Proper Storage of Biodynamic Preparations

Storing Biodynamic Preparations

I. For Beginners & Beyond

Biodynamic preparations are like nature’s secret helpers. They might be made from flowers, bark, or herbs, but once they are buried in the earth and dug back up, they become something special. They hold a kind of quiet magic that can help soil, plants, and farms grow stronger, healthier, and more alive. Learn more about the preparations we offer at JPI.

But just like milk needs a fridge and candles need a dry shelf, these preparations need the right kind of home to stay fresh and strong. If we don’t store them properly, they lose their power.

Luckily, storing them doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, one of the most respected teachers of biodynamics in America, Hugh Courtney, once said:

“Buy a bag of peat moss, slice some holes in the top, and nestle your glass jars inside. That’s it. The peat keeps them insulated. Not elegant, but it works!”¹

This works in a pinch. But when you’re ready, it helps to take things a step further. In this guide, we’ll show you how. For an in-depth introduction to these practices, see our book Biodynamics for Beginners.

II. Technical Considerations

If preparations are nature’s hidden helpers, then our task is to become their careful stewards. Just as fine instruments require tuning and storage in proper cases, biodynamic preparations need containers, environments, and protection that support—not hinder—their etheric vitality. What follows is a set of universal guidelines that apply to nearly all preparations. These are rooted not only in tradition, but in practical experience shared across decades by farmers, researchers, and preparation makers. For details on individual preparations, browse our full preparations collection.

A. Guidelines for Storing Preparations

1. Containers
   • Use ceramic jars—either glazed or unglazed—with breathable lids, or dark glass containers.²
   • Never use plastic or metal; they degrade the life forces.³
   • Small amounts may be stored in clean baby food jars or mason jars with lids loosely closed.⁴
2. Peat Moss Insulation
   • Surround each jar with a 3–6 inch layer of long-fibered sphagnum peat moss, preferably moist to reduce dust.⁵ See our article What is Peat Moss and Why for sourcing and usage tips.
   • Peat moss insulates from temperature swings, EMF exposure, and energetic disturbances.⁶
   • In low-budget or emergency settings, dry biochar or straw may be used as partial insulation, though peat remains the ideal protective medium.
3. Storage Environment
   • Store in a root cellar if possible, or in a shaded outbuilding with a prepared box.⁷
   • Avoid proximity to strong electric fields or EMF sources, which are believed to disrupt the subtle etheric qualities of the preparations.⁸
   • Keep away from noxious chemicals or fumes.
   • Store in a cool, dark, humid place; avoid both desiccation and freezing.
   • Ideal temperature: 45–60°F (7–16°C); relative humidity: 55–75%
4. Labeling
   • Clearly label each jar with the preparation number, harvest date, and batch number.⁹
   • Replace labels annually to avoid smudging or loss.⁹
5. Storage Philosophy
   • Each prep is a living substance, like a microbial inoculant.
   • Store separately to preserve each preparation’s unique energetic and microbiological characteristics.¹⁰
   • Containers should be breathable; do not allow to go anaerobic.¹¹
6. Contamination Cautions
   • If stored near solvents, synthetic chemicals, or strong odors, consider the prep compromised.¹²
   • Discard any prep that smells sour, moldy, or “off.”¹³
   • A spoiled prep may be buried in a reverent manner rather than used.¹⁴
7. Peat Maintenance
   • If peat becomes brittle or dusty, lightly mist with rainwater.¹⁵
   • Rehydrate dry peat before use; refresh every 12–18 months.¹⁵
8. Temporary and Field Storage
   • For travel or mobile work, use insulated field chests lined with peat or biochar.¹⁶
   • Keep shaded, away from heat, and never leave in hot vehicles.¹⁶

B. Storage Notes for Specific Preparations

• BD 500 (Horn Manure), BD 502–506, Barrel Compound (BC)
  • Store in a dark, cool, humid space like a root cellar.
  • Each in an insulated vessel with at least 6" of peat moss.
  • Store separately, labeled, and not airtight.
  • Shelf life: 1–3 years if properly stored.¹⁷
  • For application guidance, see How to Use BD 500.
• BD 501 (Horn Silica)
  • Keep in direct sunlight on a window ledge.¹⁸
  • Avoid all moisture.
  • Store in clear glass with a non-plastic lid or horn sheath.
  • Shelf life: Indefinite if kept completely dry.
• BD 507 (Valerian)
  • Store in brown glass bottle, opaque and dry.¹⁹
  • Keep cool and tightly stoppered; vent fermentation gasses if needed.²⁰
  • Shelf life: Use within 1 year.
• BD 508 (Horsetail)
  • Store dry or as a fermented extract.
  • Dry: in a paper envelope or dark glass jar; keep cool and protected from light.²¹
  • Wet: open fermented in a ceramic or glass vessel; may be stabilized with alcohol.²²
  • Shelf life: 1–2 years (dry); fermented: use within 1 year.

C. Portable & Stationary Prep Box Designs

• Use untreated wooden crates (old pallet slats ideal).²³
• Line bottom with flat stone and 1–2" peat moss.
• Place jars at least 6" apart using cardboard sleeves (e.g., Sonotubes) to separate jars.²⁴
• Cut round lids or covers with matching holes to prevent dust transfer.
• Above that, use a lid made from a 3–6" box filled with peat moss, sealed on all sides.
• Beehive supers can be stacked, provided each preparation remains isolated within its own insulated cavity, spaced apart and not directly in contact.²⁵

If custom prep boxes are needed, JPI can assist with construction.

But technical mastery is not the whole picture. The real meaning of preparation storage lies deeper still—in the realm of spiritual science. For the deeper context, see our article Biodynamics and the Mystery.

III. Spiritual Considerations

Each biodynamic preparation is a vessel of cosmic order. They are not inert powders or tinctures—they are beings.²⁶

Steiner spoke of nature’s rhythms as deeds of the cosmos, and the preparations are condensed acts of planetary wisdom. Each one, through the organs of plant and animal, carries a message of healing for the Earth.

To store them improperly is to dismiss their sacredness. To store them with reverence is to join in their quiet work.²⁷

• The storage area should be consecrated: clean, silent, and energetically calm.²⁸
• Never store near disruptive fields, such as power panels, routers, or heavy machinery.⁸
• Each preparation carries a distinct archetypal character—shaped by its plant, sheath, seasonal timing, and cosmological rhythm. Storing them individually protects the integrity of these spiritual gestures.¹⁰
• The etheric forces of the preparations resonate in stillness. Their dormancy is not emptiness but incubation.²⁹

Let each preparation rest alone, as a tone in its own tuning fork, so that when it enters the soil, it may ring true.

“It matters a great deal whether the person who stirs and sprays the preparation does so out of a mechanical routine, or whether he can do so with inner devotion.” —Rudolf Steiner, Agriculture, GA 327, Lecture 4

IV. Additional Considerations

• Portable wooden chest (e.g., dovetailed pine box).
• Lined with peat moss and fitted with cardboard separators.
• Moisture barrier cloth between peat and box exterior.
• Held 3–4 jars and used in soil testing or consultation visits.⁴

These legacy designs—while not formally standardized—are simple and widely replicated across many field contexts.

Climate and Cultural Considerations

Storage strategies must be adapted to regional climate. In humid or flood-prone zones, sealed ceramic or glass containers with elevated storage are essential to prevent rot or moisture intrusion. In arid regions, deeper peat insulation or buried storage may be used to buffer extreme temperature swings.

Culturally, European traditions (e.g., in Germany and Switzerland) often employ clay pots placed in subterranean stone chambers or cellars—emphasizing insulation and quietude. North American methods, especially in biodynamic hubs like Virginia and the Pacific Northwest, favor modular field chests and mobile prep kits adapted to seasonal variability. Australian biodynamic farmers influenced by Podolinsky often use wide shallow crates with loose peat, avoiding stacking and emphasizing solar rhythm coherence.

Each of these approaches aligns with spiritual indications found in biodynamics, such as Rudolf Steiner’s statement that form must follow spiritual function. These principles are applied practically and locally by farmers attentive to environmental rhythm and inner attitude.

On Experiment and Respect

These field-tested storage designs are shared in the spirit of collaborative observation, not dogma. Rudolf Steiner emphasized this same spirit at the close of the Agriculture Course:

“Enhance it and develop it by actual experiments and tests. The farmers’ society—the ‘Experimental Circle’ that has been formed—will fix the point of time when in its judgement the tests and experiments are far enough advanced to allow these things to be published.”⁵

V. Resources and Bibliography

• Steiner, Rudolf. Agriculture: Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture. GA 327. Trans. Catherine E. Creeger. Kimberton, PA: SteinerBooks, 1993.
• Courtney, Hugh J. Biodynamics for Beginners. Woolwine, VA: Earth Legacy Agriculture Library, 2021.
• Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried. Soil Fertility, Renewal, and Preservation. Spring Valley, NY: Anthroposophic Press, 1945.
• Thun, Maria. Results from the Biodynamic Sowing Calendar. Forest Row, UK: Floris Books, 2000.
• Podolinsky, Alex. Bio-Dynamic Introductory Lectures, Volume 3. Warragul, VIC: Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association of Australia, 2000.
• Applied Biodynamics. “Back Issues Archive.” Josephine Porter Institute, various issues.
• Biodynamie Services. “How to Store Biodynamic Preparations.” Accessed May 2025. https://www.biodynamie-services.fr/en/information/how_to_store_biodynamic_preparations-7.php

Footnotes

1. Hugh J. Courtney, Biodynamics for Beginners, Woolwine, VA: Earth Legacy Agriculture, 2007, 104.
2. Hugh J. Courtney, “Storage Containers and Insulation Methods,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 14.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., 15.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 16.
9. General JPI field practice.
10. Hugh J. Courtney, “Why Preparations Must Be Stored Separately,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 16.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid., 15.
16. “Innovations in Field Storage,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 87 (2014): 23.
17. Hugh J. Courtney, “BD 500 Storage Guidance,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 15.
18. Ibid.
19. Hugh J. Courtney, “BD 507 Bottle Storage,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 20.
20. Ibid.
21. Hugh J. Courtney, “BD 508 Dry Storage Methods,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 40 (2003): 22.
22. Ibid., 23.
23. Courtney, “Using Pallet Slats for Storage Boxes,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 15.
24. “Innovations in Field Storage,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 87 (2014): 23.
25. Courtney, “Stacking Prep Boxes and Beehive Sup
26. Courtney, “Stacking Prep Boxes and Beehive Supers,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 16.
27. Hugh J. Courtney, “The Preparations Are Beings,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 37 (2002): 14.
28. Hugh J. Courtney, “Harvest and Reverence,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 55 (2006).
29. Hugh J. Courtney, Biodynamics for Beginners, Woolwine, VA: Earth Legacy Agriculture, 2007, 53.
30. Ibid.