What is BD 507 and how is it used?
BD 507 is a biodynamic preparation made from valerian flowers. It is typically used to enhance the warmth and vitality of composts and soil, promoting a healthy growing environment for plants.
BD 507: Valerian – The Harbinger of Warmth
What Is BD 507?
Valerian is a tall, sweet-smelling flower with feathery pink blossoms and a long history as a calming herb. In biodynamics, it becomes something even more special: a spray preparation that gently wraps the compost heap in cosmic warmth.
To make BD 507, valerian blossoms are crushed and steeped in water. After fermenting slightly, this fragrant liquid is potentized through stirring and then sprayed over the finished compost pile. It’s the last touch — a kiss of life.
Valerian is associated with warmth, fragrance, and comfort. Its scent has been compared to vanilla and also to well-aged cheese — oddly sweet, oddly musky, oddly earthy.
– Abigail Porter, Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 170.¹
How BD 507 Works
Valerian stimulates the compost’s ability to organize phosphorus, a crucial nutrient for root development, flowering, and overall vitality. BD 507 doesn’t go into the pile during construction like other preps — it’s sprayed on the surface after the pile is built and ready to “cook.”
The process is simple: just a few drops of valerian juice stirred in warm water for 10–20 minutes, then sprayed as a mist. But the depth behind this method goes all the way back to Pfeiffer.
As Hugh Courtney reports:
The present instructions for using the valerian preparation remain just as they were received from Josephine Porter in 1984, and were given to her by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer himself.
– Hugh J. Courtney, Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 176.²
This quote affirms the unbroken line of transmission from Steiner → Pfeiffer → Porter → JPI, grounding the method in both practice and legacy.
The Spiritual Science of Valerian
Steiner described BD 507 as a carrier of cosmic warmth. It acts not just on nutrients but on the compost’s sensitivity to the environment, protecting it from spiritual coldness and enabling it to breathe more freely.
Karl König went further, describing valerian as a fragrance-ether preparation that awakens the compost’s connection to planetary rhythms.
The compost heap, covered with valerian spray, becomes a lung which draws in the astrality of the surrounding cosmos. The fragrant mist of valerian allows the compost to inhale the warmth of the universe.
– Karl König, quoted in Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 180.³
Thus BD 507 is not only the final preparation applied — it is the first to reach out to the stars. It seals the compost not with closure, but with a breath of cosmic welcome.
📚 Footnotes
- Abigail Porter, “Valerian: Warmth and Ether,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 170.
- Hugh J. Courtney, “The Valerian Preparation: Additional Perspectives,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 29/30 (2000): 176.
- Karl König, quoted in Ibid., 180.
Frequently asked questions
How does BD 507 benefit the soil and plants?
BD 507 helps to stimulate the phosphorus processes in the soil, which can lead to improved plant growth and development. It is known for enhancing warmth in the compost pile, aiding in the breakdown of organic matter.
Is BD 507 suitable for all types of gardens?
Yes, BD 507 can be used in various types of gardens, including vegetable patches, flower gardens, and even larger-scale agricultural fields. It is particularly beneficial in biodynamic and organic gardening practices.
How should I apply BD 507 to my garden?
To apply BD 507, mix it with water and spray it over your compost pile or garden soil. The preparation is typically used in small quantities, and it is important to follow specific biodynamic guidelines for the best results.