Creating Living Soil Chemical-based farming operates on the assumption of dead soil; which means there are no nutrients available in the soil and so they need to be added physically. And after the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the life in the soil diminishes greatly, thus reducing the productivity of the land. So you end up using even more chemicals the next time which leads to a vicious cycle. The focus of chemical farming is to give all the input to the plant, which is a short-term process. Whereas in organic farming the focus is on creating good and healthy soil so that whatever is planted grows well. It requires patience and dedication to renewing and regenerating the soil naturally which ultimately gives you long term productivity and health benefits. When you look at the soil, it may seem like lifeless clay and rocks. But in fact it is very much alive. Millions of small organisms live in healthy soil which is rich in organic matter. Some of them are big enough to see, such as earthworms and small insects. But, most of them are so small that you can only see them if you use a microscope. These microscopic organisms include nematodes (tiny worms), bacteria, fungi and even some insects which are invisible to the naked eye. These living organisms make soil alive and give it a good structure and texture. A living soil ecosystem nurtures and nourishes plants by providing a healthy medium to take roots and through a steady supply of nutrients. Most of the organic farming techniques focus on building living soil. So lets begin by understanding four basic techniques that everyone can apply, whether it is a garden, farm, or pots in your balcony. 1. Compost 2. Mulch 3. Manure 4. Cropping Methods Compost Compost-making is simply imitating nature's process of natural decomposition as we can witness in the forests. The dark-hummus like substance found on the forest floor is compost. It adds essential nutrition back into the soil which the plants and trees then take in to grow. Just like everything in nature, this is also a cycle of give and take. The amount of nutrition that is taken by a tree or plant to grow is returned to the soil when the dead tree falls to the forest floor and begins decomposing. Therefore, while growing our vegetables in our gardens, we need to put back the nutrition that we are taking out. Compost is a natural fertilizer, and good, mature compost, is one of the best fertilizers that can be found anywhere in the world. To make good compost it is essential that it is an aerobic process that creates compost rather than methane gas as a by-product. For this you need all your bio-degradable kitchen waste (cooked/uncooked food scraps), some dry leaves, grass, or straw (brown matter), soil, and water. If these ingredients are managed in the right order then the result will be great compost that you can add to your soil which will boost the growth of your plants. If growing in pots, it is even more essential to ensure that the soil remains rich in nutrients, since natural cycles of nutrients, soil, and water become restricted in pots. There are several ways of making compost depending on the size of your garden or farm as well as on the urgency and requirements of produce. However the following are some simple steps that are essential for anybody who is making compost. Step 1: Location: Choose your space for making compost. The best space for making compost is on direct soil. If you do not have a garden, create a small space where you can put some soil on the floor. Don't worry about the smell and flies. If done right, you won't have either and you can always cover your compost. Step2: Maintaining Proportions: An important thing to remember about compost-making is maintaining the balance between nitrogen (wet, green, fresh waste) and carbon (dry brown matter). The proportion between the two should be roughly 30% Nitrogen to 70% Carbon. Step 3: Creating Airways: It is essential that air should pass freely through the compost pile. For this ensure that if your cover the compost, that there are holes in the surrounding structure or bin. This is essential for aerobic decomposition. Step 4: Layering: There are many ways of layering. However a simple way to remember how to layer is to remember to alternate between wet and dry layers. So if you have just put in a fresh batch of waste from your kitchen into the compost pile, put a layer of dry grass or leaves on top of that and you can also add some soil as it may quicken the composting process. The dry layer will also keep animals, flies, and bad odour away. Step 5: Maintaining Moisture: The process of decomposition requires moisture. If the compost pile gets too wet it will lead to anaerobic decomposition (rotting) and if the pile is too dry, then it will not decompose quickly. So it is essential to keep the pile moist. Check the pile before adding water to see if it needs any. Step 6: Regular Turning: Once the container in which you are piling your wet waste and dry leaves into is full, then you need to STOP adding new waste into that. You can either create a new pile or just find a another place for your waste. Once the container is full, you need to turn (mix) the compost once every 2 weeks to quicken the decomposition process and to ensure that there is only aerobic decomposition taking place. If you are in a tropical country like India where decomposition is very rapid, you should have a wonderful pile of compost ready in 30-45 days. Once ready you can store it in a dry place and use it liberally on your soil before planting, and after planting.
Next article on how to make compost in a plastic garbage bin. Compost Away! More Information can be found here: A great article on composting for further reading: The Basics of Composting
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People are often confused about the different techniques of organic farming. What does and does not constitute organic growing methods is unclear to many people. To me it seems the reason for this is the failure to understand organic farming as a lifestyle and philosophy rather than a technique or skill. The way we understand life and nature, and the way we interact with it is what helps us understand organic or natural farming. Organic and natural farming are not the same, but more later on the different kinds of farming. So here let us first understand the principles of organic farming before we try to practice it.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) has been the forum for many agricultural movements throughout the world for the last 30 plus years. It has inspired others and has itself been an agent of social and ecological revolution. According to IFOAM’s Principles, organic agriculture is based on: * The principle of health Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible. * The principle of ecology Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them. * The principle of fairness Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities * The principle of care Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. The Principles apply to agriculture in the broadest sense, including the way people tend soils, water, plants and animals in order to produce, prepare and distribute food and other goods. They concern the way people interact with living landscapes, relate to one another and shape the legacy of future generations. I have realized that the forest has so much to teach us about what is the best way to grow food. We can learn many lessons just by observing the forest ecosystem. India is a tropical country and therefore it is blessed with many kinds of wonderful forests. You can grow all the food in the world, with the best fertilizers and produce the highest yield, but you can never beat the productivity of a forest. Productivity of nature is measured by humans through the concepts of biomass and organic matter. Jungles have the highest biomass that is almost impossible for human beings to replicate in agriculture. So what does the forest have to teach us? No Ploughing There is no one who comes into the forest and ploughs it and yet the soil is light, fluffy, and extremely rich in minerals and organic fertilizer. This is because of many reasons such as the presence of earthworms our natural tillers of the soil. Another reason for this is because of the amazing amount of decomposition that takes place on the forest floor. The amount of living growth is matched with an equal amount of dead organic matter lying on the ground, that slowly decomposes and naturally fertilizes the soil. No Mono-Cropping It is very rare to find a natural forest (mind you not a human-created) that has only one kind of tree. The forest is healthy only because it is diverse. Diversity is the root of life, socially and ecologically. Each plant species, animal species, insects, micro-organisms play an important part in the functioning of the forest through their special roles and relationships with each other. When you plant only one thing, you create a weak ecosystem that is susceptible to pests. No Flooding One of the most common misunderstanding about agriculture is that it requires a lot of water. If you have good soil, and diversity, it is very rare for your plants to require a lot of water. Most forests are present on the slopes of mountains. That means that they do not need flooding. But what they really need is moist soil. Not wet, but simply moist. Can you imagine how much water we could stop consuming for our agriculture? I think what the forest teaches us is to be as close to nature's way in our life and our farming. To co-exist rather than dominate and exploit. To give back as much as we take. To exist without manipulating the air, soil, water, plants, animals, and micro-organisms as much as possible. Since we live in a world with 7 billion people, we have to manipulate our land a lot more than is good. But if we all grow just a little bit of food in our backyard the organic way, we can lessen the harm done to a great extent. In the next article we will learn about the basic techniques of growing food nature's way. Reference: IFOAM, Principles of Organic Agriculture, available from, http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/principles/index.html 'Organic Farming in Malaysia' by CETDEM (Centre for Environment, Technology & Development, Malaysia) Mansata, Bharat. 'Vision of Natural Farming' The questioned that must be asked and has to be answered before any importance is to be given to anything: 'why?' There are so many answers out there and I am going to try to add another one to them so bear with me. Since about 10,000 years ago, agriculture has been the fundamental activity for most people in the world. It is one of humankind's most basic activities because people need to nourish themselves daily. History, culture and community values are embedded in agriculture. When such a basic human activity such as growing healthy food for your family and community is tainted, it is indeed a sad state to be in. The story about the ill-effects of chemical based industrial farming and its harmful effects on human health and the environment is becoming increasingly familiar. Industrialized, chemical farming is based on the principle of faster and greater production at any cost. Its main goal is economical and aims to gain profits through trade and export of crops that are in high demand. In order to achieve these goals, it employs methods such as mono-cropping which means that large fields are planted with only one crop variety that is economically valuable. To generate greater and faster yields, it promotes the use of chemical fertilizers and genetically modified seeds that require specific kinds of fertilizer to grow. Since mono-cropping creates more susceptibility to pests, chemical pesticides are also widely used to control the pest problems and maintain the high yield. One of the most common arguments for chemical agriculture is that it is the only answer to our growing human population and to feed the starving people of the world. But is chemical farming truly the answer to our hunger? Effects of Chemical Farming are broadly seen on the natural environment, farmers, and human health which are all interconnected. UNEP’s latest brief lays out the current state of agriculture in the world and the need to move towards organic farming. It focuses on how agriculture faces, and contributes to, several challenges that involve enormous economic, social and environmental costs; • Globally, the growth rate of agricultural productivity is declining, and in many countries productivity is actually falling • The impacts of unsustainable agro-chemical use are increasingly evident. Agriculture is now a major cause of biodiversity loss. Land scarcity and land degradation associated with agriculture are rising. Increased erosion and the loss of key ecosystem services can also be linked to chemical-based agricultural practices. • Agriculture accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater use and is also responsible for most surface water pollution. The reason for the decline in agricultural productivity is the degradation of the soil of the fields and the adjoining ecosystems. Due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the essential nutrients and micro-organisms in the soil are depleted resulting in ‘dead soil’. These fertilizers and chemicals often run off into streams and rivers, and indirectly affect the plants, birds, bees, and other animal life in and around the water through direct intake and/or bio-magnification. • About 13-15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from [chemical based] agriculture, mainly due to its heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrous oxide has global warming potential that is 310 times greater than CO2. • “Agriculture [...] is ranked as one of the three most hazardous industries together with mining and construction. [...] Exposure to pesticides and other agrochemicals constitute major occupational hazards.” Every year, despite being highly underreported, an estimated 2 to 5 million agricultural workers suffer from severe pesticide poisoning and related illnesses, of which 40,000 are fatal. Fertilizers usually contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Of these, nitrogen in particular has been associated with health problems. Nitrogen, which occurs as 30 nitrites, nitrates, and/or ammonia, may be converted another form by chemical reactions accruing naturally in the environment. The nitrite form of nitrogen is very toxic. If taken by humans in drinking water or in food, it enters the bloodstream where it interferes with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Nitrites can also combine in compounds that may cause cancer in humans. If there is too much nitrogen (fertilizer) in the soil, it is absorbed into the vegetables in the form of nitrates which may be converted into nitrites under certain conditions. When you eat these vegetables, the nitrites are digested and converted into nitrosamines that can cause cancer of the stomach. • Increasing numbers of suicides, a phenomenon reported among farmers in Asia, can be attributed in part to increasing costs of inputs and increasing indebtedness, leading to shrinking profit margins.
Genetically Modified (GM) seeds and crops have been introduced into agriculture under the pretext of reducing the need for pesticides by modifying the seeds to make them pest resistant. However the GM seeds only give high yields if they are used with their companion fertilizer which is quite expensive for a poor farmer (approximately 9$ for one liter bottle). The seed companies that provide these have created a monopoly by conferring intellectual property rights on their products. For farmers this means that they are not allowed to save seeds for the next season; which has been the common practice for most farmers for several generations; and they have to buy the seeds and fertilizers every year. In order to buy these products, the farmers often take loans that they cannot repay due to high expenses and crop failures. This has led farmers to desperation and suicides. More than 250,000 farmers committed suicide in India within the span of 15 years (1995-2010) Chemical farming affects all of us directly through our food as well as indirectly through its harmful effects on the environment. What is the solution for us and the future of our children? What is Organic Farming? “Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.” IFOAM Organic farming is not new. It is the old way of farming that has existed for many years. However there is a need to revive these methods to ensure that we feed our children and ourselves healthy food and take care of nature. Organic gardening is for everyone and can be used even in your own backyard. To make sure that the food you eat is healthy, the best way to do it is to grow your own vegetables. References: IFOAM, Principles of Organic Agriculture, available from, http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/principles/index.html UNEP Brief, Agriculture: A Catalyst for Transitioning to a Green Economy, available from, http://www.unep.ch/etb/publications/Agriculture/UNEP_Agriculture.pdf Wikipedia, ‘History of Agriculture’, 2012, available from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_agriculture P. Sainath, The Hindu, ‘In `16 years, Farm Suicides Cross a Quarter Million, 2011, available from, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article2577635.ece Organic has become the buzz word nowadays. You hear it everywhere, you see it everywhere, you see how expensive it is, and you are told that it is the new 'green' thing. Endless debates have emerged about chemical versus organic. Several organic shops and products have come into the market, many of them con-artists simply masquerading as a quick fix. Nothing worthwhile comes as easily as stepping into a market and buying a 'natural' product. I hope to produce a series of articles that illuminate the integration of the environment, agriculture, us and our lifestyles. I will write about the principles and techniques of organic and other kinds of farming Keep watching this space for more.
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Principles and Practices of Organic and Natural Farming Archives
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