Caring for Grain Seeds
Conceptualization of the Development of Rye
How do you look at something? What do you focus on—which aspect?
This initial question, which Heinz Grill used to spark a discussion on the topic during a conversation, will remain our guide on this page. The current reflection took shape while tending to the grain crops in April 2026.
The reason was quite simple: since meadow herbs—and especially young vegetable plants or cereal seedlings—are a welcome change in the roe deer’s diet, it is important to protect them from browsing. This is done using nets that are laid on the ground after sowing and must be raised slightly higher once the cereals have sprouted.
This task was therefore to be tackled by a small group of study participants.
However, the urge to “get it done” as quickly and “efficiently” as possible was once again held in check.
We began by taking in the entire field, the garden bed, and the tender green shoots sprouting up. Rye, barley, oats, and wheat were sown this year.
Let’s take a look at a rye grain and describe its shape, color, texture, and size. The photo shows carrot seeds for comparison. 1,000 yellow beet seeds weigh about 1 to 1.5 grams at most—rye, on the other hand, is a true heavyweight at 30–40 grams per 1,000 grains!
Water and warmth are necessary to initiate germination. For Naone, this means that, with regard to the summer grain that was planted, sowing could only take place after the frost period and after the last frost nights.
Once germination begins, the small root shoot develops first, followed by the cotyledon.
The young, delicate root of the seedling immediately begins to interact with the soil—with the microorganisms already present and those that are colonizing it, as well as with the bacteria and nutrients. Even at this early stage of growth, it is nearly impossible to see the entire root system. By the time the cotyledons have grown about 4–5 cm above the soil, the finest root hairs already extend about 50 cm into the soil. The fine root hairs, visible only under a microscope, snap off immediately when one tries to pull them out of the soil. Yet even when holding only the sturdy main roots in one’s hands, it becomes strikingly clear just how extensively the underground growth has already spread.
When fully developed, the roots extend to a depth of about one meter. In a free-standing plant, the roots can reach a length of 80 meters, and the root hairs can cover a surface area of 400 square meters.
A characteristic feature of cereals is that a single cotyledon emerges from the grain. In contrast, vegetables, for example, develop two cotyledons. In plant taxonomy, monocotyledons—which include not only grasses and cereals but also, for example, lilies and palms—are contrasted with dicotyledons.
This is the extent to which we can observe and explain the development of rye.
What happens next?
How will the plant grow?
With the farmer’s expert guidance and instruction, we gain a better understanding of the growth process.
In general, the grain plant does not grow in a uniform, linear fashion, but rather alternates between producing roots and leaves. The plant constantly oscillates between the poles of earth and cosmos, between the center of the earth and the sun. In this way, it is entirely surrendered to the rhythmic growth impulses of the life ether.
Right now, we see one cotyledon per grain of grain; later, the plant will branch out and develop about seven stalks from a single grain.
After the cotyledon, the stem begins to grow. As is typical of grasses in general, several nodes gradually form, stabilizing the stem. At the node, the leaf that previously wrapped around the stem detaches from it and develops into the green leaf structures that protrude freely into the air for photosynthesis. Only the very last leaf before the ear—the so-called flag leaf—does not attach at a node.
The ear, which is already formed at the root collar, pushes upward through the stem. When the time comes, the entire field blooms simultaneously for a period lasting only about 4–7 hours. During this time, pollination occurs via the wind. Cereal flowers are extremely delicate, fine, and often overlooked creatures.
Now the ears of grain begin to ripen. The term “milk stage” is used when a white sap oozes out when the grains—which have already formed but are still soft—are squeezed. The “dough stage” is followed by full maturity; the fully developed grain is then ready to be harvested.
This has outlined only a few key aspects of the growth process of a grain ear—in this case, rye. The crucial point here is to use the observation of the grain or the young plant to mentally anticipate or visualize its further development.
Let’s take the question raised at the beginning:
How do you look at something?
The point here was to conceive of the grain of cereal in terms of the possibilities of its natural—even its ideal—development. In other words, to create a development in the realm of thought and imagination, and thereby give it the—perhaps even better—opportunity to manifest itself.
Since we experience nature, with its growth processes, as so comprehensive, perfectly balanced, magnificent, harmonious, and self-evident, this contemplation seems to take on more the character of an exercise for ourselves.
However, in spiritual training we assume that the spiritual stands at the beginning, finding its manifestation in the physical. In this sense, yoga asanas are practiced as expressions of spiritual images; every creative endeavor is preceded by a mental image that is as vivid as possible; and in the research kitchen, intensive work is done on cultivating specific thoughts to promote the digestibility and healing value of nutrition.
Why, then, should we deny the influence of human consciousness on plants, which owe their development entirely to the etheric sphere?
Let’s apply this important educational principle to other areas of life:
How do we view another person? Do their flaws bother us? Are we able to envision a development path that is true to their nature, based on careful and empathetic observation of their potential?
It seems to me that there is no area of life that could not gain new, fruitful inspiration from this question.
How do you look at something?
A very simple question that is certainly worth bringing to the forefront.
After flowering, the ripening process begins.
Lilly Zahara, 16. 05. 2026
Revitalizing Grain Through Perception and Visualization:
See also another report on the grain harvest here on this page