Bloublommetjieskloof is a biodynamic farm situated in Wellington near Paarl. The farm has been operating biodynamically for about 35 years, and was recently certified by Demeter, the international biodynamic certification authority.
Amongst other (farm) produce, an extensive range of certified biodynamic household cleaning products are manufactured and bottled on the farm. These include a Basil All Purpose Cleaner with scourer, a Feverfew Dishwashing Liquid, an Herbal Sanitiser, Soapwort Laundry Liquid and Fabric Softner, a Paw Paw Wash Brightning Powder, and a Dishwash Paste for automatic dish-washing machines. The herbal extracts act as active ingredient which together with a natural liquid soap made on the farm using organic coconut oil, soapwort and potash lye (a mineral ingredient made from potassium salt) make a strong and effective cleaning product.
A smaller range of body products, containing healing and nourishing herbal ingredients, also certified biodynamic, include a Sage&Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner, a Hair & Body Wash (containing rooibos, rosemary and calendula extracts), a Hand Soap (with rooibos and calendula) , a Pet Shampoo (with mint,soapwort,lavender and lemongrass), Baby wash (with wild olive leaf, fennel, rosemary, calendula and lavender) and a Baby’s bum balm(with honey and calendula), as well as old fashioned wood cured bar soaps made with Bloublomsalie (Wild Sage) and Wild Rosemary harvested from natural fynbos areas on the farm. A comfrey Facial Wash and Organic Skin Food moisturiser complete the range. The products are fragranced with organic essential oils which also serve as natural preservative.
For a product to be certified Biodynamic, firstly ALL ingredients must be natural and organically produced, and secondly, no less than 95% of these ingredients must be biodynamically grown. (a mineral ingredient is organic if it has been ‘harvested’ from the earth and treated non-chemically)
Biodynamics is a spiritual, sustainable method of farming that aims to treat the farm as a living system which interacts with the environment. It aims to build a healthy, living soil and to offer products that nourish and vitalise and ultimately help to develope mankind. The quality of the produce is directly dependent on the cosmic energy that can come into the living soil. Conscious thinking about and working with these cosmic formative forces, and applying this knowledge, is the distinguishing feature of biodynamic farming. As the earth gets older the soil naturally becomes weaker and is less able to receive cosmic rhythms. In addition, modern methods of mass production and rampant use of synthetic chemicals have attributed to the earth’s alienation from these cosmic forces. Specially prepared Biodynamic Preparations using cow manure, silica, and various herbal plants (valerian,nettle, oak bark, yarrow, chamomile and dandelion) are used (sprayed over fields, or inserted into compost heaps), in order to open the soil once again to cosmic influences.
In the same way, using biodynamic products (eating the food or using body products on our skin etc), opens us, makes us more sensitive to the cosmic influences, gives us the organs to once again perceive the spiritual realms, in a fully conscious way, and in freedom.
Because any synthetic chemicals are by their very nature dead substances, and act as a barrier against cosmic forces, they can have no part in any biodynamic venture.
Biodynamic agriculture is one of the initiatives brought by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the founder of Anthroposophy. Others initiatives include education (Waldorf Schools) medicine (Anthroposophical Medicine), economics, philosophy, religion and the arts (Eurythmy).
The Bloublommetjies Household Cleaning Range was developed in order to meet a need : Nature Spirits not able to penetrate the thick layer of pollution and synthetic chemicals enveloping the world, not able to reach the earth and enliven it, not able to do their work. The Bloublommetjies range can hopefully create a small counter force to the massive chemical cleaning scourge, which with widespread and very creative advertising has spread to every household, from the simplest shack in Kyalitshe, a mud hut in rural Kwa-zulu Natal, to the mansions of Constantia. The modern day persons’ need for convenience and super quick results is an easy target for the chemical industry. Our challenge is to become conscious, to know what we are really doing every time we squirt some chemical disinfectant down our loo, or use a chemical soap on our skin.
