Compost preparations (502–507)
The six medicinal plants that guide biodynamic composting.
Preparations 502 to 507 are made from six medicinal plants — yarrow (502), chamomile (503), nettle (504), oak bark (505), dandelion (506) and valerian (507). They are inserted in small doses into the compost pile (with valerian sprayed on), to “guide” its decomposition.
In biodynamic practice they steer composting toward a stable humus and good nutrient cycling (nitrogen, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur). They are inseparable from biodynamic compost and required by Demeter.
Effort
Medium — integrated into compost management.
Cost
Low — small doses; can be made on the farm.
Time to result
At the pace of compost maturation and its application.
What it advances
Contribution by goal — click through for detail and metrics.
Demeter certification
The compost preparations are mandatory under Demeter; their use must be documented for each pile.
Time horizon: Ongoing
What to measure for this pairing
Soil vitality
They steer composting toward a stable humus and good nutrient cycling, the base of soil fertility.
Time horizon: 1–3 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Biodiversity & farm organism
The six plants tie the farm to its medicinal flora and on-farm production, reinforcing the farm organism.
Time horizon: 1–3 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Plant vitality & resilience
A well-guided compost feeds the vine in a balanced way, supporting its vitality.
Time horizon: 1–2 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
How it works
Each preparation is inserted into a cavity in the compost pile (valerian sprayed over), to steer decomposition and nutrient cycling.
How to apply
- 1Obtain or make the six preparations.
- 2Insert 502–506 into cavities in the compost pile.
- 3Spray valerian (507) over the pile.
- 4Log the build and the use of the treated compost.
What to measure
Frequently asked
Do I need all six preparations?
Yes — the 502–507 set is used together in biodynamic compost and is required for Demeter certification.
Can I buy the preparations ready-made?
Yes, there are suppliers and biodynamic associations; many growers choose to make their own over time.
Related reading
Related practices
How GrapeFlow helps
Plan and document this practice by plot, with an audit-ready history for Demeter certification.
Weather & spray windows
A 7-day per-plot forecast with the windows where applying makes sense — wind, rain and humidity decide the hour as much as the calendar does.
Electronic field notebook (Portugal)
In Portugal, every operation — compost, cover, animals, treatments — logged by plot, with the DGADR notebook filling itself and staying certification-ready.
Traceability & the bottle story
From block to bottle, with a public QR per lot — the most direct way to show a buyer the work behind the wine.
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