When Shelburne resident Elisha Poulin gave a public presentation recently about biodynamic farming and gardening, there were occasional quizzical expressions on the faces of some attendees. Yet I was primed to listen with an open mind, thanks to a comment made last fall by Greenfield resident Ryan Nestor, who I interviewed for a story about growing sweet potatoes.

Nestor grew up in southern Vermont learning from many different farmers, including some who used biodynamic methods. “Some of that stuff is pretty out there,” Nestor said. “I knew one farmer who buried manure in an animal horn, dug it up during the full moon, and stirred it before amending the soil with that manure.” So I was intrigued when Elisha Poulin described these very techniques during her talk at the Shelburne (Center) Free Library.

A longtime farmer who began using biodynamic methods five years ago, Poulin promulgates the work of Rudolph Steiner, a complex Austrian fellow who successfully tried his hand at writing, architecture, and a host of other occupations and predilections. Steiner’s concepts can strike people as pretty woo-woo, so let’s get down to specifics. Poulin shares information about compost teas, phases of the moon, and manure and plant preparations, while also describing historical contexts. “World War I brought a lot of changes,” said Poulin. “Europe became an industrial economy, and military technologies were applied to agriculture. Chemical fertilizers, tractors, weed killers, and hybrid seeds became all the rage.”

Many farmers of that era, however, noticed a loss of biodiversity as well as decreasing vibrancy of their crops and livestock. “Farmers noticed that things were going downhill,” said Poulin. “Animals were less fertile, and vegetables raised with chemical applications tasted different, like they were depleted.” Groups of farmers approached Steiner – who had already made a name for himself in a number of arenas – to ask for help, and he came up with theories after turning to other scientists for assistance.

Steiner pointed out that overall soil health determines the health of plants, animals, and humans. He taught that – through insight into natural phenomena – it’s possible to concoct remedies from plant, mineral, and animal materials to enliven the soil. Steiner’s agricultural lectures, delivered toward the end of his life, captivated the imagination of many and led to people experimenting with his theories.

Meanwhile, in the early 1920s, around the time Steiner died, a girl was born in Germany who would grow up to be known for her work in stimulating soil health. Maria Thun was passionate about tapping into healing forces.

Poulin shares the teachings of both Steiner and Thun. “Biodynamic principles can be applied quickly and easily, as well as through deep and methodical practices,” Poulin said. “My hope is that people who are interested can become comfortable with starting this practice, which focuses on biodynamic preparations and the cosmic calendar.”

Anthroposophy is the name for the philosophies, spiritual movement, and bodies of research developed by Steiner. “I teach this material because Steiner’s writings make for really dense reading,” Poulin said. “Yet they offer amazing ways to help heal the earth and bring fertility to our soil, animals, and selves. It can change human evolution and consciousness.”

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It’s unclear how Steiner developed the idea of burying cow manure in horns as a soil preparation method. Most accounts simply say it occurred through spiritual research and observation. In any event, Steiner strongly felt the manure-in-horn burying practice preserves and distributes cosmic forces within the manure, benefiting the soil and plants; this process is a core element of biodynamic farming. Sounds weird, right? But what about results? Does science back this stuff up?

Maria Thun spent decades rigorously testing Steiner’s hypotheses, and indeed discovered reliably positive outcomes. Perhaps that’s not so strange, when considering the many mysterious and interconnected forces of nature that are beyond our full comprehension. Poulin points out that “the moon affects life on earth in all kinds of ways as it moves closer to and further from the earth. No one would dispute oceanic tides. The earth absorbs many forces from the moon, and that energy is always in flux.”

I called a knowledgeable gardener, Dorothea Sotiros, who impresses me with her ability to comprehend complex scientific data. It turns out Sotiros has looked into biodynamics and, without a hint of woo-woo, said, “Just as the sun moves through regular, predictable cycles that create our seasons, and just as the moon cycles every 29.5 days – which impacts the way water behaves on Earth – biodynamics asserts that the planetary cycles in our solar system have a discernible effect on Earth.” Biodynamics seeks to connect celestial cycles with earthly cycles, making it possible to identify favorable times for various activities. “Scientists like Maria Thun meticulously documented the effects of planting, tending, and harvesting according to these principles,” Sotiros said, adding that “it’s hard to argue with increased humus in the soil, improved soil water infiltration, and food crops that are more nutrient dense and resistant to pests.”

Still, I was a little hung up on the horn thing, so I asked Poulin about it. She answered matter-of-factly, “Female cows’ horns are hollow. The males’ horns are not hollow. Female cows have the biggest aura of any animal, and horns relate to the cosmos, since that special shape harnesses energy.” As she explained the importance of using specifically lactating cows’ manure in biodynamic preparations, my eyes started to glaze over again. But it’s hard to debate concrete successes, which Poulin and other adherents have repeatedly experienced.

Sotiros helped ground the theory by sharing something she found online: “Around the world, biodynamics is alive in thousands of thriving gardens, farms, vineyards, ranches, and orchards. The principles and practices of biodynamics can be applied anywhere food is grown, with thoughtful adaptation to scale, landscape, climate, and culture.” That sounds promising and exciting, and seems to make it worth our while to give the theory some airtime.

To engage Elisha Poulin for workshops or practical applications, contact rootedinharmony@hotmail.com.

Eveline MacDougall is the author of “Fiery Hope,” and an artist, musician, and mom. eveline@amandlachorus.org