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 Modern Ecological Farming Methods:Organic and Biodynamic® Also, check out the Top 10 Reasons to Buy Organic/Biodynamic® as well as "The Difference Between Biodynamic & Organic." |
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Organic and Biodynamic® methods of food production seek to minimize damage to ecosystems and create a stable agriculture into perpetuity. What is organic farming and agriculture? A system of agricultural techniques popularized and named by farmer and publisher J. I. Rodale in 1946. He named this system "Organic". The word has several meanings, including "a whole system of interdependent parts," "decomposed plant material," as in organic matter, and in chemistry: "chemical compounds which contain carbon". He established a demonstration farm in Pennsylvania and founded Rodale Press, which publishes Organic Gardening magazine and many books. J. I. Rodale was influenced by Sir Albert Howard's work with composting in India. Cover cropping and composting are used to build organic matter in the soil and synthetic inputs are discouraged. Organic farming emphasizes building soil fertility on the premise that a healthy, living soil produces healthy plants which are more resistant to pests and disease and have higher nutritional value. With the passage of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), organic farms in the United States can now achieve certified organic status with a rigorous yearly inspection from a USDA certified inspection agency, such as Stellar Certification Services. What is Biodynamic® farming? Biodynamic® farming encompasses everything organic, then takes it further. It is the oldest comprehensive system of organic agriculture started in 1924 by German philosopher Rudolph Steiner. Biodynamic® farms strive to be a self-sustaining organism within the surrounding ecosystem. The name comes from the Greek word "bio", which means life-energy. The worldwide Demeter organization certifies Biodynamic® farms. Demeter standards are generally stricter than organic standards and emphasize farm animals, soil and plant sprays and compost preparations which enhance and regulate plant growth and fertility. A wave of prestigious California vineyards have embraced Biodynamic® farming methods since Frey Vineyard's home ranch became Demeter certified in 1996. Inspired by the success of famous French wine chateaus using these methods, winemakers are excited about the high quality of Biodynamically® grown grapes. At Frey Vineyards we oversee grazing of cows, sheep and chickens in the vineyard rows. We grow our own herbs such as chamomile and yarrow for the Biodynamic® preparations and encourage a diversity of plants to grow in buffer zones around our vineyard plots. The end results are pure and delicious Frey Biodynamic® wines, bursting with flavors that reflect their special part of the world. What system does Frey Vineyards utilize? All Frey Estate Bottled Wines, made from grapes grown Biodynamically®, are certified by the Demeter Association, an internationally recognized Biodynamic® certification agency located in Junction City, Oregon. The rest of our wines are USDA certified organic by Stellar Certification Services, a sister organization of Demeter (their website and logo are coming soon). The SCS and DEMETER certifications are your guarantee of a pure, naturally grown wine, good for grape and globe alike.
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Home - Order Here - Winning Medals - What is Organic & Biodynamic®? No Sulfites Added - Our Wine Selection - Photo Tour - History - Articles - Links Frey Vineyards, 14000 Tomki Rd, Redwood Valley CA 95470 U.S.A. Email us at info@freywine.com Tastings by appointment only. copyright Frey Vineyards
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