THE FARM AS AN ORGANISM
“Our head of production, Stefano, often reminds us that quality begins long before the olive is harvested, it begins with how you listen.”
Understanding the cornerstone of biodynamics
Biodynamics begins with a simple but transformative idea: the farm is not a factory, nor merely a patchwork of fields and buildings - it is a living organism.
This idea, first proposed by Rudolf Steiner in 1924, was a philosophical milestone. Drawing from his background in spiritual science and theosophical thought, Steiner envisioned agriculture as an interconnected whole, where every component - from soil to sun, plant to planet, farmer to fauna - plays a role in the vitality of the farm. His lectures didn’t prescribe rigid techniques, but invited a change in consciousness: to observe more deeply, to farm more deliberately, and to recognise life in its dynamic, relational form.
At Trebbio, this vision is not theoretical - it’s the foundation of everything we do. You’ll see it in how we return organic matter to the soil, close fertility loops, and support the subtle balances that make life in the groves thrive, rather than importing synthetic inputs. Or in our use of biodynamic preparations like 500 (horn manure) to enhance soil vitality, 501 (horn silica) to support photosynthesis, and plant-based infusions such as 502 (yarrow), 503 (chamomile), and 508 (horsetail) to regulate compost and strengthen the plants’ natural resilience.
You’ll see it in the way we let grass grow tall between the olive trees, allowing wildflowers to seed and pollinators to thrive, or in the thoughtful placement of plant varieties that support each other’s health. The grove is never viewed as a static system but as an evolving network of relationships - a dynamic landscape where timing, observation and restraint matter just as much as action.
This way of farming also informs how we respond to challenge. When a tree shows signs of stress, we don’t treat it in isolation. We ask: how was the winter? Is the soil compacted? Have the microbial communities shifted? Was the pruning too aggressive, or too passive? Our head of production, Stefano, often reminds us that quality begins long before the olive is harvested, it begins with how you listen.
Thinking of the farm as an organism means planning for continuity. Our groves include both young and centuries-old trees, and when a storm fells one, we don’t simply replace it. We carefully remove its roots, let the soil breathe, and only then plant a new sapling, grafted onto vigorous wild olive stock to ensure strength for the next generation.
It also means managing by observation rather than prescription. During flowering, for instance, we walk the rows daily - watching how the wind carries pollen, noting which trees are ahead, which varieties self-fertilise and which need more support. We’ve learned to anticipate patterns not just with spreadsheets, but with eyes, hands, and intuition.
Our certification with AgriBioDinamica was a particularly important milestone. It gives a framework for our biodynamic commitments. But beyond the label, this principle - of the farm as an organism - is a daily practice. It informs how we move through the land, how we make decisions, and how we relate to the unseen intelligence of nature.
We know we’re not working in isolation. Every action reverberates across the whole. And when it works - when the balance is right - the land responds with a kind of quiet generosity that’s hard to describe, but unmistakable.
