ORTOFFICINA

Ortofficina is our farm estate in the hills of Bologna, where we use the biodynamic method to grow and harvest medicinal herbs that we distil locally, transforming them into Organic Way ingredients.

It is the first stage of the journey through Oway: the place where you can experience the real essence of our circular project and the earth from which to extract the secret of purity and well-being of our treatments.

Ortofficina Oway biodinamica

Ortofficina Oway panoramica
Ortofficina Oway

What is biodynamics?

 

The biodynamic method is the purest and cleanest type of cultivation, free from pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and synthetic fertilisers used in conventional agriculture. The deep bond with nature and the complete respect of its rhythms allow us to obtain the most concentrated and effective active ingredients. The three key principles of biodynamic agriculture are:

  • Keeping plants healthy without using any chemicals
  • Keeping soil fertile for each successive cultivation using biodynamic preparations and the compost pile
  • Relying on the moon’s influence for proper sowing and harvesting and to obtain ingredients rich in active and nutritious elements

What is biodynamics?

 

The biodynamic method is the purest and cleanest type of cultivation, free from pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and synthetic fertilisers used in conventional agriculture. The deep bond with nature and the complete respect of its rhythms allow us to obtain the most concentrated and effective active ingredients. The three key principles of biodynamic agriculture are:

  • Keeping plants healthy without using any chemicals
  • Keeping soil fertile for each successive cultivation using biodynamic preparations and the compost pile
  • Relying on the moon’s influence for proper sowing and harvesting and to obtain ingredients rich in active and nutritious elements

The origins

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Steiner's medicine and of Waldorf pedagogy, gave life to biodynamics in 1924 to set farmers free from the slavery of chemical products in fertilisation and plant protection. 

Ortofficina Bologna

BIODYNAMIC PRODUCT AND SUPPLY CHAIN CERTIFICATION

Choosing to become an agricultural producer as well as a cosmetic one in 2010 was a decisive step.

Deciding to do this by applying biodynamic cultivation techniques was our necessary evolution. In tune with nature and its rhythms, we sowed the seeds of care for the soil and harvested the strength of a healthy and integrated agricultural organism in all its living beings.

But for those who experience the benefits of biodynamics literally on their skin - thanks to the ultra-performing active ingredients that enrich our agricosmetic formulas – carrying this out is not enough.

Oway has chosen to become a key player and promoter of this clean and invigorating agro-ecological method, to be promoted to encourage the growth of a controlled, safe, low-impact supply chain, making a difference in all its stages, from production to processing.

In order to ensure pure biodynamic plant-based ingredients and extracts in all our treatments, we work with a network of certified Italian partners who cultivate according to the standards set out in our quality specifications.

Through a third-party certification body, DNV, Oway has defined requirements applicable to agricultural activity for the cultivation and processing phases, as well as for the formulation and manufacture of the cosmetic product.

All the products in the Oway range - as stated on the label - are certified biodynamic according to these strict specifications, which guarantee the traceability of the biodynamic supply chain and of the biodynamic raw materials in the formulas.

certificazione biodinamica Oway

BIODYNAMIC AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Where Organic agriculture avoids the use of chemicals, protects and acts to benefit the common environment, uses natural and environmental resources for the purpose of preserving future generations and rejects unpredictable technologies, such as GMOs, biodynamic agriculture rests on the solid tenets of the organic method and in addition pursues Steiner's teachings.

The starting point of biodynamics is to consider the company as a living organism, where plant production is integrated with animal breeding which provides the right fertiliser for crops.

Ortofficina asino

Ortofficina contadino
Ortofficina lavanda

Biodiversity and the role of the farmer

The biodynamic method perceives the company as a living organic unit, where several other organisms that make it up (forest, meadow, fields, gardens, animals, plants, hedges, fruit trees, useful insects, compost pile, humus, earthworms) work in harmony, vivifying it through their different ecological functions and making the system dynamic and productive.

The farmer has a role of great responsibility, as the spiritual principle who arranges and organises the entire activity of the system. His action must be based on knowledge of all the requirements of the farm organisation, on the daily observation of the interaction between all the living beings present and on taking into account the close dialogue that exists between the earth and the cosmos. 

Biodiversity and the role of the farmer

The biodynamic method perceives the company as a living organic unit, where several other organisms that make it up (forest, meadow, fields, gardens, animals, plants, hedges, fruit trees, useful insects, compost pile, humus, earthworms) work in harmony, vivifying it through their different ecological functions and making the system dynamic and productive.

The farmer has a role of great responsibility, as the spiritual principle who arranges and organises the entire activity of the system. His action must be based on knowledge of all the requirements of the farm organisation, on the daily observation of the interaction between all the living beings present and on taking into account the close dialogue that exists between the earth and the cosmos. 

Ortofficina Oway

bees ortofficina

BEES IN ORTOFFICINA

Bees are responsible for around 70% of the pollination of all plant species on the planet and during their flight they build a thick net which envelops and protects the plants on which they settle.

Thanks to the presence of beehives within the perimeter of Ortofficina, the medicinal plants grown on the estate benefit from this natural and spontaneous “insecticide”, as well as from the productive power provided by their precious pollination.

With the biodynamic method we totally avoid the use of chemical fertilisers or herbicides, the bees in the Ortofficina can stay here safely and maintain the balance of the ecosystem, fertilising and protecting the precious plant sources of our extracts and formulas.

BEES IN ORTOFFICINA

Bees are responsible for around 70% of the pollination of all plant species on the planet and during their flight they build a thick net which envelops and protects the plants on which they settle.

Thanks to the presence of beehives within the perimeter of Ortofficina, the medicinal plants grown on the estate benefit from this natural and spontaneous “insecticide”, as well as from the productive power provided by their precious pollination.

With the biodynamic method we totally avoid the use of chemical fertilisers or herbicides, the bees in the Ortofficina can stay here safely and maintain the balance of the ecosystem, fertilising and protecting the precious plant sources of our extracts and formulas.

Biodynamic preparations

One of the main practices of biodynamics consists in using specific preparations on soil and plants, stimulating the natural mineralisation and humus-forming processes. In this way the soil is kept at its maximum level of fertility, making it suitable for cultivations, able to grow healthy and dynamic with absolutely no chemical substances.

The Compost pile

The compost pile is obtained from farm organic waste, which yields a natural fertiliser activated through the inoculum practice. According to this, we add specific biodynamic preparations, activating the fermentation process.

Ortofficina cumulo biodinamico

Dinamizzazione Biodinamica Oway
Dinamizzazione Biodinamica Oway

Water dynamization

Dynamization is a fundamental procedure of biodynamic agriculture. It consists in activating some natural substances by means of their dilution and strong interpenetration with water through an energetic stirring.

The dynamization of the biodynamic preparations to be supplied occurs by stirring the water with a rotating movement, alternating clockwise and counter clockwise. 

The water is thus charged with energy, movement and oxygen to energise the preparations that we spray on the fields.

 

Water dynamization

Dynamization is a fundamental procedure of biodynamic agriculture. It consists in activating some natural substances by means of their dilution and strong interpenetration with water through an energetic stirring.

The dynamization of the biodynamic preparations to be supplied occurs by stirring the water with a rotating movement, alternating clockwise and counter clockwise. 

The water is thus charged with energy, movement and oxygen to energise the preparations that we spray on the fields.

 

Natural rhythms and lunar phases

Nature is not only what is on the ground, but also what is above us. Lifting our eyes to the sky, there is a powerful and mysterious planet that watches over the life of men and plants: THE MOON. Complete respect for natural rhythms leads us to follow the cosmic and lunar cycles during the various cultivation phases according to a precise astronomical calendar. During the waxing moon phase (from new moon to full moon) the lymph is constantly moving and increases the moon’s luminescence. Roots are ready to absorb the nutrients and plants grow strong. It is the perfect time for sowing fruit, seed or flower plants, or for cutting twigs for grafting. Plants are lush and strong. Suffice it to say that even fruit, if harvested at this precise point, remains fresher and juicier for longer.

With the waning moon (from full moon to new moon), rhythms slow down and the ground rests: it is the time for planting, when plants root well and connect quickly with the soil. Thanks to the waning moon, nutrients accumulate and plants are of higher quality. Even the ascent of sap in plants decreases: if you want to cut shrubs and trees, or fertilise meadows, pastures and orchards, this is the ideal period to do it.

fasi lunari biodinamica Ortofficina

Ortofficina Oway

Rosmarino Ortofficina

Locally grown plant-ingredients

At Oway we sow, harvest and process medicinal plants to obtain the precious ingredients of our green and clean chemical formulas

Any manifestation of everyday life involves chemistry, from natural phenomena such as photosynthesis, to the reactions which take place within our body. Life is a set of transformations, (re)actions and interactions and here at Oway we are committed to best mixing the plant-derivatives and functional active ingredients for every formula. Choosing the green and clean method means preferring physical processes - such as distillation, maceration and pressing - to transform plant-derived ingredients, just as occurs for our essential oils.

Locally grown plant-ingredients

At Oway we sow, harvest and process medicinal plants to obtain the precious ingredients of our green and clean chemical formulas

Any manifestation of everyday life involves chemistry, from natural phenomena such as photosynthesis, to the reactions which take place within our body. Life is a set of transformations, (re)actions and interactions and here at Oway we are committed to best mixing the plant-derivatives and functional active ingredients for every formula. Choosing the green and clean method means preferring physical processes - such as distillation, maceration and pressing - to transform plant-derived ingredients, just as occurs for our essential oils.

Pure and eco-friendly extraction types

Pure essential oils

Steam-distilled from the dried biodynamic plants, without solvents - we use them as active ingredients and as completely natural fragrances, abolishing synthetic fragrances.

Hydrolats/Flower waters

Waters derived from the distillation of essential oils, particularly rich in active properties - we use them as ingredients in some of our treatments.

Micronised plants 

Micronised and cold-ground (and solvent-free) plants to keep their properties intact - we use them as active principles in our specific skin treatments. 

Macerated products

Thanks to the macerator, which works according to the traditional cold-grounding method, using only water without the addition of solvents, we can have biodynamic sage macerate in every Agricolor shade. The plant gradually releases its active ingredients into water with a specific proportion: one part of water and one part of plant. The exhausted parts of the plant will contribute to forming the biodynamic compost pile of our Ortofficina.

Estrazione-oli-oway

Ortofficina partner
Ortofficina partner

Beyond Ortofficina: our biodynamic and organic partners

From direct cultivation and based on territorial characteristics, we obtain plants which we then transform locally into the Oway plant-active ingredients. In order to guarantee plant ingredients and pure extracts in all treatments and to draw on raw materials respecting biodiversity (as in the case of citrus fruits from Southern Italy), we work with a network of certified Italian partners and biodynamic and organic farmers who grow according to rigid agricultural and eco-friendly standards. Promoting and spreading agricultural approaches such as organic and biodynamic- the latter still too little practiced on the national territory - for us means encouraging a type of healthy, clean and lively cultivation and promoting the sustainability of the supply chain, starting right from the producer up to the end processor.

Ortofficina is not just a farm, but a harmonious experience with nature, of health and well-being for man, of respect for our planet.

Ortofficina

 

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