique - I’m not disputing that it works. The foundation is regular ecological/organic methods and there’s nothing wrong with those. If you actually read my post instead of just posted your instinctive knee-jerk reaction to anyone criticising biodynamics and anthroposophy you might have noticed that it’s ONLY the “spiritual” aspects I’m critical of - as well as the lying.
Comment by Felicia Gilljam — Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 19:18
HOw interesting there are just as ignorant and close minded folks in Sweden as the US. So I suspect that when you say: “insane mess of superstitious nonsense gathered from the hallucinations of Rudolf Steiner” that you are referring his preparations. Now is it because they are beyond your comprehension and therefore scare you that you make such judgements? Or just that you are not read to go beyond your own limitations to consider them? Since you have seeming done very little research on Steiner and respond to things foreign to your way of thinking in such a negative manner, it is apparent that it is to threatening to you and you defend yourself by attacking it. Well it is sad that you make such rash judgements from such ignorance.
Comment by Andy — Thursday, April 1, 2010 @ 08:14
I do think that biodynamic agriculture really does work. Well, we do vary in opinions and that’s fine.
Comment by crystal reports — Sunday, June 6, 2010 @ 08:18
You sound to be a very sad and angry person in that you can’t allow anyone an opinion that differs from your own. Anthroposophy made perfect sense to me forty years ago and still does. But I still think people find their own path and must be free to do so. Surely people must also be allowed to manage bees and produced honey in their own way- but after training and exploring all options with an open mind all of the options and different methods. So I am off to do my training with the local group of bee keepers before finding an Anthroposophical approach.
Comment by Issie — Thursday, November 25, 2010 @ 17:35
Thank you very much. I am wonderring if I can share your article in the bookmarks of society,Then more friends can talk about this problem.
Comment by Pneumatic fittings — Saturday, January 29, 2011 @ 08:24