With tremendous growth in the agricultural sector, substantial efforts are being made to improvise techniques of farming and gardening. Efforts are being made to develop organic agricultural system considering the health benefits of mankind. To bring this concept into action, sustained effort is made to implement biointensive gardening at commercially large scale.
What is Biointensive Gardening
Biointensive gardening is an advanced form of organic gardening, that aims to rebuild and maintain soil fertility through nutrient cycling. It is a commercially viable technique, that aims at diversified cropping and bio bed preparation on small plots of land, with maximum yield. Biointensive gardening involves harvesting of diverse range of crop varieties, that are less susceptible to pest outbreaks. This process also has monetary gains, as it preserves indigenous seed varieties and has a good crop sale value, being completely organic.
Biointensive Gardening Plan
Biointensive methods or organic gardening was first attempted by ancient Greeks, Chinese, Mayans and the Europeans. It was further propagated by Alan Chadwick, who utilized Biodynamic and French intensive methods for organic farming. Today, biointensive gardening has gained world wide popularity due to its benefits. A sustained layout can be done in your backyard garden, within limited amount of space. To start biointensive gardening, you need to focus on the various methodologies of this farming technique and different organic gardening tips. The plans should comprise the following gradations
Raised Bed - Double Dug
Composting
Companion Planting
Intensive Planting
Carbon Farming
Open Pollinated Seeds
Carbon Farming
Calorie Farming
Rotational Cropping
Whole-System Farming Method
Biointensive Gardening Techniques
Biointensive gardening employs organic fertilizers and natural pest control materials. Before starting, make a list of fruits or vegetables you want to grow at your garden. Go for indigenous crops, like tomato, pipino, kamote, spinach, egg plant, jack fruit, corn, papaya, sigarilyas, jute, beans, lemon grass, etc. To know the process of biointensive farming, read the next segment.
Once you have selected the types of crops you want to grow, design the layout of the plot. It should be focused on maximum utilization of soil and empty spaces. Align in rectangular shape and set in the direction of maximum exposure to sunlight. You must know the basics of gardening before setting up a biointensive garden.
Clear the soil from weeds, thatch, grass clippings, garden wastes, bushes, etc. Now spread the compost, organic or animal manure on the top of the soil bed. This spreading should not be more than 3 inches thick. Now follow the double digging technique to prepare the soil bed. You can also sprinkle earthworms for a better fertile bed. This process is known as vermicomposting or worm composting.
Do not plant the seeds immediately after shoveling. Wait for 3-4 days and then plant the seeds. Follow the instructions written on the seed pack and water them accordingly.
Observe the plants carefully when they start germinating. Check if they are infected by any diseases. Ensure that they are growing perfectly healthy. Prune the diseased leaves or spray organic pesticides, only if required.
You can also plant leguminous crops in between the plants for maximum nitrogen fixation. These plants have nitrogen fixing bacteria in their root nodules, that establishes a symbiotic relationship between plants. This technique is also utilized in crop rotation.
Preserve the seeds once the plants are mature. The initial phase can be quite labor intensive, but with subsequent farming, it becomes easy, as re-plowing is not needed over and again. Ensure the cropping cycle by creating a miniature seed bank.
Biointensive gardening is not only economically viable, but also results in production of crops having organic and nutritious value. It's a very feasible way to utilize stretches of land in your house for production of healthy crops in a cost effective way.
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