Biodynamic Gardening Guide: Definition, Key Principles, Best Practices, Benefits, Tools and Preparations

Biodynamic gardening offers a profound approach to cultivating the earth, resonating with ancient wisdom and modern ecological consciousness. It transcends conventional organic practices by fostering a holistic understanding of the garden as a living organism, intertwined with the rhythms of nature and the cosmos. Embracing this philosophy nurtures vibrant, nutrient-rich produce while promoting a deeper connection to the natural world.

Key Principles of Biodynamic Gardening

1. Understanding the Farm as a Living Organism:

• Biodynamics views the farm or garden as an interconnected entity, where soil, plants, animals, and cosmic forces collaborate in a delicate dance of life.
• Nurturing this interconnectedness is paramount, ensuring a synergistic balance that promotes vitality and resilience.

2. Strengthening the Soil:

• Biodynamic preparations, meticulously crafted from natural substances, act as catalysts for soil health.
• These preparations invigorate microbial life, enhance fertility, and promote a thriving soil ecosystem—the foundation for robust plant growth.

3. Aligning with Cosmic Rhythms:

• Biodynamics recognizes the profound influence of celestial rhythms on plant growth.
• Planting, cultivating, and harvesting in harmony with lunar cycles, planetary alignments, and seasonal transitions optimizes plant vitality and yields.

4. Embracing Biodiversity:

• Biodynamic gardens embrace diversity, fostering a tapestry of plant species, insect life, and beneficial organisms.
• This biodiversity fosters resilience, thwarts pests, and creates a harmonious ecosystem where each element contributes to the garden's overall health.

Essential Practices for Biodynamic Gardening Success

1. Composting: The Heart of Soil Fertility

• Biodynamic composting is a meticulous art, transforming organic matter into a nutrient-rich elixir for the soil.
• Specific preparations, such as BD500 and BD502, enhance compost vitality, accelerating decomposition and enriching the soil's microbial life.

2. Planting by the Moon and Stars:

• Biodynamic planting calendars guide gardeners to align sowing and harvesting with auspicious cosmic rhythms.
• This practice is believed to optimize plant growth, nutrient uptake, and flavor development.

3. Fostering Biodiversity:

• Intercropping, companion planting, and cultivating a diversity of species create a vibrant ecosystem that benefits all inhabitants.
• Beneficial insects thrive, pests are kept in check, and the garden becomes a resilient, self-sustaining microcosm.

4. Honoring Animals and Their Role:

• Biodynamic farms often integrate livestock, recognizing their crucial role in nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and overall farm health.
• Animals contribute manure for compost, grazing for weed control, and their unique energy to the farm's ecosystem.

The Rewards of Biodynamic Gardening

1. Nutrient-Rich, Flavorful Produce:

• Biodynamic practices yield produce that is not only free of chemicals but also brimming with vitality and flavor.
• The heightened nutrient density and vibrant energy of biodynamically grown food are often palpable to those who consume it.

2. Deeper Connection to Nature:

• Biodynamic gardening cultivates a profound sense of connection to the natural world, fostering respect for the delicate balance of life forces that sustain us.
• This intimate relationship with nature enriches both the gardener and the garden, fostering a sense of stewardship and gratitude.

3. A Path to Regeneration:

• Biodynamic principles offer a roadmap for healing the Earth and restoring vitality to our food systems.
• By nourishing the soil, honoring biodiversity, and embracing cosmic rhythms, we can participate in a movement that nurtures life and promotes a thriving planet for generations to come.

Delving Deeper into the Cosmos: Advanced Biodynamic Techniques

We've established the core principles and practices of biodynamic gardening, but the journey doesn't end there. For those seeking to truly connect with the cosmic rhythms and unlock the full potential of their gardens, several advanced techniques await exploration.

Honing Your Sensitivity to Cosmic Forces

1. Observing the Subtle: Planetary Influences

Each planet in our solar system exerts a unique influence on plant growth. For example:

• Mars: Associated with vitality and action, Mars days are ideal for seeding fast-growing plants like lettuce and radishes.
• Venus: Ruling over love and beauty, Venus days favor planting flowering ornamentals and nurturing delicate fruits.
• Saturn: Known for structure and boundaries, Saturn days are well-suited for tasks like transplanting seedlings and pruning woody plants.

By keeping a keen eye on planetary movements and aligning your gardening activities accordingly, you can tap into these subtle cosmic forces and potentially enhance your yields and harvest quality.

2. Harnessing the Moon's Cycles: The Biodynamic Sowing Calendar

The moon's waxing and waning phases have long been recognized as potent influences on plant growth. Biodynamic sowing calendars, meticulously crafted to correspond with these lunar cycles, offer detailed guidance for optimal planting times.

• Root Days: During the waning moon, focus on planting root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and beets. The downward pull of the moon's gravity is believed to encourage vigorous root development.
• Leaf Days: Under the waxing moon, prioritize leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale. The moon's upward pull is thought to stimulate lush foliage growth.
• Flower Days: The days surrounding the full moon are auspicious for sowing flowering plants, fruit trees, and herbs. The moon's heightened energy is believed to promote vibrant blooms and bountiful harvests.

3. Rhythms of the Zodiac: A Deeper Dive

For the truly dedicated biodynamic gardener, delving into the specific influences of the zodiacal constellations can add another layer of complexity and potential benefit. Each constellation is associated with different plant parts and qualities, offering further guidance for aligning your gardening activities with cosmic rhythms.

For instance, planting tomatoes under the sign of Leo (associated with fire and fruit) or sowing leafy greens under Libra (linked to air and balance) might be seen as particularly auspicious choices. However, mastering this level of astrological integration requires dedication and ongoing study.

Tools and Preparations for the Advanced Biodynamic Gardener

1. The Seven Preparations: Catalysts for Life

Biodynamic preparations are potent natural concoctions crafted from specific plant and animal materials. These preparations, numbered BD500 through BD507, each address different aspects of soil health and plant vitality.

• BD500 (Horn manure): Enhances soil fertility and humus formation.
• BD501 (Horn silica): Strengthens plant stems and resistance to disease.
• BD502 (Cow manure): Stimulates composting and microbial activity.
• BD503 (Chamomile): Promotes flower formation and fruit quality.
• BD504 (Nettle): Enhances leaf growth and chlorophyll production.
• BD505 (Oak bark): Strengthens root systems and resistance to pests.
• BD506 (Dandelion): Balances soil moisture and nutrient uptake.

Mastering the application and timing of these preparations takes time and experience, but their potential to invigorate your garden and elevate your biodynamic practice is significant.

2. The Dowsing Rod: Intuition Meets Practicality

The dowsing rod, a simple Y-shaped tool, can be used to intuitively locate underground water sources, ley lines (energetic lines in the Earth), and even compost piles with optimal activity. While its scientific validity is debated, many biodynamic gardeners swear by the dowsing rod as a valuable tool for connecting with the subtle energies of the land.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Journey with Biodynamic Gardening

Biodynamic gardening is not merely a set of techniques; it's a lifelong journey of observation, experimentation, and deepening connection with the natural world. As you delve deeper into its principles and practices, you'll witness firsthand the vibrant life force coursing through your garden, responding to your care and resonating with the rhythms of the cosmos.

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Fwd: Behind the dark curtain—the truth as to why asking rents have not come down

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Scot Ginsburg <scot.ginsburg@hughesmarino.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 4:14 PM
Subject: Behind the dark curtain—the truth as to why asking rents have not come down
To: <stevescott@techacq.com>

Hi Steve,

My partner and co-founder of the firm, David Marino, wrote this expose article that I think is absolutely critical for all commercial real estate tenants to understand. This article exposes the dirty truth behind our industry in how landlords work collectively to their mutual benefit and how the brokerage community is built to support them. The reality is that in 3 1/2 years of chaos, with office vacancy rates going up more than 50% nationally, office asking rents have yet to decline even a dollar…not even a single percentage point. This is measuring only direct offerings from building owners aggregated nationally, and excludes the record breaking 265M square feet of sublease space priced at 20%-50% below landlords' asking prices. Never in history has there been an asset class that's traded like this, and this analysis explains why.

Scot Ginsburg
Executive Vice President
Broker License #01300321
+1 844.662.6635 Office

HUGHES MARINO

Why Asking Rents for Commercial Real Estate Office Space Have Not Come Down

Three and a half years post-COVID, and it's universally understood that office commercial real estate is in crisis. Office vacancy rates have gone up 50% nationally due to companies downsizing as their leases expire and they implement remote working and hybrid work models. Yet national average asking rents for office space have not gone down…not by a single percentage point. Name one commodity where the supply of that good or service has gone up 50%, yet the price is unchanged. Think about it…gold, oil, soybeans, automobiles, stocks, houses, Beanie Babies, cryptocurrency... not a single one, ever! So how can this be explained that landlords are struggling to lease 50% more office space, yet they haven't discounted the price one dollar?

Landlords Set the Prices
Early in my career in the mid-90s, the managing partner of one of the largest real estate developers on the West Coast said to me, "Commercial real estate is the last great unregulated industry." While landlords don't formally collude, they directly and indirectly share a tremendous amount of information and anchor off each other's pricing, and that is exactly what's been happening since COVID began. In March of 2020, building owners got together and held the line on prices, and agreed directly or through their broker community partners, that they were not going to lower prices.

Building owners have good reasons not to lower asking rents as there is no public recording of leases whereby the tenant community ever knows what people are actually paying, or the details of the myriad of concessions that can be negotiated. With the brokerage community largely working for landlords, or frequently acting as dual agents representing both landlords and tenants in the same transactions, landlords have full transparency of what each other are doing in real time. Brokers publish almost every lease transaction within their own internal databases, often as a requirement to getting paid their commission by their firm. Those databases are then shared across their entire brokerage firm, and much of that data is commoditized and traded with other brokers, and generously shared with other landlords these same brokerage firms represent. Tenants' confidential lease information rarely stays that way for very long, and landlords know who's doing deals, and at what terms, while the general public and tenants are lured into thinking that prices are the same as they were back in 2020.

Brokers Price Support the Market
I've always said that landlords write the music, but the brokerage community are the singers and the band. The role of commercial real estate brokers is to support landlords in their pricing and valuation agendas. You only have to look back historically over a century as to what the brokerage community was created to do. The brokerage business is built on the backs of landlords providing leasing, asset management, property management, investment sales, capital markets, appraisal and any other imaginable service that a building owner might need. Even more than just having landlords as their primary customer, brokerage firms have become landlords themselves by investing billions of dollars directly into billions of square feet of real estate all around the world…all while doing the leasing and management on those same buildings. For example, CBRE directly owns, or acts as the asset manager—a fiduciary relationship of little difference than direct ownership—for nearly 3.5 billion square feet of commercial real estate, making them one of the largest landlords in the world. The flow of tenants became a byproduct of those businesses, and the idea of these full-service brokerage firms representing tenants' best interests is a farse.

Tenants trying to negotiate their own renewal, using the dual agent landlord-broker or someone on the landlord-broker team, are particularly vulnerable to deception. I remember in 2001 after the dot-com bust that one of the biggest landlords in town hadn't lowered their asking rents even though pricing was down 20% since the prior year. When I challenged the landlord's broker to lower prices, he said that they wanted to keep the asking rents up for when a tenant might look to renew or expand that didn't have a tenant-side independent broker and foolishly thought they were somehow saving a commission by working directly with the landlord or landlord's broker. They then could give that tenant a 10% discount on the rent, and the tenant felt like it was a pretty good deal. The reality is that we were doing leases in that same building at 20% off the asking price, with big packages of free rent and tenant improvements.

Yes, that man or woman who does the leasing for the building is charming and always knows what's available, but they aren't going to betray their core customer—the building owner—to get you, the tenant, the best deal possible. No one is there to test the landlord's marching orders or whispered bottom line. Worse, the tenant working directly with the landlord or through the landlord's listing team has no leverage, no legitimate relocation options, and little real information about what can truly be done in that building or elsewhere… particularly in subleases. The commercial real estate industry is completely opaque to a tenant that gets lured into this situation, and brokers are not even thinking about tenants' interests when conducting these activities. It's all about monetizing the real estate, which comes down to monetizing the tenants and the associated rent stream—tenants become a means to an end.

The Role of Lenders and Investors
Beyond the players that set prices and support them, there's a serious structural problem that prevents landlords from just lowering their rents, even if they wanted to. Most commercial real estate buildings have outside investors and debt. Those investors have been promised a certain return and are anchored to their valuation. The lenders are even more married to the pro forma, and it's not only that there is debt service to pay, but there are loan-to-value ratios to be maintained, and no one wants to mark-to-market office real estate. As a result, landlords simply maintain their pro forma asking rents, but quietly offer bigger tenant improvement allowances, large free rent packages, moving allowances, lease assumptions and other financial concessions that are necessary to keep or win new tenants, without lowering their prices. The financial reality is that landlords and their lenders are better off keeping a space vacant at their asking rents, than seeing the building value go down by doing leases at 20%-30% off their asking rent pricing.

Ultimately, this house of cards does fall down as pre-COVID occupancy rates go from 85%-95% down to 65% or 75% as tenants downsize, go remote, relocate to cheaper options or subleases, and landlords' occupancy levels erode. Not only has vacancy gone up, but the average time on the market that an office suite sits vacant has gone up 50%-100% in most metro areas. The end result is ultimately receivership and foreclosure, which is now happening regularly across the country. As happened from 1991 to 1995, this begins a death spiral where the declining market causes office building after office building to not be able to meet its debt service and loan-to-value ratios, whereby the real estate ultimately gets foreclosed upon and re-sold at a fraction of replacement cost. The entrepreneur real estate investor that buys that real estate has a new favorable basis, and reprices asking rents to reality versus what all the other landlords are committed to, and soon begins a cycle of real asking rental rate declines. It's likely that we're going to see ongoing declines in occupancy for another three to four years as the remaining 50% of leases expire around the United States. That's going to result in degrading performance of commercial real estate office buildings, which will ultimately result in more foreclosures, and so the cycle goes until we hit some kind of bottom in 2027 or 2028.

What all of this means for tenants is that you can't believe landlords' asking prices, nor the brokers that are promoting them, measuring them or using them as a benchmark to push tenants into mediocre leases that tenants should not be signing. The commercial office market is much more favorable to tenants than business owners and executives running companies understand, but you have to get into the market and test your options, including looking at one of the many subleases that likely are available for consideration, to force a process of price discovery, rather than thinking that asking rents are any reflection of the market we are actually in. All of that requires a zealous advocate, that acts only as a tenant's broker, and doesn't work for landlords or a full-service brokerage firm helping building owners prop up the asking rents in an office market that's in collapse.

 

Copyright © 2023 Hughes Marino, Inc.・Corporate HQ: 1450 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101. All rights reserved.

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Titans Stage Miraculous Comeback to Stun Dolphins on Monday Night Football

In one of the most incredible comebacks of the NFL season, the Tennessee Titans stunned the Miami Dolphins 28-27 on Monday Night Football. With less than three minutes remaining in the game and trailing by 14 points, the Titans unleashed a furious rally that culminated in a game-winning touchdown with just seconds left on the clock.

The victory was a monumental one for the Titans, who improved to 5-8 on the season and kept their playoff hopes alive. It also dealt a major blow to the Dolphins, who had been riding high atop the AFC East and were considered one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Dolphins Dominate Early

The Dolphins seemed poised to cruise to victory early on. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sharp, completing 20 of his 25 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. also had a strong performance, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown.

The Titans, on the other hand, struggled offensively for much of the game. Rookie quarterback Will Levis looked shaky at times, completing only 15 of his 30 passes for 187 yards. The Titans also committed several costly penalties, which helped the Dolphins maintain momentum.

Titans Mount Improbable Comeback

With the Dolphins leading 27-13 late in the fourth quarter, it appeared that the Titans were headed for defeat. However, Levis led the Titans on a pair of remarkable touchdown drives in the final minutes of the game.

The first scoring drive was capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Levis to wide receiver Treylon Burks with 1:50 remaining. On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, Levis found tight end Austin Hooper for the score, cutting the Dolphins' lead to 27-21.

Following a Miami punt, Levis and the Titans offense went back to work. Levis completed passes of 19 and 15 yards to move the ball into Dolphins territory. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Levis delivered a strike to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

Levis Shines in the Spotlight

Levis, who was making just his third career start, was the hero of the game for the Titans. He finished with 327 passing yards and two touchdowns, displaying a poise and clutchness that belied his rookie status.

"I'm just so proud of our guys," Levis said after the game. "We never gave up, even when things looked bleak. We just kept fighting, and it paid off in the end."

Dolphins Left to Rue Missed Opportunities

The Dolphins were left to rue their missed opportunities after the game. They had several chances to put the game away in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to capitalize.

"We just made too many mistakes," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. "We had a chance to win this game, but we didn't take advantage of it. We need to learn from our mistakes and move on."

What's Next for Both Teams?

The Titans will look to build on their momentum when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Dolphins, meanwhile, will try to get back on track when they travel to face the Buffalo Bills.

Historic Comeback

The Titans' comeback was one of the most memorable in recent NFL history. It was the first time since 2003 that a team had overcome a 14-point deficit in the final three minutes of a game and won in regulation.

The victory also proved that the Titans are a team that can never be counted out. Despite their up-and-down season, they remain in the thick of the AFC playoff race.

Conclusion

The Titans' thrilling comeback victory over the Dolphins was a testament to the power of perseverance and never giving up. It was a game that will be remembered for years to come, and it served as a reminder that anything is possible in the NFL.

Key Statistics:

• Titans: 327 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
• Dolphins: 267 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 112 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
• Titans: 5-8 record
• Dolphins: 9-5 record

Additional Notes:

• The Titans were without star running back Derrick Henry for the second straight game.
• The Dolphins were also without several key players, including wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Jevon Holland.
• The game was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
• The attendance was 75,417.

 

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Electroculture Antenna: A Guide to Everything You Need to Know

Electroculture is a fascinating and growing field of agriculture that uses electric fields to stimulate plant growth. One of the key components of an electroculture system is the electroculture antenna. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about electroculture antennas, including what they are, how they work, and how to build your own.

References:

• https://groups.google.com/g/mozilla.dev.platform/c/gcvKyDCLARQ
• https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/g/chromium-reviews/c/MIVh0X4jq50
• https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.vms/c/Li7yVL
• https://groups.google.com/g/microsoft.public.project/c/qfZ9TW9z464

What is an electroculture antenna?

An electroculture antenna is a device that is used to create an electric field in the air. This electric field can then be used to stimulate the growth of plants. Electroculture antennas can be made from a variety of materials, including copper wire, aluminum foil, and even cardboard.

How do electroculture antennas work?

When an electric current is passed through an electroculture antenna, it creates an electric field around the antenna. This electric field can then be used to stimulate the growth of plants in a number of ways.

• Increased cell division: The electric field can cause plant cells to divide more rapidly, which can lead to faster growth.
• Improved nutrient uptake: The electric field can also help plants to absorb nutrients from the soil more efficiently.
• Increased chlorophyll production: Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color. The electric field can help plants to produce more chlorophyll, which can lead to increased photosynthesis and growth.
• Enhanced disease resistance: The electric field can help plants to resist diseases by activating their immune systems.

How to build your own electroculture antenna

There are many different ways to build an electroculture antenna. One simple method is to use copper wire to create a spiral coil. The coil should be about 1 foot in diameter and 6 inches tall. The coil can then be mounted on a wooden stake and placed in the ground near your plants.

Benefits of using electroculture antennas

There are many benefits to using electroculture antennas. Some of the most common benefits include:

• Increased yields: Studies have shown that electroculture antennas can increase yields by up to 30%.
• Improved crop quality: Electroculture antennas can help to improve the quality of crops by making them more resistant to pests and diseases.
• Reduced need for pesticides: Electroculture antennas can help to reduce the need for pesticides by making plants more resistant to pests.
• More sustainable agriculture: Electroculture is a more sustainable form of agriculture than traditional methods because it does not rely on the use of chemicals.

Here are some additional tips for using electroculture antennas:

• The best time to use electroculture antennas is during the growing season.
• The antennas should be placed near the plants, but not so close that they touch the leaves.
• The antennas should be turned on for at least 8 hours per day.
• It is important to experiment with different antenna designs and configurations to find what works best for your specific plants and growing conditions.

Conclusion

Electroculture antennas are a simple and effective way to improve the growth of your plants. If you are looking for a way to increase your yields and improve the quality of your crops, then electroculture may be a good option for you.

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