The Biodynamic Maria Thun Preparation

At Atalaya Bio, we understand soil as a living organism, which breathes, renews, and transforms. In this biodynamic pursuit of harmony between agriculture and nature, the Maria Thun Preparation plays a fundamental role.

Also known as spray compost or Maria’s preparation, this biodynamic preparation was developed by the renowned German farmer Maria Thun, a pioneer of biodynamic agriculture, best known for creating the biodynamic sowing calendar based on cosmic influences. For over half a century, Thun studied how the position of the moon and planets affected plant growth. From this profound understanding of the cosmos and the Earth, she created the biodynamic preparation that now bears her name.

Beyond cow manure

The Maria Thun Preparation combines cow manure (P500) with the six biodynamic compost preparations, ranging from yarrow to valerian (P502–P507), enriched with plant ash and basalt. This makes it a more complete and energetic preparation, enhancing microbial activity and mineral input.

Unlike the Horn Manure Preparation (500), Maria Thun’s preparation is not buried, but fermented above ground. In our farm, we prepare it in November and allow it to mature until May, letting time and weather work their silent magic.

Undoubtedly, the Maria Thun Preparation plays a special role in biodynamic agriculture for several reasons:

• It stimulates microbial life in the soil by activating beneficial microorganisms.
• It is ideal for sandy and poor soils, improving water retention.
• It revitalizes the soil without overwhelming it.
• It strengthens the root system and living soil fertility without external inputs.
• It enhances the plant-soil connection.
• It improves nutrient absorption.
• It boosts the plant's immune system.

According to the Demeter certification standards, this preparation must be applied if annual compost has not been added.

How the Maria Thun Preparation is made

To make the preparation, we use the following ingredients:

• Fresh cow manure.
• Plant ash (rich in potassium, supports microbial activation).
• Basalt or rock dust (mineral and silica input).
• Biodynamic compost preparations: 502 (yarrow), 503 (chamomile), 504 (nettle), 505 (oak bark), 506 (dandelion), 507 (valerian).

We mix all ingredients for an hour, using rhythmic movements similar to dynamization. The heap ferments in open air, without being buried. At our farm, we store it with special care in an old biodynamic wine barrel, kept away from metal and heat, in a cool and dry place.

When it's time to apply, the preparation is dynamized using 100–200 grams per 10–15 liters of pure water from our spring. It is stirred for one hour, creating vortices and turbulence, avoiding metal tools. Like everything natural, it must be applied within three hours after preparation to enhance its properties.

Real benefits for aloe vera

We work with aloe as the living being it is, understanding its cycles, needs, and sensitivities. The Maria Thun Preparation is especially valuable for activating the soil that supports the plant, which sleeps in winter, awakens in spring, suffers from excess moisture, and heals with its own medicine.

When we apply this preparation after the sheep pass through in spring or autumn, we observe how the Maria Thun Preparation helps decompose the organic matter they leave behind. Not just their manure, but also the rich, dense mulching of trampled grass. The soil becomes revitalized, recolonized by invisible life, and the aloe grows stronger and more resistant to disease.

Its application also helps increase the organic matter in the soil, keeping it at an optimal moisture level, capable of retaining water without waterlogging. This is crucial, because as we explained in a previous article about the Silica Preparation (501), aloe is highly sensitive to excess moisture and therefore to fungal issues. The Maria Thun Preparation helps keep fungi in the soil, preventing them from reaching the plant, keeping everything in balance.

How we apply the Maria Thun Preparation on our farm

The best time to apply this preparation is spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November), ideally twice a year. It can be alternated or used alongside the Horn Manure Preparation (500). We never apply it under midday sun or when temperatures exceed 25°C: always in the late afternoon, preferably on cloudy days. It’s also important to avoid applying it before heavy rains, just as with the Silica Preparation (501), which is compatible if applications are spaced at least 3–5 days apart.

We apply 50 liters per hectare, at a concentration of 5 g/L (250 g/ha). Sometimes by coarse spray, other times through irrigation, but always with care and awareness.

Conclusion

The Maria Thun Preparation is a powerful biodynamic tool for us: it fertilizes the soil without external inputs, strengthens the plant’s immune system, and supports tissue regeneration. In aloe vera, we notice it in the quality of the leaves; firmer, more balanced, and richer in active compounds. We also see better post-harvest preservation, color, and aroma.

At Atalaya Bio, we cultivate our aloe vera in a protected natural space within the Natura 2000 Network, following the principles of biodynamic agriculture certified by the Demeter seal. Here, among Greek tortoises, reptiles, rare birds, mammals and pollinators—found among 357 catalogued plant species within just 490 hectares, our aloe grows in full harmony with nature.

We use biodynamic preparations as strategic tools in our biodynamic-regenerative model, designed to maintain living soil fertility and enhance plant health, offering the highest quality aloe vera juice to our clients, whether they are professional laboratories, private labels, or individual consumers.

We are what we consume.