TL;DR: Both organic and biodynamic farming reject synthetic chemicals and prioritize soil health but biodynamic goes further, treating the farm as a living organism and working with lunar cycles and specially prepared natural remedies. At Organic Fix, we proudly stock both because they represent food grown with deep integrity and care for the earth.
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The Question We Keep Hearing
We talk a lot about certified organic food, it's what we live and breathe here at Organic Fix. But lately, more people have been asking us the same thing:
What's the difference between organic and biodynamic farming? Are they the same thing? Or is one better than the other?
It's a great question. And the answer reveals something beautiful about how diverse regenerative farming can be.
The short answer? Both are incredible but they come from slightly different philosophies.
Let me walk you through what each one means, how they differ, and why both matter.
What Certified Organic Actually Means
Let's start with organic, since it's probably the term you're most familiar with.
Certified organic farming is fundamentally about growing food without synthetic chemicals. That means:
- No synthetic pesticides
- No chemical herbicides
- No artificial fertilizers
- No genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
But it's about more than just what's not used. Organic farming actively focuses on building soil health through composting, crop rotation, and natural pest management. It prioritizes animal welfare, ensuring livestock have access to pasture and aren't given routine antibiotics or growth hormones. And it emphasizes environmental sustainability at every level.
In Australia, organic farmers follow strict national standards set by bodies like Australian Certified Organic (ACO). Their farms are independently audited every single year to verify compliance.
So when you see that organic certification logo on a product, it's your guarantee that the food has been grown and processed without synthetic inputs, and that it meets rigorous environmental and ethical guidelines.
It's not just marketing language. It's a legally enforceable standard.
What Biodynamic Farming Adds
Biodynamic farming takes everything organic stands for and goes one step further.
It's based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher and scientist from the early 1900s who developed a farming approach rooted in the idea that a farm should function as a living, breathing organism.
In biodynamic systems, every part of the farm, the soil, the animals, the plants, and even the people working the land, are all connected in one self-sustaining cycle. Nothing exists in isolation. Everything is interdependent.
Here's what makes biodynamic distinct:
Biodynamic farmers use specially prepared natural preparations made from herbs, minerals, and composts to bring vitality and balance to the soil. These aren't fertilizers in the conventional sense, they're catalysts designed to enhance the living forces within the soil and plants.
They plant and harvest according to lunar and cosmic cycles, believing that nature's rhythms directly influence plant growth, nutrient density, and overall vitality.
It's a deeply holistic approach, one that's not just chemical free, but spiritually and energetically connected to the earth.
Many people describe biodynamic farming as "premium organic" because it takes everything organic certification requires and adds an even deeper layer of care, consciousness, and respect for natural systems.
Biodynamic food carries its own certification symbol too, look out for Demeter, the world's oldest and most respected biodynamic certification body. Just like organic certification, Demeter certification involves rigorous standards and independent auditing.
The Real Difference
So what's the practical difference for you as a consumer?
Both organic and biodynamic food:
✓ Reject synthetic chemicals completely
✓ Protect soil health and biodiversity
✓ Support animal welfare
✓ Reduce environmental harm
✓ Undergo independent certification and auditing
Where they diverge is in approach and philosophy. Organic farming is science based and standards driven. It's focused on what you don't do (no synthetic inputs) and what you do prioritize (soil health, sustainability, transparency).
Biodynamic farming embraces all of that but adds a spiritual and cosmic dimension. It views the farm as a holistic, interconnected living system and works intentionally with natural rhythms and energetic preparations.
Some people resonate deeply with the biodynamic philosophy and seek it out specifically. Others simply want chemical free food grown with care and organic certification provides that assurance perfectly.
Neither is "better" in an absolute sense. They're both expressions of farming done properly, with integrity, respect for nature, and genuine care for long term soil and ecosystem health.
Why We Support Both
At Organic Fix, we're proud to support both organic and biodynamic farmers.
Because whether it's certified organic or Demeter biodynamic, it's all about food grown with integrity, food that's alive, vibrant, and connected to nature rather than extracted from it.
When you shop here, you'll find products with both certifications. And you can trust that both represent farming practices that:
- Heal soil rather than deplete it
- Build biodiversity rather than destroy it
- Support farmer wellbeing rather than exploit it
- Produce genuinely nourishing food rather than empty calories
These aren't competing approaches. They're allies in the same movement… a movement toward food systems that actually work with nature instead of against it.
What This Means for You
When you choose organic or biodynamic food, you're doing more than just feeding yourself well.
You're supporting farmers who've chosen a harder, more expensive, more labor intensive path because they believe it's the right thing to do.
You're voting with your wallet for soil regeneration, clean water, and thriving ecosystems.
You're reducing the toxic load on your own body and the bodies of the people you love.
And you're participating in something genuinely hopeful, the quiet revolution of people choosing to grow and eat food the way it's meant to be: alive, whole, and connected to the earth.
Visit Organic Fix at 937 Main Road, Eltham VIC 3095 and explore our range of certified organic and Demeter biodynamic products, food grown with integrity, every single time.