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  Spring 2001 Newsletter

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Above Left: On March 28, 2001, Javier Nino de Rivera (left), Philippe Pessereau (middle) and Tom Shelton (right), dig up 91 cow horns that have been buried on October 3rd of last year.

Above Right: Close-up of female cow horns packed with finished Preparation 500.

Special Report:

Joseph Phelps Vineyard's experimenting

with biodynamic farming in Backus Vineyard

and areas of Spring Valley – new organic

Freestone Vineyard will be Biodynamic -

farmed in 2002

By Philippe Pessereau Viticulturist

At Joseph Phelps Vineyards, our philosophy is to maintain and preserve the natural vineyard environment. While this goal is essential for present vineyard practices, it will have an even more profound effect on the development of maturing vineyards in the future. In order to achieve this, we continue to build upon the sustainable vineyard practices used since the early 1980’s by slowly and steadily embracing a style of farming known as “Biodynamic Agriculture”.

WHAT IS BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE?

Biodynamic agriculture was put forth by Rudolf Steiner in 1924 and is one of the oldest forms of organic agriculture used today. Biodynamic farming is a system of agriculture in which the farm is designed to be a self-contained organism. Combining natural farming practices with biodynamic preparations and the farm’s own resources create a modern and ecologically sound system tailored to the specific conditions of its locale. This approach is excellent for utilizing and enhancing the unique capacities of the terroir of each site.

THE FOUR KEY ELEMENTS

Biodynamic agriculture rests upon an ecological foundation of four key elements:
  1. Biodiversity, which is achieved through companion planting, cover cropping, crop rotation and border planting such as hedges. For example, at JPV we are currently planting native plants whose flowers and nectars attract beneficial insects.
  2. Soil health, which includes proper levels of organic matter, good humus content
    and soil microbial activity (bacteria, fungi, yeasts, protozoa, insects, earth worms,
    etc). At JPV, we have produced our own biodynamic compost since 1999 to improve our soil humus.
  3. Self-sustainability: Producing different crops generates fodder to feed grazing animals (cows, sheep, goats, horses). Self-sustainability is reached by recycling animal manure through compost-making, which is then used as a soil amendment to perpetuate soil health. Currently, we do not have any animals but are contemplating having some in the future. We bring manure from a local dairy farm to make our compost.
  4. Pest and Disease Prevention: Healthy plants grown on healthy soil are better fit to naturally resist pest and disease attacks. Thus, this system produces the optimal foundation for pest and disease prevention.

By farming ecologically, we first respect and work with the forces of nature. Secondly, in biodynamic agriculture, we only use natural products such as compost and preparations that are derived from plants, animals or minerals. The preparations and compost work by stimulating and encouraging the natural forces already existent.

Biodynamic farming does away with all synthetically and chemically made products, but does allow the universal use of sulphur, a natural ingredient of soils, for the treatment of mildew.

(It is important to note here that during the winemaking process we continue to rely upon the use of modest amounts of sulphur dioxide in accordance with fine winemaking traditions around the world.)

THE PREPARATIONS
Preparation 500:
Also known as horn manure, 500 enhances soil health. This preparation is made by packing a female cow horn with cow manure and burying it for 6 months (from fall to spring equinox).

Preparation 501:
Also known as horn silica, 501 boosts plant photosynthesis. This preparation is made by packing a female cow horn with ground silica and burying it for 6 months (from spring to fall equinox).

Compost:
Compost making is achieved using various materials. However, it is crucial to have the proper mixture of carbon- and nitrogen-containing elements. Furthermore, ideal moisture and oxygen levels are vital for good composting. In biodynamic farming, several preparations made from fermented plants are incorporated in the compost. These preparations are derived from yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, oak bark, dandelion and valerian. In combination, these preparations help control the compost-making process by favorably influencing the formation of stabilized humus.
APPLICATION OF THE PREPARATIONS

Application of the preparations will vary according to local conditions, but the timing is crucial. In adherence to biodynamic principles, compost preparations are applied in the fall, 500 is applied both during the fall and winter, and 501 is applied during spring and early summer. It is important to apply 500 at the end of the day, while 501 is applied at daybreak.

SOLAR AND LUNAR RHYTHMS

To further stimulate the forces of nature, biodynamic farming is implemented in conjunction with solar and lunar rhythms. For example, the making of preparations 500 and 501 is based on the solar rhythm (equinoxes).

In addition, it is possible to strengthen the influences those rhythms have upon plants by farming in accordance with the biodynamic calendar. The “Stella Natura” calendar is published yearly by the Bio-Dynamic Farming and Garden- ing Association. For each day, it indicates which plant part is stimulated as the moon travels across the sky. As it passes in front of certain constellations, the moon and other celestial bodies stimulate forces which exert influence on earth.


As we slowly but steadily embrace this type of farming, we patiently gain confidence on how to apply and tailor these principles to each site. We believe that through the preservation of soil health we can improve grapevine health and in turn produce higher quality fruit to achieve higher quality wine while respecting the environment.

FREESTONE VINEYARD

Our new Freestone property in Sonoma County is an example of the application of these principles. Following our standard practice of planting vineyards without the use of pesticides, herbicides or fumigants, Freestone is being organically farmed. Next year, when it is ready for its first application of Preparations 500 and 501, it will be biodynamically farmed as well.
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