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FAQ
Why is biodynamics necessary to world forestry?
Presently, most trees that are planted (or replanted on clear cut sites) come from commercial tree nurseries. Some of them produce as many as 20 million seedlings a year. These seedlings are mainly grown in an artificial substrate which is alien to the tree. Of course, it is almost impossible to copy the soil type into which a seedling will be planted after a two year growing season at a tree nursery.
The problem, however, is the following: not only is the soil environment an artificial one but the fertilizers and weed killers etc. are alien to the tree seedlings, too.
Thus, when the seedling gets planted into its new environment somewhere out in the forest, it will have to overcome a large number of serious obstacles for which it was never prepared. It is like sending a child into the big, wide world after it was raised in an artificial environment. The result is clear. Trees seedlings get stunted, shocked and have a tendency to rotate their roots (spiral root growth) for many years, so much so that many foresters have become seriously concerned with this 'shock growth' since the tree often develops an illness within 10 to 15 years.
It is known that nitrogen fertilizers and other growth enhancers attract a lot of fungi that may lie dormant for years within the tree seedling or its immediate environment. Fungi, i.e. spores that eventually produce the fungi, can survive for decades underneath the cambium. Once the tree has grown to a certain size, the fungi may suddenly grow (due to favourable weather conditions) and destroy the wood inside the tree (it becomes mushy, soft, waterlogged). This, then makes the tree very weak so that it may break off even during a mild storm.
The forest industry is becoming increasingly aware of the problems which are the result of artificial seedling environments.
The Bio-Dynamic Method does away with artificial ingredients. For example, Preparation 500 (derived from certain enzymes in the cow manure, exposed to a six-month maturing process and stirred for 60 minutes to enhance its quality) strengthens the roots and the root-micro organisms, enabling the seedling to prepare itself for the upcoming transplantation process. The BD Method does not make a seedling dependent on chemical fertilizers but enables it to send out a million times more hair roots in order to tap its soil environment and find all the ingredients it needs according to the motto: Give a man a fish and he will be able to eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will be able to feed himself for a life time.
What are the immediate and long-term goals of C-Dar?
C-Dar
World Forest Team is in the process of establishing a tree nursery.
It is important that BD grown seedlings are put to the test
and that we can show how well they do. The biodynamic method
itself has been proven in Europe since 1925. C-Dar WFT has established
a BD Preparation making unit at C-Dar Lodgein Upper Cheakamus,
BC, Canada.C-Dar WFT also runs seminars, lectures and courses
at C-Dar Lodge and along the West Coast of Canada and the US;
however, there are not enough trained foresters and seminar
leaders that can help in this process. We, therefore, wish to
train a number of foresters in the BD Foresting Method IF and
WHEN donations permit.
In future years, C-Dar WFT wishes to extend its library on the
BD Method, establish BD run Parks in urban areas, hold forestry
seminars and arrange student exchanges to bring students to
C-Dar Lodge for first hand experience in seedling cultivation.
Contributions may be mailed to:
C-Dar World Forest Team
PO Box 3818
Garibaldi Highlands, BC
V0N 1T0
or by contacting us at inquiries @ c-dar.com
Memberships are limited to non-voting members.
The annual membership fee is $20.00
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