GaiaCulture, ElectroDynamic Gardening ...
first in a weekly series on GaiaCulture and ElectroDynamic Gardening, Yin-Yang Gardening, and Reforesting and Replaneting ... for a world going from Commuting to Communing, rebuilding sacred Community, returning our Divine Mother Earth!
today, the subject of BioDynamics, as founded by Rudolf Steiner
a full discussion here:
http://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html
three related videos:
Filming How To Save The World
What Happens After Capitalism?
to extract and paraphrase:
Biodynamic farming and gardening looks upon soil essentials, viewing the earth and the farm as living organisms. Biodynamics regards maintenance and furtherance of soil life as the basic necessity if the soil is to be preserved for generations, and it regards the farm as being true to its essential nature if it can be conceived of as a kind of individual entity in itself - a self-contained individuality. It begins with the ideal concept of the necessary self-containedness of the farm and works with furthering the life of the soil as a primary means by which a farm can become a kind of individuality that progresses and evolves.
Soil improvement is obtained by proper humus management - e.g., by the application of sufficient organic manure and compost in the best possible state of fermentation; by proper crop rotation; by proper working of the soil; by protective measures such as wind protection; cover crops, green manure, and diversified crops rather than detrimental monocultures; and by mixed cropping so that plants can aid and support each other.
Farm manure and compost are the most valuable fertilizers. They contain organic matter on which the soil yeast, bacteria, fungus and earthworms can feed and then revitalize the soil. They contain colloids, which absorb moisture and mineral solutions in the ground, form a crumbly structure, and eliminate the danger of erosion. The careful storage of manure in heaps covered with earth, as taught by the biodynamic method, avoids nitrogen loss to a great degree.
~~~
cross reference, Viktor Schauberger and Living Water, Robert Rodale and Organic Gardening, Bill Mollison and Permaculture, Robert Hart and Forest Gardening, Sepp Holzer and Plant Families and Aquaculture, Geoff Lawton and ReGreening the Desert, Masanobu Fukuoka and the One Straw Revolution, Takao Furuno and (Rice AND) Duck Farming aka the "Power of Duck" ...
obviously it is VERY difficult to write about Deep Permaculture, Forest Gardening, Edible Landscaping, Aquaculture ... or the totality of GaiaCulture ... as even before you can sit down to describe a PIECE of the wonder ... to 'innoculate' friends and family and community with the 'ferment' ... the Sun and Earth and Garden 'Song' is there in your heartmind ... the knowing ... and your thoughts are "I've got to repot those Sapote seedlings today", and "those young Macademias have to get out of their holding bins and into real soil", and "How can Mark and Joan come to plant Mulberry trees today, if I haven't brought in the new load of compost, or emptied the truck of the Oak leaf mulch?"
chorus of all our sacred relations,
Millennium Twain
White English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Alba') is one variety displayed in a multi-hued lavender garden that is all abuzz.
You can catch a tour this Saturday at 11:00, 1:00 or 3:00 in the garden at 401 South Ventura Street, just about 2 blocks from Libby Park.
Photos by Les Dublin.
This drought tolerant California native plant makes a great replacement for thirsty lawns. Yarrow can be kept mowed and can even handle some light foot traffic, but unlike lawns, yarrow only requires occasional mowing. 
If you decide to let it flower, yarrow will attract beneficial insects like hover flies and ladybugs to your yard, helping to keep your other plants pest-free. 
Yarrow also works beautifully in a mixed border, or it can be planted at the edge of a vegetable garden. But since we are in the middle of an extended heat wave and drought, why not consider losing the lawn? Photos by Les Dublin.
There are two kinds of local poppies in this picture; orange California poppies can be seen in the foreground growing among native irises, blue-eyed grass, ceanothus, and island snapdragons.
Photos by Les Dublin.