advantages and disadvantages of bio intensive gardening

Intensive gardening is a viable option, but there are a variety of reasons to avoid it. You where not in the top 20% of your high school class Hugelkultur even down here I houston works wonders.. and raised beds go down so if you dont like it you can still redo it again somewhere else following years. Many small-scale farmers choose to go bio-intensive due to the following reasons: Lower Investment. The advantages of this type of gardening include the fact that it is good for the environment, it is low maintenance, and it can save you money. Grow or Die is a comprehensive collection of intensive and non-intensive gardening techniques written by me. For each pound eaten by humans, between 6 and 24 pounds of soil are lost to agricultural practices like wind and water erosion. Yup! During the first rain, I watched black, nutrient rich water flow out of my raised beds, and down my driveway. Another con of intensive gardening is the methods use of permanent beds. With a well-planned intensive garden, you can maximize your yields with minimum materials. My parents and in laws love raised bed bins since it requires less bending over and is easier to control the variables. And yes, the paperback version is on its way. Additionally, bio intensive gardening often uses organic methods to avoid the use of harmful chemicals. On all my plants I use 5 10 15 fertilizer, just like my gradpa told me to do, he fed 680+ cows from his crops every winter for almost 50 years. I live south of I-10, it might not work so well in Traverse City, Michigan. Im a newbie so I hope this works. I use grow boxes,which I like very much,sense 83 yr. old bones dont bend well. Yes, I suspect you are correct. I like whatever grows like crazy and I have had success and failures with both methods. Increased production of meat, eggs, and milk contributes to a significant percentage of the food consumed globally. Intensive gardening works best with a very high carbon content and active fungi in the soil. I cover various intensive and non-intensive gardening methods in-depth in my new book Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening. It Makes For More Farmers 5. Topsoil is the bare minimum amount of material on which crop growth can be sustained. Advantages and Disadvantages of Intensive Farming. Today Im going to take a look at the pros and cons of intensive gardening. A couple of years ago I grew a good-sized plot of corn that was watered by rainfall. Best way to garden! Do cover crops as much as possible. The biggest disadvantage of biointensive gardening is that it takes more time to learn to do. Advantages One of the major advantages of this farming technique is that the crop yield is high. Made cart wide paths that act like a swale to catch and soak the rain water into the beds. "Crop production and natural resource use". Its terrible. It is a sustainable and efficient way to produce a bountiful harvest. More food less space. Advertisement I was shocked, there was 9 baby chicks dead. This, therefore, means the conventional way of farming will become more expensive and food prices will go up. No raised beds for me. It is the initial process where you loosen the soil down to 24 inches, although conventional farming methods typically loosen the soil up to 6 to 8 inches. It will allow for larger yields for crops because the soil will be more nutrient rich. I have been doing this for over 5 years and my food has never tasted better. A film of light oil on top of the water will stop mosquitoes. Also the reason for the large water storage capacity. Water! The goal of biointensive gardening is to incorporate all natural gardening in the farm, therefore, not using anything modified. My bet is that its evolution is directly linked to our current level of civilization and high energy usage. Check out Steve Solomons Gardening without Irrigation. Its available for free. Bio-Intensive Garden Planning. The best wood chips are ramial the less than 3 diameter branches. Finally when they were at his wifes grandmothers house he asked her why she used 2 pans to roast the ham. The key to biointensive gardening is to achieve a high level of productivity while using a small amount of land. Wonder how many organic gardens have same wind drift happen not even being seen ? As far as drought or lack of rainfall is concerned Ive found that chipping my raised beds has really helped. The main goal of biointensive soil building is to improve the soil. . Like many things in life, the initial picture doesnt give you the whole story. The key to successful biointensive gardening is the health of the soil. Row cropping would limit me to one growing cycle. Theres an excellent article from Mother Earth News that takes the same tack, explaining the great results that came from the authors experimentation with combining both popular intensive gardening methods. The rest of my garden is full of standing water and knee-high weeds. If your intention is to grow large amounts for preservation, the square foot method in raised beds is not so good. I like the name. We do the best that we can. They can get more nutrients and water out of their soil by rooting their plants deeper. I dont know about you, but I change my gardening arrangements all the time. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Garden City Harvest. Its just this: if there was ever a sustained period where the city water shut off or your well quit working, youd lose all your harvest for that year. Biointensive gardening focuses a lot on the quality of the soil. The advantages of this type of gardening include the fact that it is good for the environment, it is low maintenance, and it can save you money. 3. We drink our rain water unfiltered, grow enough oaten hay to feed our own cows which in turn fertilise my garden, and grow enough wheat straw to mulch it to retain moisture. Water! Choose early and late-season crops to get the most out of your growing season. The yields on the space were great, though, so I cant complain too much. A biointensive farm works to reduce resource use while also ensuring the health and efficiency of the environment. With this healthy soil set up, you can grow intensive and not have to water after plants have sprouted up. Taste some night shade Sure, you may still see the occasional backyard single row garden but theyre nowhere near as ubiquitous as they used to be. Even worse is the chemicals coming through in the horse manure and the roof tiles. I am transitioning to a traditional garden now. The best crops for this principle are millet, sorghum, barley, wheat and rye, as well as crops that have edible seeds like oats and quinoa. I used it as a large part of my mix in the newly constructed raised beds. Even the original settlers here couldnt grow crops without putting in an irrigation system. Intensive gardening lets you grow a lot of food in a perfect small space - what's not to love? Stretch garden hoses to mark out the area where you wish to plant the corn, such as a 5-by-5 Have been sitting here on the southwest edge of the Gila in New Mexico for the last sixteen years, minding my own business. Great for small scale production. Permanent beds are commonly used in intensive gardens. I dont know about you, but I change my gardening arrangements all the time. I so agree. Companion planting is a technique that involves planting different types of plants next to each other. ALWAYS keep the soil covered. Over time, the farmer will end up with crops that have adjusted to the local environment. If you plant each seed, you will only allow the adult plant to touch the surface of its neighbors. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/y4252e/y4252e06.htm, Frisch, T. (2015). Another benefit of intensive gardening is that its usually based on permanent beds you can protect from compaction easier than you can a big row garden which requires walking between the rows in order to weed, maintain and harvest. The process increases biodiversity, and soil quality while at the same time inviting beneficial microorganisms to thrive and take control over the soil, creating a dynamic harmony with the plants. Biointensive gardens are classified into two types. Biointensive Growing for Smart-Scale Farming. I use t-tape drip irrigation tubing for all my planting. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. When crops are grown hexagonally, they create a shade that allows for more water to be held by the soil, which is very crucial when there is little to no water. The publisher is shooting to have it done by early March. It Saves the Limited Remaining Amounts of Seeds 7. happiness@thegrownetwork.com At those temperatures, I would imagine so. It is known that ambient conditions may directly affect the behavior of birds reared in the semi-intensive system. Whether raised beds or field rows are better depends on climate, rainfall, ground composition and amount labor you are able to put into it. The compost might take longer to cure, but will become more diverse and produce more compost. Production has been much better than in the plot that was previously there. This will work out as three or four rows close together, with larger spaces between. I put aside about 1200 gallons on my old homestead via old hot tubs and rain barrels. Its just this: if there was ever a sustained period where the city water shut off or your well quit working, youd lose all your harvest for that year. Using this method, we can achieve the best yields while utilizing the basic elements that life requires soil, water, air, and sun. Here are the major advantages and . I like my raised beds. A mans wife was cooking a ham at Easter in two roasting pans. Give it a go with multiple methods and see if you observe the same pros and cons of intensive gardening that I have. So, we each have to do whats right for our own situation, not someone elses. And we transporting it to countries and people over the earth. I havent even been able to plant the rest of my tomato plants yet. Another con of intensive gardening is the methods use of permanent beds. Intensive farming has several advantages: Relegates farming to concentrated spaces, freeing up land for other uses The most efficient type of farming with regard to production Able to feed and sustain large human populations That last bullet point is the key. Either option is a lot cheaper than making even one raised bed. Click to reveal The comparison of methods is only justified if you use the whole systems, and have records of inputs and outputs. >>if there was ever a sustained period where the city water shut off or your well quit working, youd lose all your harvest for that year<< Not necessarily. With pillow over his head David, The only answer I have to your statement about the lack of water is what I have been reading about the Back to Eden (BTE) gardening method. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. http://www.WellFedNeighbor.com/Josephs Page, I enjoyed reading this perspective. On my next planting, I will increase the spacing to allow for cultivating between rows, but still have a denser planting than 1 row with 3 feet on either side. And to get those large yields they needed horses and later tractors to achieve those yields. That area does not get enough rainfall to account for any but a small fraction of the water required for his plants. Re gardening see my comment below. You never know when you will have no money to buy stuff. This way, their plants' roots can penetrate through the soil deeper and get more nutrients and water from deep underground. Also I can wrap uv treated plastic around them in the winter and keep on gardening. Its a problem all over. The idea centers around nutrient-rich soil that can support growing crops closer together, reducing the amount of resources and hands-on labor required. fisheries do not reduce the overall number of fish, because the number of fish that are caught and killed does not ever exceed the birth of new fish. The advantages of sustainable agriculture are cost reduction, biodiversity, social equality, control of air pollution, and soil erosion, and it advocates for better treatment of animals. It is the worst thing that has ever happened to our soils, and it is effecting our health, and that of our livestock. Double digging is a method of soil preparation that involves loosening the soil to a depth of two feet. Hey wise latrina PRO: Raised beds provide well-drained soil. Additionally, bio-intensive gardening makes the most efficient use of soil and actually focuses on increasing the amount of fertile soil in the garden. It, therefore, saves on the amounts of open-pollinated seeds that are currently available and ensures their continued existence for a long period to come. These are seeds that can be naturally pollinated, by insects or wind. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Herbs are super foods that can sustain us well. Its a great combination. Its important to return nutrients into the soil after plants have taken them out of the soil. The optimum balance of carbon crops and special root crops produce a nutritionally balanced diet in minimal space. Performance & security by Cloudflare. cap.off of metal roofs]] needs to be filtered; that the alfalfa my 35yr.old horse is eating is loaded with herbicides and his manure will kill my plants; that the concrete roofing tiles that form my raised beds are saturated with flyash and will soon start glowing. Benefits of biointensive gardening b. Our first square foot garden beds five years ago needed a lot of water compared to my corn. 5. The very first dense garden I planted back in the 70s was covered with corrugated cardboard I took home from the waste box trash at work. WITH nature as opposed to creating more work and problems by working against natures flow. There are also some disadvantages, such as limited use of land, lowered income, bigger consumption of time and effort, and shorter shelf life of products. Been gardening with dense plantings in wide rows over 40 years, in nutrient-dense, water-conserving soil I produce. This method does not necessitate companion planting, crop rotation, or, perhaps most importantly, the preparation of soil. The mold has been broken, but the original mold still has much we can apply. Farmlands are becoming less productive and is making the number of farmers decrease globally. Thats awful I feel for you. Advantages of Intensive Farming 1. I save seed and use no purchased sprays -even organic ones. A square foot garden can be done by almost anyone, and it is a simple, reliable system. Everything from square foot gardening to growing without irrigation is in there, so if youre trying to pick the perfect gardening method, I highly recommend you pick up a copy and get reading. ), Read more: Balcony Gardening Big Food Production in Small Spaces. So the need to water the raised beds is not an issue as it is necessary to water anyway. When a crop has been harvested, any gaps in the garden can be quickly filled after replanting any remaining plants. In a widely spaced garden, youd likely still get some yields just because of the rainfall. I made up a great soil mix with it and filled up my beds. Unlike a single row garden that takes up lots of space, you can plant vegetables tightly in a little square foot garden bed or a horse trough converted into a raised bed. If youve got a wide open patch of lawn, why not put in some widely spaced rows of beans or corn and care for the plot with a wheel hoe? We as farmers are very accountable to the end user of our products so I would definitely find a more reputable source of lucerne hay if possible. Yet there are notable benefits to ditching intensive gardening for wider rows and in-ground non-raised plots. Last year I did 2 more Huglekultur beds. (Of intensive gardening, not redheads! Biointensive farming will make the best of the little soil we have and will prolong this period. Thats hard to argue with! Much better that the weeds in my rows which is in abundance and killing me every weekend pulling them up. Raised beds almost have to be very narrow, so you can reach everything from the edge. As noted, they require lots of water, even when you use mulch. Theres a reason the pioneers didnt use tight little raised beds for their crops! The meaning of this, therefore, is that if you fail to implement the system, there is the risk of seriously destroying the soil and its fertility, and even jeopardizing the entire concept of biointensive farming. In Zone 7, clay soil is a blessing (except when you walk through it) because it holds water so well between rains. Forests are destroyed to create large open fields, and this could lead to soil erosion. Intensive gardening is now fully mainstream. You cant just use a cultivator between rows (individual plants) because there isnt room, and you will dig up the plants. In any case, I would still have to add some liquid (fish & seaweed) fertilizer as our soil is not rich. it sure seemed like MORE work to garden with a raised bed, than to go with a row garden. In my backyard garden I grew 3 types of potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, broccoli, beans (3 kinds), salad greens (3 kinds of lettuce, spinach), green onion, and a few other things I cannot recall. It may be the dominant method right now but there are likely as many reasons to skip it as there are to embrace it. If I had planted my corn at intensive garden spacing, I would have had to water a few times a week at least! Intensive Farming: Intensive farming is practiced in many parts of the world either to produce crops for local. The introduction of intensive farming allows the space, equipment, and other requirements for farming to be less and more economical. When it got hot out, we were watering every day and the plants were still looking thirsty. It is a form of intensive gardening that uses fewer resources than traditional farming methods. This is too labor-intensive on a larger scale. We should always be learning and looking for the best solutions to our challenges in life. and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Now that guy destroyed some crops trying to figure out the best method but came up with a winning method for HIS area of growing and fully admits that what works for him (when and where and what he sows and grows) may not necessarily work for others simply because of the different climate zones, growing seasons, crops, soil etc. Biointensive gardening is a method of farming that follows ecological principles in addition to biotic and abiotic factors. About 4 years ago, on warm day I had glass up with no screens on, plants were doing great about 2 inch high. 2. However, it is particularly well suited to growing vegetables. Its time to look at the cons. When they were at his mother-in-laws next time he asked her why she used 2 roasting pans to cook the ham. Corn, sunflowers, and amaranth are also good for this, as they have a lot of brown or mature material, or structural carbon, which produces much more hummus, that can last up to 5000 years, as it is incredibly stable. To be truly successful, one has to keenly observe THEIR OWN growing environment and its localized advantages as well its limitations. Mulching is a necessity, but the soil still dries out VERY quickly anyway. The soils nutrients will be more concentrated, allowing for greater crop yields. One day Hubby asked, Why do you do that? ( Chemicals used in manufacture??? In our high desert my lot is where it was once a brickyard. RoundUp has no place in gardening and /or agriculture. For example, when I was a teenager I used to have a crush on this really cute redhead, and then later, Lets just say I ended up with a better option. This makes biointensive farming the perfect mode of farming, especially if there is limited space for farming. For a 5 wide bed, Ill have six rows. Read AcresUSA magazine for much information on this topic. Thats hard to argue with! Another benefit of intensive gardening is that it's usually based on permanent beds you can protect from compaction easier than you can a big row garden which requires walking between the rows in order to weed, maintain and harvest. In places where we get rain from maybe late November until February youve just spent gads of money on a item that takes up gardening space that will only benefit you for a weeks time after a rain, so in November to February. My bet is that its evolution is directly linked to our current level of civilization and high energy usage. Watered it twice all season! I was proud of my raised bed set-up until the first rain. Its like going back in time and the yields may surprise you. Conventional farming heavily relies on petroleum and natural gas, resources that are running out. Can Help Combat the Dwindling Crop Production Due to Global Warming and Climate Change 3. The style of planting also protects the soil from the harsh sun and inhibits the growth of weeds. This allows us to produce a diet for a year that is both feasible and sustainable in the smallest amount of land possible. In other words, the whole system honors the web of life in the garden and uses all the principles to increase the yields, at the same time sustaining the soil. I have to disagree with the con that intensive gardening requires more water. Biointensive farming maintains soil fertility by allotting about 60% of what is grown to compost crops. I read in the comments a problem with weeds. After a lifetime of gardening, I discovered Permaculture and have embraced some if the principles to be able to continue gardening in my older age. CON: Raised beds provide well-drained soil. See below. Read more articles about Organic Gardens. Check out these two video sources to learn best how to do this No till, No water, No Fertilizer method of gardening.
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