Translations:Manfred Klett: Von der Agrartechnologie zur Landbaukunst/537/en

The outlined physical, life, and soul organisation of a farm is macrocosmically pre-given by the site-specific interaction of the kingdoms of nature within the polar field of tension between Earth and cosmos. The task of the human being is to form this given foundation up into a higher unity, according to the principles underlying their microcosmic bodily and essential form. Novalis summarises this state of affairs in the words: «Humanity is on a mission; we are called to the formation of the Earth.»154 The fulfilment of this mission is the task undertaken by biodynamic farming, as an extension of the Western-Christian agricultural culture through anthroposophical spiritual science. The starting point for this endeavour is Rudolf Steiner's aforementioned course for farmers from the year 1924.155 Biodynamic agriculture strives for a further development of the site-specific practices that were still time-tested at that time, primarily by shaping the farm into an organic whole and, beyond that, through specific manuring measures, among other things, to promote soil fertility and the nutritive quality of the produce. A further aim is the formation of farm communities, which give themselves their own social order out of the living and working conditions of agriculture itself and, radiating outwards, implant social formative impulses into the surrounding society.