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The Josephine Porter Institute

Cow Horns

Cow Horns

4 total reviews

Regular price $7.25 USD
Regular price $7.76 USD Sale price $7.25 USD
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Pickup available at Office and Farm

Usually ready in 2-4 days

Make your own biodynamic preparations!

Collect the best cow manure you can, fill horns, and bury over winter in a rich place in the garden to make your own horn manure. One horn makes approximately enough 500 horn manure for three (3) acres.

Conversely, you can get horns, crush quartz to a fine flour (wear a mask!), mix with water to form a white paste, and fill the horn. Bury the horn over summer. This makes enough 501 horn silica for many acres (1 tsp per acre).

Our used horns have been used to make repeated successful batches of 500 horn manure and 501 horn silica.

These used horns are seasoned with the "mother culture" of biodynamics and have a stronger tendency to transform into healthy horn manure. By Steiner's indications, horns are useful at least for four (4) years, if not a few more (if "recharged" in proximity to cows in a barn). Some biodynamic practitioners reuse horns until they disintegrate and claim that used horns are significantly better than new horns. In our experience, new horns often take an initial season to "acclimate" to the biodynamic process, and after that more eagerly produce the horn manure we are seeking. We offer them to you at a significant discount, and encourage you to practice making your own preparations on your own property. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are cow horns used in biodynamic farming?

Cow horns are filled with cow manure or quartz and buried to create biodynamic preparations that enrich soil.

How much area can one cow horn cover?

One cow horn can produce enough horn manure for three acres or horn silica for many acres.

Why are used cow horns preferred over new ones?

Used horns are seasoned with biodynamic 'mother culture' and are more effective than new ones, which need acclimation.

How long can a cow horn be reused for biodynamic preparations?

Horns can be used for at least four years, often longer, if recharged near cows.