Researching especially endangered and highly needed species and their growth under controlled biodynamic conditions, observing cosmic influences, such as the moon cycle in the zodiac signs and its influence on the cultivation, harvesting and medicinal properties, etc., is a challenging venture with a palpable future.

ITTM has been practising biodynamic cultivation of selected herbs for the past three years in its annexed Research Garden. During the year 2000 the garden premises have been enlarged with the kind support of PADMA AG Switzerland, specifically for the purpose of trial research cultivation of selected species of Tibetan Medicinal Plants. This project is being overseen and advised by Mr. Tadeu Caldas from ECOTROPIC, UK, on his regular visits to India. Mr. Caldas has 20 years of experience in biodynamic cultivation to his credit and has been imparting his knowledge to ITTM since 1996.

Terracing the new extension of the garden, April  2000.	Building nursery beds in the ITTM garden, May 2000.

View of the ITTM Centre from the Garden, autumn 2000.	Preparing biodynamic compost, autumn 2000.

Read articles on biodynamic cultivation published by ITTM:

New Dimensions in Cultivation Medicinal Plants, Part I

New Dimensions in Cultivation Medicinal Plants, Part II

by Tadeu Caldas, ECOTROPIC , UK
 

The large-scale destruction arising out of deforestation as well as random collection of medicinal plants from the wild are assuming alarming proportions towards their ultimate extinction in this Himalayan region. Sustained efforts towards arresting this unhealthy trend and towards meeting the growing demand especially for Tibetan medicinal herbs call for a systematically planned propagation and cultivation under controlled conditions.
 

Since 1998, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.S.L.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) and camomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert) have been cultivated. These plants are used for preparing biodynamic compost preparations that will fertilize and enrich the soil for the cultivation of medicinal plants. The special biodynamic preparations BD 502 from the dried yarrow blossoms, BD 503 from chamomile blossoms, BD 506 from dandelion flowers, BD 500, CCP as well as BD 508 from equisetum arvense and BD 507 from valerian flowers have already been prepared at ITTM.

The AIMS & OBJECTIVES of the medicinal plant garden are:

• to offer scholars practical opportunities for the study of medicinal plants of this region.
• to study and research the cultivation, harvest and propagation of certain medicinal plants under biodynamic conditions.
• to develop know-how in propagating and cultivating medicinal plants and to set up a nursery for this purpose.
• to contribute to the healing of  the soil and to the ecological system of this area by continuously applying biodynamic principles in the cultivation process.
• to produce biodynamic certified seeds and seedlings in the future and supply them to commercial growers of medicinal plants.
• to cultivate biodynamic vegetables for the benefit of guests at ITTM.

	The quality testing of plant material will be conducted in a modest laboratory at ITTM using methods of sensitive crystallisation and chromatography (according to Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and Rudolf Steiner).
Sensitive Chromatography A presentation made by Johanna Derix, Germany, Janvier 2005.  Big Movie (4 MB)  Small Movie (1 MB) Required QuickTime Player

PHOTOGRAPHS on this page by Heather Harlow.