NoDig Gardening Tips For Small Farms And Gardens

It's the best choice for farmers and gardeners who want to understand the value of soil and take steps to preserve, protect and improve it over time. In summary, the method involves disturbing the soil as little as possible and bringing the organic matter to the surface.

If you are new to the no-till (also known as no-dig) concept, you may not be sure how to transition to this more sustainable farming system.

If you haven't seen the documentary Kiss the Ground, I highly recommend watching it to understand why implementing a to-till approach is so important. We must appreciate our land and all that it has done for us before it is too late.

Read more : Kiss the Earth shows how healthy soil can save us from the climate crisis

As a permaculture designer, I have helped many gardeners and farmers transition to direct seeding in their soil. Here are some tips to help you overcome your challenges and transition to a no-nonsense organic system where you live:

Design flower beds and fields to avoid compaction problems

We disturb the soil as little as possible with the system, without digging and rowing. This does not mean that only digging or plowing is necessary. It also prevents compression. One of the most common mistakes I see people making new to this style of gardening or farming is not focusing on preventing crowding with careful planning.

Beds in no-till gardens and rows in large areas of annuals should never be stepped on or stepped on during use. This means designing them so that all areas can be easily stored without stepping on them. Beds and rows should not be more than 4 feet wide (when accessible from both sides). Make sure paths or access are carefully planned.

Always cover the soil

Another important rule is to make sure you don't leave any areas open. The soil should always be covered with live plants. And if necessary, with mulch between plants. When we leave soil bare, we lose moisture and nutrients, and the soil's ability to store carbon decreases.

Planning for a consistent ground cover is one of the most important things when gardening or farming - insufficient planning in advance is a common mistake among novices.

Choose cover crops wisely

Some people think they can't go straight to seeding because the soil they live in has too many problems. Even if your soil is severely compacted, degraded, or nutrient deficient, you can improve it over time with the judicious use of organic mulch and the right cover crops.

However, it is important to fully understand your soil. And choose the cover crops that suit your needs. A variety of cover crops can be used to combat compaction, erosion, low nutrient levels, and other soil composition and structure problems. Note that multiple cover plant species can often be a better solution than planting a single plant species.

Read more : A regional guide to covering plants to overcome bare soil

Look at mulch material and mulch installation already in place

Another reason people find it difficult to convert to a no-till system is that they believe there is a lack of organic matter/biomass that can be used for leaf mulching on a larger scale. and new litter.

Often, the search for materials begins with a closer examination of what already exists. Making backyard compost is essential for small farms. If you are not already making your own compost, you should start now.

You may already have materials for composting in a trenchless/tillage system. Grass clippings, shavings, leaves from deciduous trees already growing on your property, etc.

In other areas where organic matter is less, you should consider not only cultivation, but also cultivation for mulch production. Consider planting lots of fast-growing perennials, shrubs, and trees that provide plenty of biomass for your growing areas.

Consider an agroforestry approach

The newest and often the most successful non-bending/non-touching systems are those that take a holistic, integrated approach.

forest grass

Silvopasture is an agroforestry approach that combines trees and grasses. According to Cornell University, the ultimate goal is for trees to work together to provide food and shelter for livestock, with the potential for additional economic benefits.

Agroforestry approaches (planting trees in forest gardens, silvo-agricultural or silvo-pastoral programs) can often help to reduce resource problems. With alley farming, careful cattle rotation, different cropping plans and more, you'll find it easy to fill the soil over time. And it can help create thriving gardens or farms.

Planting for the soil as well as for your own needs can increase productivity and help you create more sustainable growing systems. If you are also designing, planning and growing organic biomass, you should be able to build such systems without resorting to expensive external sources of material.