Horn Silica 501

Horn Silica 501 is the original biodynamic atmospheric spray and is made from ground up clear quartz crystal and buried in cow horns over summer. Horn Silica aids photosynthesis and increases the quality of the final product, its ripeness, sweetness, flavour, fragrance, shelf life and dry fibre content.

From: $9.95

Atmospheric preparations include horn silica (501), summer horn clay and fresh equisetum or casuarina decoction (508). These preparations are stirred for an hour and applied as a mist sprayed into the atmosphere shortly after sunrise when the earth is breathing out.

Horn Silica 501 is the original biodynamic atmospheric spray and is made from ground up clear quartz crystal and buried in cow horns over summer. Horn Silica aids photosynthesis and increases the quality of the final product, its ripeness, sweetness, flavour, fragrance, shelf life and dry fibre content.

Horn Silica (501)

In the first lecture of the Agriculture Course Steiner says “Plant life as we know it today can thrive only when these two forces – the forces of substances like lime and like silica – are in equilibrium and are working properly together”. The substance which helps establish this equilibrium and ensures that the lime and the silica (two very disparate materials in Steiner’s description of their nature) are indeed working together properly; is none other than clay which “mediates between them. Clay is closer to silica; but it still mediates towards lime.”

Types of Horn Silica
1. Quartz Crystal Horn Silica (SiO2)
Hugh Courtney (Master Preparations Maker of over 30 years from Josephine Porter Institute of Applied Biodynamics in USA), recommends using this type of 501 on biodynamic farms and gardens where soils are mainly heavy clay or containing a significant clay component.

2. Feldspar Horn Silica (Ka1Si2K8)
In his Agriculture Course Steiner said “Instead of quartz you could use orthoclase; feldspar.” Orthoclase with its potassium and feldspar containing calcium would have a much more direct relationship to lime than that of a pure quartz crystal. For this reason Hugh Courtney suggests that soils containing a mostly sandy component could well have gained greater benefit from using Feldspar 501 with its stronger relationship to the lime pole.
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia supplies both Feldspar and Quartz Horn Silica 501. If you wish to try the Feldspar Horn Silica 501 please indicate this when ordering otherwise we will send you the Quartz Horn Silica 501.

Uses of Horn Silica
In ‘Agriculture’ Steiner said “If you apply this (horn silica) as a fine spray on the plants themselves – especially on vegetables and things like that – you will soon notice how it compliments and supports the influence coming from the other side; from the soil as a result of the cow horn manure.” If we only use the biodynamic soil sprays and the compost preparations, this will lead to the plant only partially expressing its full potential. Plants will become bulky; soft and prone to disease.

Another extremely important reason to use horn silica in these times is that our atmosphere has become extremely contaminated with man-made forms of energetic pollution. As well as microwaves and other electromagnetic pollution there is our thought and emotional pollution – fear; hate; greed. Steiner has said that the horn silica allows plants to connect with the cosmos through the many layers of atmospheric pollution. This cosmic connection is vitally important for balance plant growth.
1. Horn silica should be sprayed out every time we use the biodynamic soil preparations – horn manure; combined soil preparation and soil activator. This can be monthly during the growing season under intensive regimes such as market gardening and vineyards. For extensive grazing and cropping enterprises both soil and atmospheric sprays should be used at least twice per year in Spring and Autumn.

2. With vegetables; green manure crops; hay crops and grain use horn silica at the seedling or 4 leaf stage and again when the crop is growing vigorously and for those crops which need ripening – fruiting vegetables or grain spray 501 two or three days before harvest – this will finish the ripening process; raise brix (sugar) levels; harden the skins for better storage and intensify flavours; oils and colour of your produce.

3. With orchard fruits spray horn silica when the moon is in a fruit sign after the fruit has set and is the size of a pea. Spray out a second time midway through the season and a final spray a couple of days prior to harvest. Horn silica can be used to thin out fruit – contact the office for further information.

4. When there has been an excess of moisture – eg rain for a week – use 501with fresh equisetum tea to balance the effects of this excess moisture in the atmosphere and in the plants.

When Not to Use Horn Silica
1. Do not use horn silica when plants are stressed due to lack of moisture – they will go straight to seed.
2. Do not use horn silica when fruit trees are flowering – it will burn off the flowers = no crop! With vegetables and berries that are continuously flowering one day’s crop is worth sacrificing for the benefits of flavour, colour, health and storability that horn silica endows.
3. Do not use in the middle of the day – it will burn you and the crop.

Myths about Horn Silica
A myth exists that as horn silica works with light and Australia has such bright light; that it can be disregarded as unnecessary in biodynamic agriculture. Experience has shown that farms that do not use horn silica become unbalanced after a couple of years.

Biodynamic Atmospheric Sprays
Horn silica can be used on its own or stirred and sprayed out with summer horn clay and fresh equisetum or casuarina tea. The summer horn clay will help the flow of sap from the plant into the soil and the equisetum tea will balance the moisture in the atmosphere to minimise the effects of fungal attack on plants.

Material Safety Data Sheet BD 501 Horn Silica
Health Hazard Information
Acute
Swallowed: Large doses may cause gastro-intestinal irritation
Eye: The dust may cause severe irritation & abrasive to the eyes
Skin: The dust may cause irritation & dryness of the skin
Inhaled: Breathing the dust may cause respiratory irritation & discomfort & may be harmful to the upper respiratory tract.
Chronic: The principal routes of exposure are by the inhalation of generated dusts & skin contact. Prolonged or repeated.

First Aid
Swallowed:DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Give water or milk to rinse mouth. Seek medical advice
Eye: Immediately hold eyes open & wash continuously with running water for at least 15 mins. Ensure irrigation includes under eyelids.
Skin: Wash thoroughly with soap water. Change into clean clothing & launder contaminated clothing.
Inhaled: Remove to fresh air, encourage patients to blow nose to clear nasal passages.
Advice to Doctor: Treat symptomatically.

Precautions For Use
Exposure Standards: Silica TLV TWA 0.1 mg/m3 (respirable dust)
Engineering Controls: Ensure workplace is well ventilated.
Personal Protection: Approved respirator to AS1715 to be worn, gloves, safety glasses & protective overalls. Wash hands & face thoroughly after handling & before work breaks, eating, drinking, smoking & toilet facilities.
Flammability: Not flammable under the conditions of use but the containers may burn.

Safe Handling Information
Storage & Transport: Store & transport in accordance with all regulations. Keep tightly closed in a dry, cool & well ventilated place. Not subject to hazardous substances labelling.
Spills & Disposal: Dispose of in accordance with all Local, State & Federal regulations by incineration or disposal to landfill.
Fire / Explosion Hazard: Fire fighters should wear full protective clothing including self contained breathing apparatus. Use water, foam or dry extinguishing media. Use equipment / media appropriate to surrounding fire conditions. Dispose of fire debris and contaminated extinguishing water in accordance with local regulations.

Other Information:
Australian Poisons Information 24 Hour Service 13 11 26
Police/ Fire/ Ambulance 000
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd 02 6655 0566

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