We are introduced to the concept of the farm organism , best conceived as a self contained individuality. Whatever you need for agricultural production, you should try to possess it within the farm. The surface of the earth is compared to a human diaphragm, where the head of the farm individuality is beneath the soil, and where we are walking around is actually the digestive system of the farm. We regard the farm correctly when we imagine it as a person standing on their head; and there is a constant interplay of the above-the-earth and below-the-earth.
Above the earth are the influences of the planetary bodies Moon, Mercury and Venus. Below the earth's surface the forces of the distant planetary bodies Jupiter, Saturn and Mars are received by the earth. The silicious sand in the soil helps to attract the cosmic influences into the soil, whereas the clayey element of the soil helps to carry these forces upwards from below. We also have earthly processes above the earth that are essentially a kind of digestion. This must be drawn down into the soil by the limestone or calcium content.
There is a very great difference in the warmth above the earth's surface, in the domain of Sun, Venus, Mercury and Moon - and that warmth with makes itself felt within the earth, under the influence of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These two warmths are different; we may well call the warmth above the Earth dead, and that beneath the Earth's surface living. The warmth beneath the Earth contains an inner principle of life. It is alive; moreover in winter it is most of all alive.
So it is both with the warmth and with the air; they take on a slightly living quality when they are received into the Earth .
To understand the plant we have to know the way the seed acts as cosmic dust, turning to chaos when it is planted and being worked on from all sides by the cosmos and stamps itself on the seed, and what is built up from the seed are from forces pouring in from the universe on all sides.
In the substances of the plant we can trace the earthly aspects of the plant; in the form and scent and color we can perceive the cosmic aspect. Singular roots like carrots are cosmic, whereas ramified roots are earthly. Look at a flower; in the color red you see the forces of Mars; yellow flowers - Jupiter; and blue - Saturn.
If in any farm you have the right amount of horses, cows and other animals, these animals taken together will give just the amount of manure which you need for the farm itself. The farm is only healthy inasmuch as it provides its own manure from its own stock.
We must gain new knowledge in order to enter again into the whole Nature-relationship of these things. Mankind has no other choice. Either we must learn once more, in all domains of life learn — from the whole nexus of Nature and the Universe — or else we must see Nature and with the life of Man himself degenerate and die. As in ancient times it was necessary for people to have knowledge entering into the inwardness of Nature, so do we now stand in need of such knowledge once again.
