BD 508: Horsetail (Equisetum) Tea

This spring I (Steph), have been doing a little deeper dive into some biodynamic preparations, as we try to strike a balance between nutrient dense fruit production vs. quality vegetative propagation material in our test orchards; not an easy feat. If you know, you know. Asking a tree to both produce water sprouts and fruit is an oxymoron, add to that the personalities and growth habits of each cultivar in our test orchard, paired with the subtle nuances of varying rootstock, and it seems a bit impossible to make really smart care decisions! 

In addition to all that, we add in our ever-present, overarching values. I have been busy making homemade amendments, brews and ferments; ensuring the use of clean water, aligning with the cosmic scope when suitable, and of course maintaining our wholistic principals (local products and supporting community businesses, cost, transportation – the list can go on!) The value of the whole (wholistic), balanced management is always our goal. Ground down to reality. Enter me, skipping out one cold, dusky morning, shovel in hand, in my house coat and sandals at 5amwhile the children sleep. The harvest: clean water (snow on a lunar eclipse),to use for a couple batches of fermented horsetail tea.

BD 508: horsetail (equisetum) tea 

This is a simple and attainable starting place for those interested in biodynamic orcharding. The tree paste (we’ll cover another time) is a tried-n-true favourite, with this one we are trying to add largely to help boost silica content. 

Ideally it would be applied just before the first full moon in March; however this year was all snow, so we’re opting for the waxing moon phase in April instead. To be  honest, I have a long way to go in learning the cosmic connective ropes, so for now some of our biodynamic practices really are just practices, trials, and research.

Anyways; onto the recipe. Rather than re-write the procedure, here is roughly what I followed:  https://chateaumonty.com/biodynamic-preparations-500-508/

I opted to ferment mine (allowing it to get that nice white mould on top), and used Frontier Co-op organic horsetail this round since I hadn’t any herb prepared ahead – however I have a nice low-lying space to harvest ahead for future batches, once the season begins. 

Happy growing all!!

Steph