More and more people are becoming interesting in growing at least some of their own food in an earth-friendly manner. For many, maybe even most, that means organic gardening. It is important to know, however, that organic production is not the only system that is eco-friendly. Let’s take a look at some of the others.
Organic gardening is not new. The term “organic” has become quite popular as more and more shelf space in the supermarket is dedicated to food grown through organic processes. To be sold as organic, a product must be certified by an outside oversight group, usually a private, non-profit organization. Only after rigorous review can a product receive the USDA organic label.
It is well known that organic production requires fruits and vegetables to be grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. In addition, organic gardeners strive to replenish nitrogen and other key elements through processes that mimic nature. The use of cover crops, green manures, and composted animal manures are good examples.
Organic gardening also strives to build soil resources, like tilth and friability, by adding organic matter to the soil. Experienced organic gardeners feel that the best way to feed a plant is to feed the soil itself. The use of beneficial insects and crop rotations help manage weeds, insects, and diseases.
Other eco-friendly production systems accept the basic assumptions of organic production, but are different in that they add other ideas to the production system. Three of the most prevalent include biodynamic, biointensive, and permaculture gardening.
A biointensive system focuses on producing maximum yields from a minimum area of land. At the same time it strives to simultaneously improve the soil. The goal of the method is long term sustainability on a closed system basis. The system has also been used successfully on small scale commercial farms.
The biointensive method is rooted deep in human history. Elements of biointensive farming can be found in the ancient Mayan and Aztec farming systems of Central America and the Chinese systems in Asia. The Greeks in the Mediterranean area and early feudal Europe also practiced biointensive farming. In each case, these systems supported large and growing populations. It is important to note that these civilizations flourished when the stability of the soil was maintained but declined when for one reason or another the soil became impoverished.
Key elements of some biointensive systems include double digging, companion planting, and intensive planting. The soil is often spaded or tilled deeply by loosening the upper layer of soil to the depth of a spade and then setting it aside. The lower level of soil is then tilled or spaded and the original soil either replaced or, more commonly, spaded into from the next slice of ground to be tilled. The soil is often heaped up into raised beds that are never walked on and are carefully maintained with compost and other natural materials.
Companion planting places multiple crops at the same time in the same place. The ancient American technique of planting corn, beans, and squash intermingled into the same bed is a good example. These crops helped each other by providing support and nutrients for each other.
A form of companion planting also occurs as crops are rotated from season to season. In this system, a different crop is planted in a given location each growing season. Three field crop rotation became a staple of feudal Europe agriculture. We still use crop rotation today in our mainstay agricultural systems.
Intensive planting places crops in close proximity together either in rows or beds, or in clearly defined areas, such as in the waffle gardens of the Pueblo tribes of northern Arizona and New Mexico. We often practice intensive planting today when we use the square foot garden technique.
Biodynamic gardening was developed in Germany by Rudolf Steiner. It emphasizes the holistic growing system and maximizes the interrelationship of the soil, plants, and animals as a closed, self-nourishing system. It values manures and composts as sources of nitrogen and other nutrients and, like organic gardening, excludes the use of artificial fertilizers and other chemicals. Among its techniques are the use of fermented herbal and mineral preparations as compost additives. Those who practice biodynamic gardening feel that they are producing food that augurs well with the production cycles of the earth itself.
Permaculture gardening is a system that was originally created in Australia by David Mollison and David Holmgren. The word permaculture is a hybrid of two common words, permanent and agriculture. The systems strives to integrate the use of plants, soil, climate, and animals into a unified whole where each supports the development of a system that resembles and mimics natural ecosystems.
Today, there is currently much interest in eating foods and wearing clothes that have been grown and processed in an earth-friendly manner. Food safety, reducing the carbon footprint, and protecting the environment are just a few of the goals that have become important to us all. We all recognize that the earth is the home in which we live our lives. Sustainable living is the practice of living in harmony with the natural processes of the earth so that we can enjoy a healthy lifestyle and, at the same time, preserve our planet as best we can for future generations.
There are many gardening systems that help lend sustainability to our life styles. Many of these systems are becoming more and more popular as people strive to become more earth-friendly. These techniques are equally at home in food systems as small as container gardens as well as in large farming operations. As we begin to appreciate the wide variety of options available to help us choose and select the appropriate gardening system for us, we begin to appreciate the diversity and the resilience of nature itself.
No matter what production systems you decide to use, I feel that it is important in today’s economic climate for everyone to know how to produce at least part of their food for themselves. No matter how you choose to manage your garden, the end result should always be the same: fresh, wholesome food for our tables!
If you have questions, you can reach our Cooperative Extension office at 820 E. Cottonwood Lane in Casa Grande. The telephone is (520) 836-5221, extension 204. The author’s email address is gibsonrd@ag.arizona.edu.
The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.
Rick Gibson
Extension Agent, Agriculture
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Building C
Casa Grande, Arizona 85122
Voice: (520) 836-5221
Fax: (520) 836-1750
email: gibsonrd@ag.arizona.edu
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