Merla: The short answer is that Dormant Oil and Lime Sulfur doesn't FEED the tree. BD Tree Paste does. Here's an excerpt from my article on trees at Aurora Farm, which can be read in full at http://www.kootenay.com/~aurora/trees.html
In Lecture Seven of the Agriculture Course, Rudolf Steiner sails forth with one of those astounding insights that makes the reader gasp: the only part of the tree that is plant-like are the small branches that bear leaves, flowers and fruit. The great mass of trunk and large limbs is really "mounded-up soil, soil that is simply in a more living condition than the soil in which our herbaceous plants and grains are growing." 2) The plant-like parts "are rooted in the twigs and branches of the tree just as other plants are rooted in the Earth." Thus, in Biodynamic practice, we fertilize and cultivate the tree trunk, that mounded-up, much enlivened soil. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer says: For the treatment of tree trunks, especially to keep the bark smooth, to protect it from splitting and to heal any injuries, the trees should have once a year, during winter, a coating of sticky fluid paste, up to the lightest branches. This paste consists of equal parts of clay, cow manure, and sand. Herr M. K Schwarz tells us that this coat prevents the sap from' rising too soon and thus wards off danger from frosts. 3) Pfeiffer goes on to say that he has modified this recipe by adding BD#500 (horn manure) preparation and BD#508 (equisetum); also, as remedies, he recommends an extract of oak bark (disinfection and "preventing pests from breeding"), extract of nasturtium (American blight), extract of calendula (injuries). He also suggests a routine washing and brushing of tree with BD#508 in autumn or winter. Two other variations: Hugh Courtney: 6-9 parts betonite 2-3 parts BD Compound preparation (Barrel Compost) 2-4 units BD#500 1 part rock dust small amount of linseed or castor oil BD#508, fermented, enough to make the paste liquid for brushing or spraying Ferdinand Vondruska: "1/3 Clay, 1/3 Cow manure, 1/6 milk and 1/6 silica (or waterglass). 'The above mix thinly applied (spring and fall) to fruit trees, bushes, roses etc. does work wonders and rejuvenates them within two years (Forest trees appear not to respond in the same way, I found) Perhaps hazel, beech and similar trees may do so." Woody Aurora Farm. the only unsubsidized, family-run seed farm in North America offering garden seeds grown using Rudolf Steiner's methods of spiritual agriculture. http://www.kootenay.com/~aurora -----Original Message----- From: Merla Barberie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: BD Now <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 12:29 PM Subject: Dormant Oil and Lime Sulfur vs. CT and Pfeiffer's clay/manure mixture >I am trying to make our place more Bio-Dynamic and better in every way >that I can. I could just ask the above question, but it's more fun to >tell it as a story... > >My husband doesn't believe in Bio-Dynamics, but he has given in a lot >over the years and I try to involve him in every way I can. He makes >the holes when I inoculate the compost pile with the preps and he dug >the holes for the horns. Over the years he has conceded to do things by >the calendar. He does everything in the orchard, but I want to upgrade >our orchard practice. > >We are nature lovers. We prefer nature rather than the look of a farm. >Our cabin is surrounded by the most beautiful stand of snowberries and >Oregon grape that have been outstanding through this long fall we have >had up to now. When the heavy snow comes, they are mashed down under >the snow. > >The orchard is on a wild meadow. We did not plow the whole acre. We >merely dug big holes and put compost in them. We've had this orchard >for 15 years. The orchard contains wild grasses, lots of St. Johnswort, >pearly everlasting, red clover, serviceberry, some wild shrubs that I >can't name and other wild plants. Herb cuts down any softwood tree >seedlings that appear, but the two vine maple shrubs only gets bigger >when you cut them down. We mow around the fruit trees and put straw >around them. We've never fertilized. I put tree paste on some trees >that had lichen on them. We have 40 heritage apples--pears, plums, >cherries, buartnuts, walnuts, filberts, oaks (I wanted more walnuts, but >Herb wanted oaks and they are infinitesimal.) We have 24 boxes of >apples in the root cellar now and they are delicious. The heritage >apple trees bear every other year. Really, our orchard needs help >though. > >I will have lots of BC and 500 this year. I am planning to put some >around the drip line of the trees. I also read with interest the BD Now >email about Pfeiffer clay/manure/sand...clay/manure spray...tree >paste...and asked on the compost_tea list/serve about CT sprays for tent >caterpillars and cedar apple rust rather than using dormant oil and lime >sulfur. Elaine suggested Beauveria (Mycotrol) and SP-1 bacterial >inoculum from Agri-Energy or the beneficial spore-former inoculum from >Holmes Environmental. > >Now, of course, I have brought all this up to my husband and his >response is "What's wrong with dormant oil and dormant oil & lime >sulfur?" All I can say is that I want to be more Bio-Dynamic. Can >someone tell me what exactly is wrong with dormant oil and/or dormant >oil and lime sulfur so I can make a good case for his changing his >practice? He is mainly a hunter and a wooden boat builder, not a >farmer, but he has the pride of traditional manhood that I dare not >insult. I need his labor and want him to continue taking the >responsibility for the orchard. He has a lot of other good qualities >even though he isn't a BD farmer. If he gets mad and gives up the >orchard, I can't do as well as he's done without the Bio-Dynamics. I >can't bear to prune and he is an excellent harvester. I plan the garden >and initiate most things, raise and plant the seedlings for the garden >and do all the Bio-Dynamics. I have a wonderful garden helper who is >much better than I am--a virgo, who prepares the garden beds and does >the three cold frames for our 150 tomato plants. Yes, I am a >traditional Southern female who is transplanted to the West and I am >lucky to have such good help. > >Thanks a bunch, > >Merla > >
