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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
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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
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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 , , .
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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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