farmers handbook

7/31/2019 Farmers Handbook

1/22

A F a r m e r ' s M i n i - H a n d b o o k : G R O W B I O I N T E N S I V E S u s t a i n a b l e M i n i - F a r m i n g

By Margo Royer-Miller, Ecology Action Apprentice

An Ecology Action Self-Learning Series Publication

An Ecology ActionSeleaching Publication


2/22A F a r m e r ' s M i n i - H a n d b o o k : G R O W B I O I N T E N S I V E S u s t a i n a b l e M i n i - F a r m i n g

2010 Ecology Action. All Rights Reserved. Te Farmer's Mini-Handbook... is provided ree o charge to individualsby Ecology Action in order to help increase the number o people who know how to grow their own ood using the ecientand earth-riendly GROW BIOINENSIVE method o arming. You have permission to print and distribute exact copieso the Handbook in its entirety only i you do so without charge to the recipients and you preserve the integrity o the work.Permission to use excerpts rom the handbook, or use o any o the component portions o the material, such as text or images,or other purposes or in other works must be obtained in writing, in advance o use or publication, rom Ecology Action.No permission is granted or any other use, in any other medium, or o any other rights. Without limitation, permission totranslate must be obtained rom Ecology Action. Tank you!


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A Farmer's Mini Handbook:

GROW BIOINENSIVE

Sustainable MiniFarming

M RM

2010 E A. A R Rv.5798 R R, W, CA 954909730 USA

Designed by Shannon Joyner/Raven Hill Enterprises



INDEX

I .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P 1: D S P...................................................................................................................................1

P 2: C....................................................................................................................................................3

P 3: Iv P..........................................................................................................................................7P 4: C P.....................................................................................................................................9

P 5: C F..........................................................................................................................................10

P 6: C F...........................................................................................................................................11

P 7: OP S................................................................................................................................12

P 8: T WS A........................................................................................................................14

Nx S/ N..................................................................................................................................................................16

Te basic tools for creating your own GROW BIOINENSIVE garden:D-Handled Shovel, Spading Fork, rowels, Fork, and a small trowel called a Widger.


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INRODUCIONC, , v v v . T v GROW BIOINENSIVE(GB) S MF. I vz , v , z , z,

. I , . GB , , .

A GB, :

1. GB E v .

2. GB vv v, z v v .

3. L .

A , , ! Ev . Y . A , . W . T q at the same time.

N: , , , . F v , , .

GROW BIOINENSIVE S MF . T

v . A x GB AND . I , GB v v , v!

T GROW BIOINENSIVE :

1. D S P2. C3. Iv P

4. C P5. C F6. C F7. OP S8. W S M

R , , .



Goal: Build Soil and Soil Structure

L GB , . D

24 (60 ).

I v . A v v

. A , q . I , z .

,

. (P , v .) R 45 (11.5 ) 2025 (6.510 ) 100 2 (10 2). T z , . M , .

, 12 (30 ) . F , f D ( v ) v , 12 x 12 x 5 (30 x 30 x 1.5). P , , v . S ,

. (M .)

W D ( v ), v 12 (30 ) . I 12 (30 ), . E v , v , 24 (60 ).

1

PRINCIPLE 1: DEEP SOIL PREPARAION

HIN:Make the work easier byallowing the soil to gentlyslide o the digging spadeinto the open trench, byletting your weight sinkthe ork into the lowertrench, and by rakingater every 5 trenches!

HIN:When digging or

planting, put a strong,wide digging board onthe bed to distribute

your weight and avoid

compacting the soil.


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Nx, v 12 (30 ) x . U , v 12 (30 ) . N v . L , .

R . A v . T v . F , . Yv .

Notes to Reine Deep Soil Preparation:

S v ( ) . I . M j , , .

C . W x x . T , !

I v , 24 (60 ). S . Y . R , v v!

A v , , . T v , .

I v , . I .

GB Farmers Challenge:

Watch your soil grow and change. Rememberthe goal o deep soil preparation is to build soiland soil structure, not to double-dig. Beore youdig, check the soil down to 24 in (60 cm), i it isloose all the way down you might only single-dig(gently loosening the top 12 in (30 cm) with adigging ork, like you do or the lower trench in

the double-dig) or even just loosen the top suraceo the soil 2-4 in (5-10 cm) so it is ready or com-

post and planting.



3

Goal: Maximize compost quality and quantityAND

maximize microbial diversity

C . GB v x . I xz v , , .

H , z. Q v . I v . C

, H, . T , . B z.

GB , v , v . Nx, , v / v :

1. Mature Material D ? I ,

x . T . I .

2. Immature Material D ? I , x T v v fxI , j .

3. Soil

v . K .

4. Roughage T . T v.R , .

PRINCIPLE 2: COMPOSING

HIN:Make the base o the pile at least3 t x 3 t (1 m x 1 m) so the pile

is big enough to retain moistureand heat or healthy decomposition.

Adding mature material to a compost pile


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Now you are ready to build:

Step 1 G 12 (30), .

Step 2 A 4 (10 ) .

Step 3 A , 2 (5 ) v .

Step 4 A , 2 (5 ) v .

Step 5 A (1 ) . T , z v .

Step 6 R 3 5 v ,v .

N q v

. T , v.

GB Farmers Challenge:Get to know your compost pile. Watch it, smell it, and eel it as it

changes. Even on the inside! Learn to know when it is healthy.Let it teach you how to make even better compost.

I , v , . F . W , . Y .

6

5

4

3

2

1



5

o maintain your compost pile:

B , . D ; ,

v ( ) ( ). Y v : ) Y , ) , )v ) . I , , , . P , . I , ( , ); . I , ; / v . I , j v !

O ( ), . T 20 F (11 C) ( ). , . , 1 2 v . Mv v , . F . W v

, , ( ). , . N v .

T , . T z, , , . Y 36 , . W , , 24 (510 ) .T . I , , , (v v ). S ; .

HIN:Use many dierent

kinds o plant materialto support a variety omicroorganisms. Tismaximizes microbial

diversity, creating morevibrant, healthierdecomposition and

compostplus naturalantibiotics in the

soil to encourage the

maintenance o planthealth.


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Notes to Reine Composting:

I v v , , , 1/6 v .

T v . T v , vv . Ex : v, , v, , .

T , . T v v .C xz q , .

A .

W , . R q .

B ,

.

C , . F , .I , z .

C v .

://../ .

B , v .Y ! Y .

A compost siter helps remove un-decomposed roughage.



7

Goal: Create enhanced anduninterrupted root and plant growth

v . I , v , v v !

T living mulch , x . Iv xz , v . (W , ; , .)

Iv , v . A, x xz v , .

F v, :E . I v . F , v :

GB Farmers Challenge:Experiment with the best spacing or your climate. For example, try lettuce 8, 10, 12, and 14 in (20, 25, 30, 35

cm) apart and measure your yields per unit o area to compare production, soil coverage, and plant health. Re-member to try experiments 3 or more times to be condent in the conclusions!

Iv z . T ( ). S f, ( 3 / 7.5 ), . P , v f, . U , 1 2 (2.5 5 ) . I , v. v v , v f, v . T . M 1.5 2 (3 5 ) .

PRINCIPLE 3: INENSIVE PLANING


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Y v v . R v f . R

. , . :

v ,

v ; v q ,

xz ,

v ( ) ,

( ), .

A . I ,

v . A , , .

U v , , . T , v , . A z ! F ; , .

T GROW BIOINENSIVE ; . , GB v .

GB Farmers Challenge:Continue reading and implement these ideas on your arm. Watch careully to see the patterns that are consistent

between beds, crops, and seasons. Learn rom these patterns and remember that things take time.

HIN:Some ast growing plants like

radishes dont benet romtransplanting.

HIN:I the plants look stressed, check

the soil 2, 6, and 8 in (5, 10, 15cm) deep, there may be a hiddenmoisture imbalance.

HIN:o attend to the closed system o

the arm, make fat soil (soil usedin fats or containers or seedling

propagation) rom equal amountso compost and bed soil (saved

rom the double-dig). Once soilis available rom used fats or

containers, use equal parts o oldfat soil, compost, and bed soil. I

seedlings were diseased, use thatold fat soil or compost where themicroorganisms can transorm it

into healthy soil again.



9

Goal: Focus on the whole gardento create a thriving mini-ecosystem with

benefcial interrelationships

C , , .

C choosing crops that aregood neighbors .G , x , v

. Av . Ov .

C draws a diverse insect population f . A, . T . L, , , .

Crop rotation . C

, v v AND z ; v .

PRINCIPLE 4: COMPANION PLANING

HIN:Plant a deep- and thick-rooting grain like rye atera root crop to loosen the soil. Interplant beans with

corn to help support soil nitrogen and ecientlyuse the above-soil area while covering the soil

thoroughly. Plant basil near tomatoes to encourageboth growth and favor.

Corn, squash and beans are traditional companion plants, known as "the three sisters"


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Goal: Support closed-systemsustainable soil ertility

C , , x . C ( ) . A 60% v . B , , / .

S : z, , , q, , , , , , ,

f. A v 30 (13.5 ) 100 (10 ) . A v

I , . T v . Ez AND !

C q

. G v v .K , x q.

GB Farmers Challenge:Learn which crops are the best producers o mature material and edible seeds in your area and ocus on growing

and eating these. Always plan to plant enough carbon crops or your compost needs.

PRINCIPLE 5: CARBON FARMING

HIN:Mix legumes and grains ora diverse cover crop that xesnitrogen and benets the soil

system with dense, soil-looseningroots.

Barley Cereal Rye Corn Hull-less Oats Wheat



11

Goal: Grow a complete dietin the smallest area possible

C . C . C . T : , , , , , J , . A 30% xz .

A , 10% v v . O v v , V A C .

With special rootcrops, nutritionally-richvegetables, and thecalorie-dense seeds fromcarbon

crops, acompletedietcanbesustainablygroWninasmallarea.

R ! A , , v v .

GB Farmers Challenge:Slowly work yoursel toward growing your diet in the smallest area possible by adding

more o these special root crops into both your diet and your garden.

PRINCIPLE 6: CALORIE FARMING

HIN:Everything sold rom the arm contains organic

matter and nutrients that are not returned to thesoil. Consider choosing crops you will sell based on

minimizing nutrient loss. Plan to reclaim those

nutrientsmaybe customers can bring kitchenscraps to contribute to your compost.

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Leeks

Garlic


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Goal: Maximize seed production andquality and preserve genetic diversity

U (OP) v , v , z, . T v, v . I x 3% .

S v OP . T v , v ; v (v v).

O OP .

Sv q .S (), q (). S q (). T .

W ,

. P , v . S , q , () v . S v v. v . F , , v v v 2,000 (610 ) v

. A v , .

I , v v. A v 5 , . (F 50 .) Y v v ( v). I v . T v v , , , . Ov , v z , v.

PRINCIPLE 7: OPEN-POLLINAED SEEDS

A pollinator at work



13

E v . A v v ( ) v .C . Fx, v

, .

GB Farmers Challenge:Start small and grow one crop out to seed the rst season. Start with a simple crop like dry beans or lettuce. Add

other crops over time to produce most o or all o your arms seeds.

U , , , . T .T GB , .

Lactuca sativa (lettuce), in its seed-producing phase


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Goal: Integrate all the principlesinto your garden to create balance

GB , all eight principles v . T , .

I, , , v . F x, v v without S, x z v , . N . B .

T v GB v v . T , , v , .

GB q , z

v. K , , , v v x v. I , v f, , v .

T , , , !

Ultimate GB Farmers Challenge:When considering any one aspect o the garden, always remember that all things are connected and that only a

healthy soil will produce healthy crops. Only a healthy system can sustain a healthy soil. Challenge yoursel andyour neighbors to become aware o and to nurture the WHOLE ecosystem!

GROW BIOINENSIVE S MF x . B v v . A v . B ; , j . U, , v, v . A , . A , !

PRINCIPLE 8: WHOLE SYSEM APPROACH



15

A Whole System Approach:

Deep Soil Preparation

Composting

Intensive Planting

Companion Planting

Carbon FarmingCalorie Farming

Open-Pollinated Seed


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NEX SEPS

NOES

I , v B G (E A' I M O Sv) .. How o Grow More Vegetables and Fruits, Nuts, Ber-ries, Grains and Other Crops Tan You Ever Tought Possible On Less Soil Tan You Can Imagine,and/or Te Sustainable Vegetable Garden.

A, v, ,, , , v , v:

.v...

.jjv..j.

ABOU HE AUHORMargo Royer-Miller was a Tree-Year Ecology Action Apprentice, and aterwards acted as a

GROW BIOINENSIVE Field Coordinator at the Golden Rule Mini-Farm Garden.She now lives on her own mini-arm with her husband Dan and their son Alten Lee.


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farmers handbook

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