Work
Pfeiffer was a pioneer of biodynamic agriculture in Europe, Britain, and America. He is most widely known for his innovative work in composting. He conducted extensive research on the preparation and use of biodynamic compost and was is the inventor of BD Compost Starter, a compost inoculant. For many years Pfeiffer served as a compost consultant to municipal compost facilities, most notably Oakland, California, as well as countries in the Caribbean, Europe, and the Far East. A technical difficulty with the resulting compost, that it would not spread readily with the commonly used fertilizer spreader, could not be overcome and the project ultimately failed.
Pfeiffer invented two anthroposophic Image forming methods, a method using a round filter chromatography (circular chromatography or chroma test) and the copper chloride crystallization method, developed together with Erika Sabarth. In the latter method, a solution of copper chloride and the test solution is allowed to evaporate. The pattern of the copper chloride crystals can be "read" based on the patterns of known samples. Similarly, the patterns of the circular chromatographs can be "read" based on known samples. Both methods require much practice to "read" and interpret the images.
Pfeiffer and Dr. George Miley of the Hahnemann Medical College claimed that in about a thousand tests of known cancer cases, the copper chloride crystallization of blood samples was about 83% accurate in detecting the presence of cancer, through a characteristic crystal pattern, and about 91% accurate for the absence of cancer.
Pfeiffer felt that these two imaging methods showed the presence of life-forces or etheric formative forces and could be used to gauge the quality or vitality in food, such as would be shown in biodynamically grown food. Some proponents, as well as critics, recognize that these methods are very much dependent on the interpretive ability of the researcher. Other biodynamic practitioners have found the methods useful in testing the results of their work such as in improving soil health.
Read more about this topic: Ehrenfried Pfeiffer
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