Preparation name

Biodynamic preparation - Cow pat pit

How to make

Content: Cow manure, compost preps, crushed eggshells, basalt dust
Procedure: A trench is dug in good garden soil, about 60 cm wide and 40 cm deep and edged with bricks or untreated wood. The pit is filled with fresh firm cow manure containing no straw, inoculated with the compost preparations, and covered against rain (though not made airtight). Eggshells and basalt dust inserted into the dung and spaded for an hour. Proportions of the mixture are for 20kg of manure, 65gms crushed eggshells, 166gm basalt dust and 1 set of compost preps (a set has 1gm each of 503-506 and 1ml of 507). Leave for one month, then fork and it should be ready to use in eight weeks. The preparation is usable when it is dark brown, friable and has a sweet smell.
Storage: The contents should be stored in constant temperature in a cool dark place. Ideally in a glass jar or earthen container in peat or soil away from any chemicals. The lid of the container should be loose fitting to let in air.

Reasons for use

The cow pat pit preparation can be added to a compost heap during its construction, or stirred in water in the ratio of 1:7 and poured over it. It is also used in liquid manure form for seed baths, newly transplanted young plants and improving general soil fertility. Cow pat pit activates soil, encouraging better soil structure and breakdown of organic and inorganic substances.

How to apply

When: Cow pat pit is used at any time to improve soil fertility. Some practitioners spray it on three consecutive days before planting.
Quantity: It is applied at the rate of 1kg in 45 liters of water per acre.  For a city household block a 12 litre bucket half full would be Ok with 150gms of the mixture to cover 570 sqm.
How to prepare
Vessel: Get a stirring vessel with a water quantity suitable based on quantity calculations above. Do not over fill the vessel.
Water: Use clean water, preferably dam water, tank water or if city water, then leave overnight before use to allow chemicals in water to evaporate
Stirring: Stir for 20 minutes. begins in one direction, creating a deep crater (vortex) in a barrel, drum or bucket. Once formed, the direction is reversed and stirring continues until a new vortex arises. Stirring small quantities of material in large amounts of water is called ‘dynamising’. This process transfers the forces and energy from the preparation to the water itself. Many people working with biodynamics find this a meditative activity.
Application method
It needs to reach the ground in the form of droplets, so for large areas, use a backpack spray and for small areas, a hand brush dipped into the bucket of preparation, then flicked out over the land. The brush should be ideally horse hair.

 Alternatives

None

Comments

Cow pat pit can be added to BD500 when stirring. As an alternative to making this BD compost preparation, I suggest buying it already made up from the Biodynamic association in your country, see our BD Resources page for a listing.

BD forum

Go to our Biodynamics forum to make comments or ask questions.

Membership

Our web site members get access to further resources on Biodynamic and organic gardening.