Organic, NoTill Urban MiniFarming
Excerpt from the handout:
Every farmer should farm as outlined below. It is ecologically sustainable, environmentally responsible, socially just and economically viable. When the settlers arrived in the USA, the Iroquois were notill farmers and out produced the settlers using their plows.
UN Report Says Small Scale Organic Farming Only Way to Feed the World. [2014]
Poor, unhealthy soil is the reason for low yields. Soil is poor and unhealthy because it is low in organic matter. Some is soaked in chemicals.
Organic, no–till minifarming in permanent beds, with permanent paths, using hand tools, takes almost no funds, increases yields 50 to 100%, reduces labor by 50 to 75%, reduces input/expenses to nearly 0, creates healthy soil with high fertility, stops soil compaction, soil erosion, rain water runoff, eliminates weed, disease and insect problems.
With notill, organic matter [green manure/cover crops & crop residue] generates the following results:
The mulch gradually rots into the soil providing a constant supply of nutrients while eliminating composting.
Moisture retention due to the mulch means reduced need for watering; saving both resources and labor.
Mulch prevents weeds from growing, reducing another laborious chore.
Because of greater nutrients, plants can be planted twice as densely as normally recommended.
The combination of denser spacing and healthy soil means a fourfold increase in yield.
–– Mini-Farms Network