La Finca Luna Nueva, A Biodynamic Farm in Costa Rica

We were just beginning our 2nd week of vacation in our "home away from home", Costa Rica, when "farming" came beckoning. I was relaxing by the pool with a very good book but could not resist the driving urge to check out "biodynamic farms in Costa Rica" on Google, and not 15 minutes later Phillip, Bede in I were booked at La Finca Luna Nueva Lodge in the
Arenal Volcano area, in San Isidro de Penas Blanca. Luna Nueva is a Demeter certified Biodynamic/organic farm principally growing ginger & turmeric, as well as incredible tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs. They are a sanctuary: preserving their rainforests, rearing animals, growing food, offering accommodations...a place of fellowship and peace. And for us, a place of great conversations and inspiration.


We arrived, met the farmer behind Luna Nueva, Steven Farrell, and were whisked away for the next 24 hours into tours, stimulating discussions about BD farming, sharing food & wine, and exchanging ideas and thoughts for the future.

We were taken on 2 tours: a short hike through the gardens where nearly every plant, vine and tree was identified, explained as to their presence/why in the jungle and the medicinal uses for many of them. It was awesome to eat the leaves of the plants, to taste a leaf just like snap peas, smell another leaf which is the Allspice Tree, to sample water apples (a large radish-looking apple, that is, well, watery to the taste!), drink freshly squeezed pineapple juice, to eat fresh, organic fruits and vegetables...the list could go on and on!

Phillip and I are so thankful to be able to travel the world and make contacts with other farmers who enlighten us and encourage us.

We have found that to find the right path we have to start walking. Sometimes the path is not in the right direction but once on it we can correct. Phillip has been concerned about our two steers. They are so big and rambunctious that they tend to decimate very quickly wherever they are even though we’ve moved them around. A move back to a miniature milk cow and steer, or donkey, or …. along with a couple of pigs may help the situation. Another 20 acres would be useful in this regard.

La Finca Luna Nueva helped us to envision an even more diverse AmByth than we currently have. They utilize permaculture to the max. We need to proceed with additional plants around the perimeter and play with some in row plantings at some point (always a little tricky with dry farming in Paso Robles). They have 200” of rain a year, we had 9 1/8” this year. Having quoted those figures it would be easy to say “It’s impossible” but that’s not so, we have to think a little more, and experiment. Everything takes time but, we’re on the path…and we're eager.

The wines will just get better as they have more earthly influences surrounding their birth place. And just a thought, if any of you are ever interested in visiting a BD farm with us, please let us know, we'd love to share these experiences with you and introduce you to some incredible people: people who are trying to do the right thing regarding their land, their communities and the future of both.

Biodynamic Preparations 500 & 501...and Why

Tuesday and Wednesday (12th - 13th) brought a close to our Springtime spraying sequence of Biodynamic Preparations 500 & 501. Tuesday morning Phillip was out at first light to stir the 501 (Cow Horn Silica) for 1 hour before applying it. As usual, we spray all BD preps on foot, with backpack sprayers to ensure better control over the spraying coverage. We feel this gives us more insight into the vineyard as each vine is sprayed and inspected. And there is a certain "vibe" in the process, the vineyard is visited by man on foot instead of the disruption of a tractor(diesel fumes, soil compaction, the breakage of tender canes as the tractor passes through, the absence of the sounds of birds and owls...just the rumble of the crawler...no thank you!) The 501 is normally a 4 hour process, but we thankfully (!!) had the help of 3 volunteers and the process was completed in half the time. Thank you Neil & Nick Sowerby, and Pepi!

Why BD 501? Steiner believed the silica properties found in finely ground quartz crystal were connected with our 'light forces', meaning they attract the sunlight to a particular item to help with ripening. In other words, it enhances the photosynthesis of the leaf. The ground quartz is buried in a cow horn under the soil for 6 months: the warmest months of the year, March-September. It is unburied at the autumnal equinox and stored until use in the Spring. It is applied in a fine mist to the leaves of the plant in the early morning hours. It is best to apply 501 in the early growth period of the plant, and again shortly before harvest. It has been found to bring the Brix level (sugar level) up in all fruits (I find this very, very interesting! One harvest, we had a difficult time getting our Mourvedre grapes to fully mature and it was suggested we spray 501 to encourage the vine to 'keep on going' before all of the leaves dropped off). 501 is also believed to strengthen the plants against some fungus attacks. (Above 2 photos taken in StoneCross Vineyard, in the head trained Mourvedre block.)

Wednesday afternoon Biodynamic Preperation 500 (Horn Manure) was applied in the afternoon, as the sun as beginning its descent in the sky. We stirred again for an hour--aerating the composition & creating the constant movement of vortexes and choas (see picture to the left: vortex, and the bottom picture is chaos--both photos taken from our copper stirring machine). This spray is applied to the ground in large droplets. We also apply this spray to our 20 acres of woods, since our steers live and eat there, as well as our natural predators. Spraying 500 is a much quicker spray--still on foot with backpacks, but you can arch your arm back and forth in a large wave motion, directing the droplets to fall 10 to 15 feet on both sides and around you.

Why BD 500? Picture yeast: and the magnificent transformation flour and water make when just a pinch amount of yeast is added to it. Or picture yeast: and the conversion of a huge amount of sugar from grapes into alcohol with the aid of a little bit of yeast. This same principle is applied to a minuscule amount of cow manure, diluted in water, and its incredible benefit when applied to the land. Cow manure is buried in a cow horn under the ground for 6 months, on the autumnal equinox and unburied on spring equinox. Steiner believed the cow horn would permeate nitrogen and oxygen forces into the manure due to its astral significance and the digestive processes of the cow. BD 500 is applied to the land, in the Fall and Spring, to promote root growth, the build up the humus properties in the soil and to stimulate it, and to contribute to good bacteria growth in the soil. At the moment, AmByth does not make any of our own BD Preps, but we are on track to do so, with nearly all herbal preps growing and the raising of our steers (with horns). Next year, we hope the BD 500 will be home-grown, buried in the Fall right here on the estate!

Free Range Chickens, Yes!...Free Range Cows, Forget It!

Phillip & I welcomed another new addition to AmByth Estate this week (besides our 4 kittens born on May 1st)--chickens!! Gustavo & Lety built a portable chicken coop on top of a newly purchased trailer. The idea is to wheel them throughout the vineyard, let them free during the day to peck the ground and search for bugs while benefitting our soil by their presence (you get the idea?). We used vegetable crates for the brood boxes and the most enviable ramps were built so the hens can perfectly snuggle in to lay eggs. We plan on feeding them purchased chicken food, as well as give them all compostable items from our kitchens. We are starting out with 3 full grown hens (and we're praying the dogs get over their curiosity), while we have 10 chicks and 1 rooster still on their way--they'll be here in about 2 weeks.

The portable chicken coop! The idea is to let down the black, metal ramp every day to let them roam freely in the vineyards. Meanwhile, their manure is able to fall through the metal floor when they're closed up, safe and sound, for the evening.

We've asked Phillip's Mum, Marjorie, to paint a farm scene on all 3 sides...so we look forward to having an artistic chicken coop!

Oh yes...the dear, sweet roaming cattle...NO MORE!!!! Twice last week I woke up to inspect the gardens and found all of my beets pulled out and every tasty green devoured (they especially love mustard greens). So before risking the demise of my summer plants, the steers were taken back to their pen. The vines were safe, the cows didn't touch them. It was just the family gardens that peeked their interest.