In 2008, I did a crazy thing. Actually, I did a number of crazy things but the craziest thing of all was to lease a piece of land from my local council called an allotment. My plot (an area or land used for building on or planting on) was hard to find at first since it had not been tilled for many months. But, find it I did, and duly marked out the periphery and notable landmarks ( three pallets, a car tyre, two carpets and some empty cans of beer) and began by measuring the area and noting it down in my planner. The action was to start at home with an initial attempt at designing a functional vegetable plot, to feed my family and others throughout the whole year.
Oh, and I was going to go ORGANIC!
What, you might ask, does HE mean by organic? Well, for me, this means:
Crop Rotation
I have divided my allotment into a number of ’spaces’ which are all similar in size and are bordered with gravel boards and narrow paths at the perimeter. I will design a crop rotation programme for the spaces to eliminate pests and maintain soil productivity using mechanical cultivation methods.
Green Manure
Where land is left temporarily without cropping, a green manure will be sown. This will be dug back into the soil at the appropriate time.
Compost
I have constructed three large composts which will be in constant use throughout the year. The idea is that one will be full and brewing for use next year, the second one will be being filled now and the third one will be used when the second one is full. The contents will be rotated each season.
Mulching
The application of mulches where appropriate to reduce moisture loss and decrease weed growth. When available, manure will be collected from local farmers or riding stables and utilised as a soil improver after rotting down.
Biological Pest Control
I intend to exclude the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, plant growth regulators and genetically-modified material. Wherever possible, I will try to use heirloom seeds and reduce the use of hybrid cultivars. The pest controls in use will target animals, insects, fungi, weeds and disease. This may include the use of traps (for snails) crop covers, careful crop choice and rotation and the use of beneficial organisms (nematodes).
The whole concept behind this approach is that the methods here should maintain the health of the soil, the ecosystem and the people using it. The ecological processes and biodiversity allows me to adapt to the local conditions that I see in my allotment and thus avoid the use of methods of growth which have serious adverse effects.
Mail this post
Recent Comments