Margrit Selke

Margrit Selke (1900–2004) was a specialist in biodynamic agriculture who worked with biodynamic researcher Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. Along with Peter Dukich, Harris Porter and Erika Sabarth, she was considered as one of the Three Musketeers of Bio-dynamic Composting.

She died at 104, and since the early 1960s till the age of 97, was the maker of the Pfeiffer BD Compost Starter and Field Spray 1. All the "Musketeers" were noted for their remarkable longevity. Only Harris Porter died in his 80s, while Peter Dukich reached 94, and Erika Sabarth, 105.

The exceptionally prolific Selke Biodynamic Cherry Tomato was named after her. [1]

Emil Bock, in his book The Three Years [2], wrote that the seed and plant of this unusual species contains forces evoking "the cosmic sphere of sunlit clouds, air and wind..."

Her favorite quotes from Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer — the man who brought the method to America and developed the popular biodynamic compost starter and field spray — were that "the first two biodynamic principles are (1) to restore to the soil the organic matter which it needs so badly in order to hold its fertility ..." and (2) "to restore to the soil a balanced system of functions. This requires our looking at the soil not only as a mixture or aggregation of chemicals, mineral or organic, but as a living system". Her entire professional life was centered into actualizing these principles.

External links

• Homestead & Garden memories; by John & Helen Philbrick (includes picture of Margrit Selke)

Persondata
Name	Selke, Margrit
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Date of birth	1900
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Date of death	2004
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