Why farming biodynamically?
Côteaux Nantais has been certified organic for a long a time, however there were still some issues left to tackle especially regarding fruit preservation. This is the reason why we decided to focus on a different approach and converted to biodynamic agriculture in 1998. Such sustainable farming methods, which preserve the environment, help stimulate soil life and give energy to plants by enhancing biodiversity throughout the ecosystem. It is an approach that is based primarily on the lunar calendar and takes into account cosmic influences.
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To enhance biodiversity
In contrast with conventional farming methods, focusing on biodiversity is a constant concern since it helps overcome some difficulties:
· Varieties: trees are planted on distinct plots of land. Each plot has four rows of different trees. Thus, one single orchard can have a dozen different fruit varieties. Increasing diversity is a way to maintain a balance so that fruit varieties are less subject to diseases and pests.
· A protective vegetation layer on the ground: in all our orchards there are grass strips in between the rows with different types of plants. For instance, clover is able to “catch” nitrogen from the air and leave it on the ground. As a result the soil is enriched.
· Windbreak hedges around plots of land: made up of different shrub and tree varieties, they provide the orchards with a natural protection from wind. Above all, they contain a wide diversity of wildlife very useful for our orchards.
· Epigeal fauna: these words encompass all the fauna living above and below the ground (earthworms, woodlouses, mites, ants …). In biodynamic agriculture, special attention is given to epigeal fauna. We aim at having as many earthworms as possible since they come up to the soil surface to feed on the leaves. By going deeper into the soil, they dig tunnels and leave humus. Thus, they make it possible for the root system to develop in depth, which makes the tree less vulnerable.
To increase and improve varieties
At Côteaux Nantais we have 36 varieties of apples and 7 of pears. Our apples, new and older ones, are classified into three main categories: early season apples (should be eaten straight away after picking); mid season (available until December); late season apples (can be eaten until spring).
We also work with specialists from plant nurseries in order to develop new varieties. To date, about 20 varieties are being tested. Some of them are part of a European research project. Tests may take up to 10 years before a variety meets consumers’ expectations and can be managed by the grower.
To give priority to health and vitality of trees
· A good root system can give the tree the necessary resources to nourish fruits and be protected against diseases and pests.
· To plant on mounds so that water can be evacuated quickly towards the tree base and the ground surface can get warm faster in spring.
· To prune trees gently and thoughtfully in order to preserve fruit quality and balance.
· To take actions to reduce the alternate bearing phenomenon: reducing risks of irregular fruit production every other year by controlling flowers in May.
· To avoid frost in spring: keeping watching over climate conditions is essential. In case of frost, we put candles in our orchards to increase temperature and protect the harvest to come.
· Weather stations in the orchards: our orchards are fitted with high-performance transmission weather stations.
· To fertilise when necessary.
To develop top quality fruits
· A good pollination: to ensure pollination we put beehives in our orchards. Pollination is a very important and crucial stage for pips. Indeed, an increased number of pips is required to reach the best fruit quality.
· To define the scope for irrigation in order to use less water: thanks to a deep root system our trees are given only half of the daily evaporated amount of water, meaning 4 to 5 times less than conventional orchards. To limit water gives more texture, taste, crunch, sugar and also delicious juices. As a result, fruits are also less damaged by handling.
· Tree Pruning: it consists in removing excess fruits or leaves by hand to achieve a balance between the tree and the fruits.
· Moderate crop yields.
· An efficient traceability system to collect accurate data about fruits.
A self-working and quality water providing system
The water is braced in an eight shape and goes through 4 different basins. Such a process invigorates and gives oxygen to water. It is used for irrigation and it can retain iron.
To ensure a proper storage of fruits
· We spray seaweed with high levels of calcium as it helps tackling problems related to fruit decay. By covering fruit, skin pores are blocked. Therefore, it provides a protection from external aggressions.
· We determine harvest after carrying out visual checks on the colour of pips, the rate of sugar, firmness and starch in fruits.
· Then, according to varieties, apples are stored in cold room so that the maturity stage proceeds ideally.
· We use a device to remove ethylene, which is naturally produced by fruits. It helps slow the maturing process so that we can have dessert apples until May. Most of the time, traditional storage allows having nice fruits only until January.
· Special attention should be paid to climate all year round as it affects preservation of fruits.
Treatments
In organic and biodynamic farming, treatments given to trees are made with natural components, which do not harm the surrounding auxiliaries and fauna. All treatments products have an external contact effect and do not penetrate into the plant.
To fight against apple scab
Apple scab is a fungal disease which infects leaves and fruit. Earthworms can help tackle this issue as they eat these leaves. Keeping watching on weather forecasts helps measure dissemination risks.
Codling moth
This larva is the familiar worm in the apple. In order to manage codling moths we control the number of butterflies in our orchards by resorting to “sexual confusion”.
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